Newbie-mercruiser 3.0 question

[ramairguy]

Hey all, <br /> I'm a first time boat owner of a 1988 Regency Thundercat with a Mercruiser 3.0 - Took boat out for the first time the other day and it ran real good. On the way back in, I noticed the engine making a weird noise-I was about 40 yards from the dock when I noticed this. I figured I would lift the engine cover real quick before I pulled into the dock. When I lifted the cover I noticed( now bear with me here) oil slowly squirting from the bottom right side of the motor out of a little hole. I'm wondering what the piece was that broke off from this little hole. It was a cylindrical piece with a metal rod that was connected. It looks like the end of the metal rod broke off the motor creating the hole where the oil was leaking out from. This rod is about 3 or 4 inhes long. Also, the cyliner piece has a black wire connected to it. What part is this? A pretty good amount of oil came out, so I'm wondering how bad this could be. Like I said , I only ran the boat at idle speed for about 40 yards in this condition--Thanks in adavance

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Newbie-mercruiser 3.0 question

Welcome to iboats <br />What did the oil pressure gauge say? Sounds like the oil pressure sender.....<br />There are people here thet are much more familiar with your specific set up, so stick around......JK

 

[Don S]

Re: Newbie-mercruiser 3.0 question

That "Wierd" noise was probably the lifter and bearings making noise because it had no oil (Not good) or oil pressure because of the leak. From your discription it sounds like the oil sender broke off in the block. Here is a picture that shows the sender (a) with optional switch (b).

 

[ramairguy]

Re: Newbie-mercruiser 3.0 question

Thanks HAUTMEDOC, i'll be standing by.

 

[ramairguy]

Re: Newbie-mercruiser 3.0 question

That looks like it Don S.( except for the optional switch)--How bad do you think it could of affected the motor? There was only a time span of about 2 minutes that the motor was actually running in this condition. The noise wasn't too bad right before I returned to the dock and turned the motor off.

 

[Don S]

Re: Newbie-mercruiser 3.0 question

Without hearing the noise there is no way I could answer that question.<br />Fix the leak and start it up and see what it sounds like.<br />If it was lifters it would be a fast clattering noise, if it was bearings it would be a slower knocking sound once each revolution.<br />If it's just lifter noise, it should be fine.

 

[ramairguy]

Re: Newbie-mercruiser 3.0 question

Don, it was actually more of a sqeaking sound, but it defintaely looks like the oil sending unit. The boat is at a boat repair place right now.

 

[ramairguy]

Re: Newbie-mercruiser 3.0 question

what would cause that to break off-Age?

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Newbie-mercruiser 3.0 question

Corrosion ....JK

 

[ramairguy]

Re: Newbie-mercruiser 3.0 question

Could be Haut--lol--The boat does need some tlc

 

[Don S]

Re: Newbie-mercruiser 3.0 question

Squeaking is not good. If it was the belt, that would be one thing, but with no oil, it could be the bearings running dry on the crankshaft. <br />Metal fatigue, corrosion, vibration, hard to say why it broke even if I had it in my hand where I could inspect it. Without seeing it, it's just a WAG.

 

[ramairguy]

Re: Newbie-mercruiser 3.0 question

Don, <br /> In your expert opinion--WHat on average do you think this job should would cost to repair at a boat repair place--bearing that the oil sending unit is the only thing that needs to be fixed?

 

[Don S]

Re: Newbie-mercruiser 3.0 question

It depends on how hard it is to get the old piece out of the block, or if there are threads left, or...... plus I don't even know if they have access. <br />I NEVER give estimates on something like that, even if it was in front of me. It may have been damaged because it was overtightened. That would make the piece very difficult to get out. Then they will have to clean up all the oil. It all takes time. I don't even know if they can get to it without pulling the engine. I can't see it!<br />The part is around 30 bucks. <br />IF, and that is a big IF, everything goes perfect, and it's easy to get to, then you will probably see about an hours labor.<br />But I have said before things on boats never go perfect, and if it was ever near salt water, all bets are off.

 

[ramairguy]

Re: Newbie-mercruiser 3.0 question

Thanks for all the help--I'll definately let ya know what happens--They are suppossed to look at it tommorow--Sorry for all the questions--Just a new guy--lol

 

[ramairguy]

Re: Newbie-mercruiser 3.0 question

Update--Marine mechanic said oil sending unit was knocked off-He repaired and ran the boat on land and said it was fine, but wants me to take out in the water for a good spin to check for any engine knock or anything--charged me $ 150.00--Also did a pressure test and quick tune.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Newbie-mercruiser 3.0 question

That's Good News,......<br /><br />But,... It Ain't over Yet.........<br /><br />The Water Test will determine whether the motor is going to Survive..........

 

[ramairguy]

Re: Newbie-mercruiser 3.0 question

Yeah, thats pretty much what the mechanic said also--so we'll see- I'll update again tommorow.

 

[ramairguy]

Re: Newbie-mercruiser 3.0 question

New update--Well, she ran like a champ--There was a little bit of ticking in the motor when I first took off, but that eventually subsided. The mechanic said the lifters may possibly do that for a little while in the beginning.

 

[beauff]

Re: Newbie-mercruiser 3.0 question

That was a good price that you paid to get that takin care of. Glad to hear that it worked out for you.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Newbie-mercruiser 3.0 question

'ell,......... I'm Amazed...........I expected Knocks,... Not Ticking........