Ran 115 Optimax out of oil

[mercuryman1223]

I have a 2006 115 Optimax . I ran it out of oil and it died on me . I refilled the oil and the engine started right up but had a rough idle and a tick . I limped it back in about 1/2 mile and it shut off on me several times . I checked the spark plugs and they were burnt . I checked the compression and i have 110 on all 3 cylinders . I changed the spark plugs and started the motor up . It would run for about 3 to 5 seconds and shut off but it didnt have a tick or rough idle anymore . I checked the spark plugs and they were already turning black again. I tried to prime the oil pump by turning the key to on and going in and out of gear 3 to 5 times . I done this many times but the motor still wont stay running . Any suggestions. Thank You

 

[MH Hawker]

run a compression test, more than likely its fried

 

[Texasmark]

No lube means galling of the piston skirts to me. The heat of friction between the piston and the cylinder wall will cause the aluminum piston to enlarge and jam in the cylinder which is what stopped the engine. The rolling parts are needle and ball bearings and since they are SS could remain intact longer than it takes for the pistons to wedge into the cylinders and stop the engine.

If you want to know, pull the exhaust manifold water jacket covers off and have a look at the pistons through the cylinder exhaust ports.

If you can get it running decently, and don't want to go the several thousand $$$$ for an engine overhaul, personally, I'd forget the internal oiler and just pre-mix at 40:1 not the usual 50:1 and use something like Pennzoil syn. blend....wally world has it in the sporting goods section. The internal oiler, if like my Merc. runs something like 80:1 at idle blending up to 50:1 at WOT. Pre mixing you have 40:1 across the spectrum.

 

[flyingscott]

No lube means galling of the piston skirts to me. The heat of friction between the piston and the cylinder wall will cause the aluminum piston to enlarge and jam in the cylinder which is what stopped the engine. The rolling parts are needle and ball bearings and since they are SS could remain intact longer than it takes for the pistons to wedge into the cylinders and stop the engine.

If you want to know, pull the exhaust manifold water jacket covers off and have a look at the pistons through the cylinder exhaust ports.

If you can get it running decently, and don't want to go the several thousand $$$$ for an engine overhaul, personally, I'd forget the internal oiler and just pre-mix at 40:1 not the usual 50:1 and use something like Pennzoil syn. blend....wally world has it in the sporting goods section. The internal oiler, if like my Merc. runs something like 80:1 at idle blending up to 50:1 at WOT. Pre mixing you have 40:1 across the spectrum.

You cannot pre-mix an optimax because the fuel does not go through the crankcase. It's fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber there would be no way to lube the crank bearings. You are going to have to do a teardown no way around it. What texasmark said would work if it was a FI or carb motor. OPTI is another animal all together.

 

[mercuryman1223]

I checked the compression and i have 110 on all 3 cylinders . The motor will start right up but will die after 3 to 5 seconds . I dont think I fried the motor I think I either have air in the oil lines or maybe i burnt the oil pump causing the motor to shut itsself down and causing the blackened spark plugs .

 

[mercuryman1223]

Is there anyway to test the multi point oil pump or another way to prime it ?

 

[mercuryman1223]

Not to mention the motor never got hot

 

[Texasmark]

You cannot pre-mix an optimax because the fuel does not go through the crankcase. It's fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber there would be no way to lube the crank bearings. You are going to have to do a teardown no way around it. What texasmark said would work if it was a FI or carb motor. OPTI is another animal all together.

Yeah I forget Optimax is fuel injected. Sorry for the disinfo.

 

[Texasmark]

I checked the compression and i have 110 on all 3 cylinders . The motor will start right up but will die after 3 to 5 seconds . I dont think I fried the motor I think I either have air in the oil lines or maybe i burnt the oil pump causing the motor to shut itsself down and causing the blackened spark plugs .

A manual would help you solve some of your questions. Just to be on the safe side, why not run pre mix 50:1 while you are sorting things out. That way you may prevent further damage while you are ironing things out.

 

[flyingscott]

If you choose to run it 50-1 no this you will ONLY be lubing the cylinder the crank will not get the extra oil. On a standard fuel injected motor the injectors are in the intake the fuel mix still goes through the crank case. On an Optimax which is direct injected the fuel never goes through the crankcase it gets injected right into the combustion chamber. The oil is injected into the motor which is why you can't by pass it. Optimax's are not for the backyard mechanic there is software for your computer needed to diagnose it. Why didn't your alarms goes off before you ran out of oil.

 

[jimmbo]

http://www.boatinfo.no/lib/mercury/manuals/115-135-150-175_optimax.html#/256

There is some info in this book about purging air from the oil system

 

[Faztbullet]

The only thing compression test tell you is that cylinders has pressure to support combustion...it does not tell you condition of engine. It can have scuffed pistons and still have high compression.The ticking and wont stay running is signs of internal damage......

 

[Alumarine]

Don't they go into safe mode to protect themselves if there's a major problem?

 

[Faztbullet]

They go into Guardian mode but that wont cause the ticking and no idle/stay running.They will idle all day in safe mode...