Oil line broke and Engine making a clicking sound

[Chester Moss]

Mercury 115hp 1995 model. Oil line broke and warning alarm didn't go off. Fixed oil line and put oil in gas tank. Runs good except for clicking sound. Sounds like valves clattering on a car except louder. Compression good. Any suggestions on problem. Thanks, Chester

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Oil line broke and Engine making a clicking sound

On those older motors the oil alarm only goes off when the oil level in the tank gets low. Did you bleed all the air out of the pump when you fixed the hose?

 

[MercGuy]

Re: Oil line broke and Engine making a clicking sound

I've got pretty much the same engine (1998). I'm curious, was it the oil line from the tank to the pump, or from the pump to the fuel line ?

Sounds like maybe I should replace mine this spring as preventative maintenance.

 

[Chester Moss]

Re: Oil line broke and Engine making a clicking sound

Oil line that broke was the line from the pump to the fuel line. The oil pump is working fine now. Any idea of what the clicking sound could be?

 

[Laddies]

Re: Oil line broke and Engine making a clicking sound

I don't think anyone wants to say this but depending on how long the engine ran with out oil, it may have damaged the pistons or rods.

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Oil line broke and Engine making a clicking sound

How long might it have run without oil? Sounds like a rod bearing to me.

 

[Chester Moss]

Re: Oil line broke and Engine making a clicking sound

I don't think anyone wants to say this but depending on how long the engine ran with out oil, it may have damaged the pistons or rods.

well took the boat to the shop and it was the piston or rod that broke. the shop did a compression check on it and there was a 60-65 psi difference between the no. 3 cylinder and the rest. they are telling me it would be best to purchase a new motor but i don't have $7,000 lying around. any ideas?
Chester

 

[Laddies]

Re: Oil line broke and Engine making a clicking sound

Find a different shop the last were not very reputable

 

[LOW-LIFE]

Re: Oil line broke and Engine making a clicking sound

if a piston or a rod broke it would be much more than some light "tapping" picture more of a hammer banging around in there.

if a rod ill bet it woulda done locked up by now and punched a hole through the block.

also if a piston or rod was busted it would have ZERO compression on that cylinder as the pistom would not be moving. and if the pistom was moving cause the rod was ok but the piston had a chunk missing it would still have ZERO compression as air is just moving right through the chunk. go to another shop.

low compression indicates worn piston rings and or a valve or valves not properly sealing up and loosing compression. 99.999% of the time.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Oil line broke and Engine making a clicking sound

If it ran more than a few minutes without oil, you hurt something major mechanical. If you go at it now, you can probably limit the damage and maybe replace a few bearings and a piston. If you run it much like that, you'll make scrap metal out of it.

My engine's 20 years old. I replaced every oil and gas line on it last year as a preventative measure. Old owner ran gasohol in it and there was quite a bit of black gunk in the carbs. I figures that was probably the inner tubes on the gas lines.

hope it helps
John

 

[Chester Moss]

Re: Oil line broke and Engine making a clicking sound

I Followed your advice and took to a different shop. Turns out only one piston was bad. Rings were melted to piston and scratched block walls. Took to machine shop and had block bored out and a larger piston put in. Honed out other cylinders and replaced rings. Motor back together and took to lake yesterday and runs good. Cost less than 1100.00 dollars. Other shop wanted 5500.00 for rebuilt block or 7000.00 for new 90 horse power.ThANKS for all the advice.
Chester

 

[Laddies]

Re: Oil line broke and Engine making a clicking sound

The reason they wanted to sell you a short block is they have no experinced mechanics and are just parts changers like so many service shops have become.

 

[peterbiltwillie]

Re: Oil line broke and Engine making a clicking sound

Hello all. I am new to the forum. I have a 1994 model 60HP Merc that done the exact same thing and Chester's. Oil line broke from the oil pump to the fuel line. It run approx 1/4 mile at half throttle before i found it. The motor shut down like it run out of fuel. I restarted it thinking it was a filter stopping up. It died again at 1/2 throttle. This time when i tried starting, it sounded kinda tight like the battery was dead. I knew something was wrong and pulled the hood. I noticed the oil line broke and didnt run it anymore. Replaced the broke line and mixed oil in the gas and started it up. It runs fine but has a clicking sound like a loose gear on a shaft. It is noticeable from idle to 1/2 throttle then the engine noise drowns it out.

I talked to a local Merc mechanic and he said to check the compression which i did. 110 lbs on all 3 cylinders. Seems to have same amount of power and is running fine. I tried to get that mechanic and another one here in Little Rock to listen to it today. The first Mechanic bumped the starter and said it sounds fine to him. Did not want to hook on a waterhose and listen. If I needed i could drop off and he would pull carbs and intake and look at bearings. Second big boat shop just said drop off and he would get to it in a few weeks.

Anybody know what clicking sound is? Is it coming from the transmission or lower unit and echoing up? I have run a tank of gas thru it since this has happened and still the same noise. Not louder or quiter. Any Ideas?

Thanks.