4.3 Mercruiser Overheat, Stall, Won't Start

[acke61]

1991 Rinker 4.3 Mercruiser w/ carb (not original, it was re powered in 2005 with a jasper crate engine)

alpha 1 gen 2 outdrive

Ok so I just took the boat out for the first time this year...knowing that my temp gauge isn't working ( i know i'm stupid flame me )

After about 15 minutes of cruising around i hear wierd noises from the engine...back it down...it goes away...give it throttle it comes back so i start to go toward shore and it stalls. Won't start again. Open the engine cover and the engine is obviously hot as hell...whitish smoke coming from flame arrester. Can hear a noise almost like water boiling like sizzling almost...i'm pretty sure it was water boiling though.

So i get towed in...thinking my motor is toast.

I got reading and everyones overheat problems ended up with a seized engine...Well mine still turned over...so anxiety gets to me i drive at midnight 30 mins to the boat and think...maybe now that its cool it will start.

Bam it starts. Only let it run for about 5 seconds. No muffs on it.

1. Obviously i need to fix my water temp gauge. I need to know how to test to see if the gauge itself is actually bad or just the sender...or wiring.

2. Just because it started for 5 seconds could there be internal damage in the engine to worry about from the overheating. I assume i should change my oil and filter as a precaution in case there are any metal shaving in my oil.

3. Obviously I need to replace my impeller. I need to know detailed information on how to do that as I have not done it before. ( i know i should have)

4. Is there anything else i should do, check, be aware of, replace, etc.

Any help is greatly appreciated. I'm mechanically inclined but never worked on an inboard/ outboard boat before really.

Thanks guys,

Ack

 

[billy boater]

Re: 4.3 Mercruiser Overheat, Stall, Won't Start

first i would check to see if u have power to ur gauge. if so check u ground wire. the temp sender should be on the block some where with a single wire going to it. i would replace that impeller that is more than likley the cause to ur prob. on ur drive im not sure but i think u have to split the two halfs part to get to the impeller. but im not positive do some research on it. good luck

 

[acke61]

Re: 4.3 Mercruiser Overheat, Stall, Won't Start

anyone?

 

[Bondo]

Re: 4.3 Mercruiser Overheat, Stall, Won't Start

4. Is there anything else i should do, check, be aware of, replace, etc.

Ayuh,... Up in the Adults Only section of this forum are the Factory Service Manuals,...
They'll cover most All your Questions,...
As for #4,... Check all the Rubber parts in the exhaust system,... You do doubt Fried them all...