engin failure

[jenga]

I had recently posted about water in my gas.  Here comes something new.  I have a 93 skeeter with a 200 merc on it.  I went fishing all day on Lk Saint Clair on Sat then went to a different lake on Sun.  Fished for about 15 min. then started the boat to head to a new spot got up on plane then the engin died.  I thought I ran out of gas but shortly realized I didn't.  Had to troll with trolling motor back to the launch.  To it back to the same mechanic that found water in my gas.  He said the tube that the injects the oil to mix with gas came off which I saw when he pointed it out.  It was all dry-rotted and crubbled in my hand.  He said that it my engin has now siezed up.  I would think if the engin would have some switch in it that as soon as the oil doesnt get injected with the gas that it would shut off and keep it from siezing up.  He told me it could cost up to 2500 to rebuild if my engin did sieze up.  Can this happen and if so what should I do about getting it rebuilt.  I don't know much about boats.  Any information or advice would be great.

Thanks,

Jenga

[Lund Explorer]

Good News, Bad News.

Good news is that this is happening at the end of the season and not at the start.  And now you've got some time to work on the bad news before the ice moves out next spring.

Bad news is that almost anything you can do is going to be expensive.

Is your Merc a 1993 model?

Before you spend a bunch of money on sixteen year old technology, I'd think about upgrading to a newer used motor.  You might be happier with a fuel/oil injected model then another of the old carburetor motors.  I'm not sure sure much you want to spend, or even how much is smart to pay when bolting it onto a 1993 boat, but you've got all winter to shop around.  Just my opinion.

[Grey Wolf]

I had recently posted about water in my gas. Here comes something new. I have a 93 skeeter with a 200 merc on it. I went fishing all day on Lk Saint Clair on Sat then went to a different lake on Sun. Fished for about 15 min. then started the boat to head to a new spot got up on plane then the engin died. I thought I ran out of gas but shortly realized I didn't. Had to troll with trolling motor back to the launch. To it back to the same mechanic that found water in my gas. He said the tube that the injects the oil to mix with gas came off which I saw when he pointed it out. It was all dry-rotted and crubbled in my hand. He said that it my engin has now siezed up. I would think if the engin would have some switch in it that as soon as the oil doesnt get injected with the gas that it would shut off and keep it from siezing up. He told me it could cost up to 2500 to rebuild if my engin did sieze up. Can this happen and if so what should I do about getting it rebuilt. I don't know much about boats. Any information or advice would be great.

Thanks,

Jenga

Has the thought crossed your mind that maybe your mechanic should have found that rotted hose when you took it to him earlier ?

[K_Mac]

I think Bass-Brat has a point. The first thing I thought was 'why didn't the mech catch this while going over the engine'? Maybe that's not fair, but isn't this the same guy who told you the water came in through the vent in your Skeeter? Good luck.

[ValkyrieRider]

I'd give him the benefit of the doubt. Unless the problem you originally brought it to him was related to the problem your having now, I wouldn't blame the mechanic.

I'm a little biased, as a mechanic.

[Way2slow]

As for rebuilding your's, that may be not be worth it.  Depends on how bad the internal damage is.  If it screwed up the crank, unless he does a patch job, I don't think you can completely rebuid a Merc 200 for $2,500 having to replace the crank and bad rods.  Now, if he does a half**S job, yea, you might be able to.  If he goes ahead and bores all six holes and new pistons, replaces the crank, bearings etc, rebuilds the carbs and replaces the water pump.   All the stuff one would usually do during a complete rebuild with a bad crank, I think you could easily be looking at another $1K more.

The oil pump usually sets of an alarm if it quits, and the oil tank usually has one if it gets low.  Your misfortune was it didn't know anything was wrong because it was pumping oil and thought everything was good, it just wasn't getting into the gas because it sounds like it broke a line after all the fail safe stuff.

Now, don't you wish you had disconnected it and premixed like most of those that know how unreliable those older system can be do.

[fishfordollars]

I feel for you. Just got through with mine and the parts alone were over 3,100.00.

I don't think you can blame the mechanic, but I don't know the whole story. The issues with water, ethanol, etc. are causing tons of problems. The gas hoses will deteriorate from the inside out so they will not be spotted by just looking at them.

