225 Johnson H/P

[Ghostshad]

How long does it take for the pee hole on My motor to pick up water ? And will My heat sensor on My boat keep Me safe from overheating ?

[slowworm]

If it's not peeing within a few seconds something is wrong.  

 

And while the heat sensor may keep you safe from overheating (Not sure if it will shut down the engine on your Johnson), that isn't a great help when you are miles from the ramp.

 

 

[MickD]

If you haven't changed the water pump impellor in a long time, it's time.  If you have, and maybe you've been in the mud, you might clear the problem with a wire into the pee hole.   Guides in the Bahamas are doing that quite often.

[Way2slow]

No, the heat sensor will not keep it from overheating, it's only going to make the buzzer sound if it's working.

I hope you are running a water pressure gauge, that's a very important indicator to have.

As far as the pee hole, on that motor, they take a little longer than most.  It has to fill the exhaust chest before it starts coming out and that's close to five gallons of water.

As mentioned also, you should also replace the water pump/impeller every three, no more than four years.  Learn to do it yourself and it's fairly cheap insurance and not that hard to replace.  It can be done by yourself, I've done bunches of them by myself, but the lower unit is a little heavy and having a second pair of hands makes it a lot easier.

 

 

[slonezp]

On 4/2/2024 at 1:57 PM, slowworm said:

If it's not peeing within a few seconds something is wrong.  

 

And while the heat sensor may keep you safe from overheating (Not sure if it will shut down the engine on your Johnson), that isn't a great help when you are miles from the ramp.

 

 

Not necessarily. Pee hole might be plugged and nothing more

[slowworm]

3 hours ago, slonezp said:

Not necessarily. Pee hole might be plugged and nothing more

If it's blocked, something is wrong.  Being blocked is "Something is wrong." 

[slonezp]

4 hours ago, slowworm said:

If it's blocked, something is wrong.  Being blocked is "Something is wrong." 

Mud in the pee hole is mud in the pee hole. I've had mud in the pee hole. Everything works fine except the pee hole.

[WRB]

You will not see water coming out the exhaust pipe until the engine has warmed up enough to open the thermostats cooling the engine. The pee hole is simply an indicator the water pump is working. A pressure gage in 10-15 psi is far more reliable.

If the pee hole is clogged clear the clogg. Spiders and other insects often plug small orifaces like engine pee holes.

If you don’t have a water pump pressure gage install one.

Water pump impeller are rubber and wear or take a set it needs to be replaced.

Tom

Listen to Way2Slow (  Keith) is an expert on OMC OB engines.

[Way2slow]

The pee hole, is nothing but a visual indication the motor is pumping water.  I has absolutely nothing to do with the actual cooling of the engine.  It is also a dangerous indicator to depend on, that why I say a water pressure gauge is an essential item.  OMC recommends a minimum of 16psi water pressure on that motor.  10psi will give you a good stream out of the pee hole and will still fry it.  

What people fail to realize, just because water is circulating, that does not mean that motor is getting cooled.  Just like with a car engine, they run a pressurized system to raise the boiling point of the water and it can run hot when it was full of water with a bad radiator cap.  The engine develops hot spots while it's running that will cause the water to boil in that area, if it's not pressurized enough to keep it from boiling.  When it starts to boil, the steam in that spot starts pushing the water away and out of the of the system.  That spot grows and pretty soon you have not water in the cooling system.  

Even with an outboard that has a constant source of fresh water, hot spots will develop and not let water circulate through them if there is not enough pressure to keep them from developing.  That water turns to steam, and steam does not cool an engine.

 

That's why I say have a water pressure gauge and keep a good water pump. I never looked to see if one was peeing when running a water pressure gauge, could have care less if it was or wasn't.  Lots of insects love readymade hole for nest, so if you don't keep something stuck in them when the boat is parked, that get plugged quite often.  

No pee hole is going to tell you if you have the pressure you need, just that there is water moving through the motor.