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    ​Mercruiser 3.0 Running Hot/Overheating - Need Help and Ideas

    My engine has always seemed to run hot on the gauge (175 F degrees) with no other symptoms or issues, but this year it has me worried as it seems to have climbed to around 190 degrees while I was getting things ready for spring on the hose. I shot the engine in a few spots with an IR...
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    Painting outdrive on your I/O,and Zinc change frequency

    What type of paint do you all use on your I/O and sit in salt water? I have the alpha 1 gen 2 drive and have always aerosol painted it, but this past year someone told me the roll/brush paint is so much better. I used that instead and the engine didn't look any better than when I used the...
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    Slave Solenoid Removal on a Mercruiser 3.0L??

    I have narrowed my starting issue down to the Slave Solenoid from what I can tell based on the symptoms and my tests. If I jump the posts it starts every time, but if I use the key it starts sometimes, other times takes a few on/off/on motions to get it to go. I thought it would be a super...
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    Freeze/Drain Plugs on a 3.0L Mercruiser? Filling with Anti-Freeze and Winterizing

    I've winterized my 3.0L Mercruiser for at least 5 seasons now and has gone well every time so far. I had a question about freeze plugs or drain plugs on the engine. I never pull any drain or freeze plugs. My engine has what is called a "Single Point Drain System" that supposedly drains the...
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    Audible Engine Alarm? Not Present?

    I have a 2005 Searay 180SP and I don't think it has an audible alarm. When I turn the key I don't hear a long beep like some boats I have had in the past. Should I assume it does not have an audible alarm for engine problems since I don't hear the beep on start up? Can anyone direct me to...
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    140 vs. 160 degree thermostat in Salt water?

    I'm about to change my thermostat and I called a part place and they asked if I wanted a 140 or 160 degree. The sales rep said that in salt water they recommend running a 140 so there is less salt build up at higher temps. Is this what Mercruiser recommends for a raw water cooling setup? 140...
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    Gas Tank during the winter-Winterizing

    Do most people just use stabilizer, or is draining a good idea? Not even sure how I'd go about draining it but I was curious. I typically load my tank up with proper amount of Stabilizer and that's that. I recently helped my bro buy a boat and it was still winterized and the boat's gas tank was...
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    Hard Start and RPM Gauge spinning backwards?

    So my boat has been having some issues starting for the last few times I went out. If I turn the key I hear a click but the starter doesn't engage at all. After turning it a few times it eventually spins like normal and starts right up. However, last 2 times I was out, after being anchored for...
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    Changing Thermostat on 3.0L - Which Parts?

    When changing the thermostat on a 3.0L, should I change the thermostat and the top gasket only? Anyone recommend also changing the sleeve and the lower side gasket? I can see those 4 parts in the diagram but it seems like most of the kids only have the top gasket and thermostat. Is it common to...
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    3.0L Running Hot? 190 Degree Range

    Since I purchased my boat used over 5 years ago the temp gauge once up to running temp reads in the 190 range. Yes, I know that is too hot and it should be more in the 170+/- range. When I first bought the boat I checked the temperature with an infrared thermometer and it read in the 170 range...
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    Not getting up to max RPM's - Water in Fuel?

    Curious what some possible things to check are with my motor not getting up to Max RPM's suddenly? Boat ran fine the first handful of times out but the last 2 times it would only get up to about 3700-3800rpm's and felt sluggish. It usually runs in the 4400 RPM range. I have ther Mercruiser...
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    Rub Rail?Replace or Repair?

    I'm considering buying a 2001 Rinker and there is one section of the rub rail that looks flattened out and loose. Guessing a past owner hit a dock or another boat enough to break it loose. I can also see that there is a little bit of silicone in that section where they tried to repair it. Is...
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    Maintenance on a 3.0L vs. a 5.7L Mercruiser

    So I've owned a 3.0L with an Alpha one gen two for a few years and the engine seems like a bullet proof setup, and hasn't given me any troubles (yet). I'm considering another boat that is a 2001 with a 5.7L Mercruiser with the alpha one gen two outdrive. What is the difference in maintenance...
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    Too many hours? Mercruiser 3.0L or 4.3L

    I'm back in the game shopping for a new boat and will probably have a mercruiser so I had some questions. Just looking for some input on hours on a mercruiser engine that is maintained. If a boat is maintained well, how many hours are reasonable for a 5 to 10 year old boat? Considering 300...
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    Volve Penta 5.0 EFI - 302 Ford Engine - Reliable?Problematic?

    I'm shopping boats and found most with the standard Mercruiser setup, but one has a Volvo Penta 5.0 engine. The year is 96 and it has a Volvo Penta SX Cobra Outdrive. Anyone know if this engine is a decent engine, or problematic? From what I can tell it is the 302 5.0L Mustang engine with the...
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    Winterizing-HOW MUCH ANTIFREEZE?

    I am wintering my Mercruiser 3.0 this year and was curious to know how much anti-freeze I should buy to winterize properly? I plan to follow Don's winterize sticky post. How many gallons will do it?
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    Fuel Filter/Water Separator - WHICH TO INSTALL?

    This is the first time I am working on my own boat and realize that it does not have a separate fuel filter/water separator. I have a 2005 Mercruiser 3.0L engine. Does Mercruiser sell one that I can just cut and install into the fuel line, or is there another one out there people recommend...
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    Anyone using a SuperFlush system?

    Keeping my boat at a dock in the salt water this year so I've been looking around for a flushing system. Seems like the SuperFlush does exactly what I need. http://www.superflushsales.com/product_3.html Anyone use one of these or have feedback on them?
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    Flushing freshwater through engine from dock hose? 3.0L Mercruiser

    So last year I used to trailer my boat and flushed it after every use on the hose for a while. This year I am keeping the boat in the water. I've seen the closed cooling systems and am considering one. Are they hard to install? If I just keep it plain jane raw water cooling, is there a kit I...
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    Which Manual do I need? Mercruiser 3.0L

    I have a 2005 Searay with the Mercruiser 3.0 engine. Which manual do I need so I can work on it myself? I want to make sure I am changing the oil correctly, winterizing it, summerizing, etc. Is the one on iBoats the one I need? I see Part #3208 covers all 2001-2006 engines and drive units...
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