If it locked up you will need to bore the block and of course that will require a new set of pistons. Bearings, rings, and gasket sets will also be in order. Crank and rods will probably be ok, but they need to be checked.

Good luck.

[Fishbone]

As for rebuilding your's, that may be not be worth it. Depends on how bad the internal damage is. If it screwed up the crank, unless he does a patch job, I don't think you can completely rebuid a Merc 200 for $2,500 having to replace the crank and bad rods. Now, if he does a half**S job, yea, you might be able to. If he goes ahead and bores all six holes and new pistons, replaces the crank, bearings etc, rebuilds the carbs and replaces the water pump. All the stuff one would usually do during a complete rebuild with a bad crank, I think you could easily be looking at another $1K more.

The oil pump usually sets of an alarm if it quits, and the oil tank usually has one if it gets low. Your misfortune was it didn't know anything was wrong because it was pumping oil and thought everything was good, it just wasn't getting into the gas because it sounds like it broke a line after all the fail safe stuff.

Now, don't you wish you had disconnected it and premixed like most of those that know how unreliable those older system can be do.

Wow, do most of you guys disconnect the oil line and pre mix the fuel???

[Way2slow]

Only if you're smart.  

Those old late 80's thru early 90's oil injection system are just not that reliable.  8 out of 10 will say there's no problem, but I ask , do you want to be numbers 9 and 10?  Ask Jenga how that feels.

You've gotta hope it stuck a piston before it got the crank but about 90% of the time, running with no oil till it's locks up usually gets the crank.

[32251]

93 model....and you took it to a mechanic that did not look at the rubber lines in it to see what kind of condition they were in....he is not a good mechanic. That is a given to inspect things like that if you are a good tech....

[fishfordollars]

I premix my fuel.

[ohioriverrat]

I have an 88 Johnson with OI. I bought it used. My mechanic told me before I ever started it the first time to strip the oil injection off of it and premix- and so I did. The previous owner had gotten away with it all these years, but too much gamble for me.

I do feel your pain. Been there. Locked up motors (of any type) just sucks.  :'(

[simplejoe]

Before I would put any money into that motor I would take it to another mechanic and see what he says. Some of those mechanics are full of BS, trying to get as much money as they can out of you to fix your motor. I just sold my Hydra-Sport to a guy and ran fine with no problems at all with the motor. After about a week he called me and said he took it to a mechanic and the guy said it blew a piston and seized the motor that's why it didn't run. I told him to bring it down to me and I'll take him to my guy to look it over. The next day my mechanic called and said it was a bad coil pack that's why it won't start, it just wasn't getting any spark. So I saved the guy 2 grand by taking it to another mechanic.

[Grey Wolf]

Have you found a new mechanic yet ?

[basspro215]

thanks guys this post really helped me cause i just bought a 91 stratius thats oil inj. but im deff ganna pree mix now

[donmac]

Wow, do most of you guys disconnect the oil line and pre mix the fuel???

Many 80's motors are being premixed. I have an '88 Merc 150hp XR2 that has a block-off kit installed and is premixed. Can't say how well it runs. It came with a project boat I bought late fall and have not had a chance to run it. (I was buying the hull and trailer and considered the motor free - if it runs great - I got lucky.)

Further into the 90's most of the manufacturers had it down pretty well. I also have a '99 Merc 200hp EFI that I have had since new - and it has run flawlessly since day 1. I have not had to put ANY money into it.

But I wouldn't touch an Optimax of that vintage. They were new and blowing heads left and right.

[slonezp]

I have an 88 Johnson with OI. I bought it used. My mechanic told me before I ever started it the first time to strip the oil injection off of it and premix- and so I did. The previous owner had gotten away with it all these years, but too much gamble for me.

Johnson VRO's are garbage. I went thru 3 pumps in 2 years on my '88. I converted to premix and then sold the moneypit.

I do feel your pain. Been there. Locked up motors (of any type) just sucks. :'(

[TennesseeShad]

I got an 87 Mariner 45 Horse. It has an external oiler that has never had a drop of oil put through it. Always took the extra minute and mixed the oil. Heard two many horror stories of them failing at peak times. I change the fuel line every two years as well as the impeller. Never had problem one. However I must admit that I want one of the new Mercury's with the built in oil reservoir but as long as this one runs fine I can't justify getting anything new.