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  1. Lou C

    1995 OMC 5.0L motor oil question

    yes we are in the winter doldrums but because you opened up that discussion.... efi vs carbs... 1) running smoothness (esp cold starts) advantage efi 2) parts availability and repair-ability esp if you are over about 60 years or so, advantage carb by far....instead of Volvo's and Merc's NLA B.S...
  2. Lou C

    1995 OMC 5.0L motor oil question

    OMC recommended straight 30, Merc recommended straigth 30 or 40, 20/40 or 20/50, then came out with their own 25/40. Volvo used to recommend a syn 30 then they switched to a syn 10/40. Many use Rotella or Delo 15/40 in their inboards, it is a good bit cheaper than the Merc oil. Watch your oil...
  3. Lou C

    New Engine Replacement - Engine Died and Hydro locked after 5 hrs!?

    Imagine the size of a normal 40-50 gallon fuel tank that these boats have. Now imagine the volume of 2 of those, that's about 80-100 gallons. I'm having a really hard time imagining just where there is enough space on a boat this size for that much water to be hiding. Unless by some quirk all...
  4. Lou C

    Mercruiser ECM replacement?

    The casting numbers are on the rear end of the block, behind where the cyl head bolts on, this is a 4.3 V6 but the V8s are the same.... check both sides, this pic is from when I replaced the cyl heads back in '17. 1988 4.3 with roller cam. The V6s I think got the roller cam a little earlier...
  5. Lou C

    Mercruiser ECM replacement?

    PS Our last carbed car was a 1975 Olds Delta 88 with the 5.7 V8 with the Quadrajet. This had GM’s HEI system and the 1st use of cat converters. It ran a lot better than our 1972 Chevy Impala with the 5.7 & Rochester 2bbl carb & points ignition. With the QJet we never had to rebuild it running on...
  6. Lou C

    Mercruiser ECM replacement?

    Wow the restoration really looks great nice job on a classic Chris Craft! Hopefully you can work thru the ECM issue. As far as EFI vs carbs, I’m not an expert but I will quote someone who is…. Cliff Ruggles of Cliff’s High Performance Quadrajets…. “We can build a Quadrajet that runs like its...
  7. Lou C

    Alpha1 350 raw cooled boils and ticks rapidly after short time on muffs

    I think this is why the 'making oil' issue is a thing with some 4 stroke outboards, the water vapor doesn't get burnt off if they are not run hard and it causes the oil level to rise. What I found when I tried a 140 stat in mine was that I had condensation in the exhaust manifolds (found this...
  8. Lou C

    Alpha1 350 raw cooled boils and ticks rapidly after short time on muffs

    Merc switched to the 160 when they started using throttle body EFI, before that if you look in their manuals and parts listings the raw water cooled stats were just about always 140*. In fact I was really surprised my brother's nearly new 2020 Merc 4.5 V6 has a 140, yes it does for sure and it...
  9. Lou C

    Alpha1 350 raw cooled boils and ticks rapidly after short time on muffs

    No worries but I know for sure that Merc used to specify 140 for raw water and 160 for closed. In fact my brother has a 2020 Chaparral with a Merc 4.5 V6, raw water cooled and it has a 140 and that thing runs really cool. OMC and Volvo used 160s in nearly all of there models with a few...
  10. Lou C

    Alpha1 350 raw cooled boils and ticks rapidly after short time on muffs

    Other way round with the 'stats. 140 for raw water 160 for closed cooling. Just about all OMCs and Volvos came with 160s regardless without an option for a 140 as Merc does and I was able to find a 140 for a BB Chevy Volvo application last spring and tried that but the engine really ran too cool...
  11. Lou C

    I/O Exhaust Riser life in Fresh Water environment

    All fresh water is not the same, some can be pretty corrosive, as Merc found out with the early B-IIIs that didn't have enough anodes to offset the stainless props.
  12. Lou C

    Engine smell in cabin when boat is tarped for the week (350 i/o)

    Same here. I've had it almost 20 years. Very few repairs to the drive and transom mount. I bought the special OMC tools to set up the shift cable and taught myself to do it in an afternoon. It shifts very well and has been very little trouble. I did do a top end overhaul on the 4.3 V6 4 years...
  13. Lou C

    Just won't start anymore

    Agreed I'd take out each fuse make sure they are not oxidized, and look carefully at all battery terminals and connections including those at the starter solenoid and engine ground stud. Make sure that the large cannon connector is not loose that is a common source of intermittent electrical...
  14. Lou C

    Engine smell in cabin when boat is tarped for the week (350 i/o)

    How do your fuel lines look/feel? They can be cracked and not actually leak liquid fuel but can leak vapor. Looks like you have an OMC Cobra.
  15. Lou C

    My boat in saltwater

    Based on my experience with raw water cooling (admittedly limited to one boat) I think you can get 15 years of pretty trouble free engine life in salt water. After that what happens depends on maintenance habits. When I took apart the top end of my old engine in 2017 it had been used in salt...
  16. Lou C

    Just won't start anymore

    Advise you try to fine a wiring diagram for your model this will help with tracking down where the problem is. Start with checking the battery connections both at the battery and at the starter solenoid & engine ground (stud on bell housing behind starboard exhaust hoses). With the battery do...
  17. Lou C

    My boat in saltwater

    Agreed the spindle lube/super lube system works well because with frequent greasing you can see if the grease has gotten contaminated with water. It’s tough to make trailer brakes last in salt water if you are a trailer boater and put the trailer in the water every time you use the boat. In that...
  18. Lou C

    My boat in saltwater

    Next spring I promise I will post pix of Northport & Huntington NY as well as the harbor behind my house here in Long Island so you can see the hundreds of boats that survive and are used all season long here. My boat has been out on the mooring for 20 seasons. It still has the original outdrive...
  19. Lou C

    My boat in saltwater

    Yep Scotts right change both of those cables use marine cables and no wingnuts or those auto parts store clamps that allow corrosion to travel up the cable. On an important but unrelated to your question….if that boat has wood cored decks I would get rid of that carpet and have the deck re...
  20. Lou C

    My boat in saltwater

    Mines been salt water for over 20 years! Moored in it as a matter of fact. In 100% salt water use we have certain maintenance rituals that must be followed for the boat to last. But in your case regular flushing will be fine. The boat will be fine. The trailer looks galvanized so that is much...
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