07' Optimax 150 alarm issues

[GSPLures]

How are you all doing?

I just got a new to me 2007 Crestliner 1850 sportfish with a Optimax 150 outside of basic maintenance I am not to familiar with outboards but I did rebuild a sterndrive so not mechanically incompetent.

After about 2 hours the first time out I was getting 4 beeps every 2 minutes and the motor ran fine no limp mode.

-I suspected water in fuel (oil was full) so I emptied the fuel filter added some heet.

-took out today and removed cowl on the water as I was still getting the alarm. The oil bottle under the cowl was about an inch low. I unscrewed the cap and it didnt overflow.

I found the string holding the cap on the reserve tank was trapped under the cap so i fixed that then the oil reservoir on the motor filled when the cap was loosened.

I am still getting the alarm though and its not water in fuel as I disconnected the sensor under the filter to make sure it was a oil and not a fuel issue.

Since the alarm is beeping every 2 minutes still is there something else I should be checking as far as I know the oil is working properly and both reserve and motor reservoir are full. I have read i might have to take it in to be purged with a scanner or i can reset it to break in mode. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

 

[GSPLures]

I ended up calling the shop the previous owner took the boat to for everything. They didnt seem concerned because it did not go into limp mode told me to make sure that the motor is using oil and if I am concerned I can premix my gas.

I am going to buy and install vessel view on it so i can be sure everything is operating normal.

I am going to take it in to be winterized in a few weeks so they can clear the alarm. It is a good possibility I have a bad sensor in the engine bottle.

 

[Chris1956]

An owners manual or service manual will describe the different alarms to you. Mercury intended for you to have that info.

I am not sure that premixing gasoline and oil on an Optimax is an option. You should check on that.

Optimax's have a 7 port oil pump. One port for pumping oil to each cylinder and one port for providing oil to the compressor. Mixing oil into your gasoline will not lubricate the cylinders or compressor, as the gasoline is directly injected into the combustion chamber, bypassing the crankcase.

 

[GSPLures]

An owners manual or service manual will describe the different alarms to you. Mercury intended for you to have that info.

I am not sure that premixing gasoline and oil on an Optimax is an option. You should check on that.

Optimax's have a 7 port oil pump. One port for pumping oil to each cylinder and one port for providing oil to the compressor. Mixing oil into your gasoline will not lubricate the cylinders or compressor, as the gasoline is directly injected into the combustion chamber, bypassing the crankcase.

I have to order the manual, tried downloading from a link I found on the forum but it is broken now(worked for my mercruiser 140).

I do have the document that says what the warnings mean. The particular one I have is a low oil warning or water in fuel (they are the same cadence). Which is why I unplugged that sensor to see if it was the oil sending the warning.

The tech that has worked on the boat since the original owner bought it said you could mix the gas. I called and spoke to him personally.

The oil is full in both the reserve tank and the motor tank. I believe air got into the system as it wasnt priming because of the reserve tank cap. I fixed that and now it is filling the motor bottle but the warning still sounds.

I ordered a vesselview system which should tell me what is going on.

Thank you for your response

 

[GSPLures]

I just got the manual today so i am going to run through the flow chart for the oil system. The vesselview should be here tomorrow so I can see what is exactly triggering the alarm. Hopefully all goes well because I would like to get the boat out a few more times before I have to put her away.

 

[GSPLures]

Well, I ran through the troubleshooting chart and confirmed it was the float. I have a new tank on the way which was a task in itself due to everything being on backorder.

I got a few quotes for priming the oil pump which range from $60 all the way to $250 (crazy to just hook up a computer to prime)

The manual also says you can put the motor back into break in mode to prime the pump (said for rebuilds etc. And the computer was better when just opening up the system) which will last 120 minutes above 3500 rpm.

Outside of burning more oil and having to change out spark plugs after the break in period. Is there any reason why I should have a mercury dealer perform the oil prime?