97 Evinrude 225 OceanPro...Engine Alarm went off at 5200 RPM. Too fast? New Impeller?

[diver94]

I recently bought a 22' Palm Beach boat with a 1997 Evinrude 225 Oceanpro (E225TXEUD). The engine has 580 hours (that?s what the seller told me and what reads on the gauge). I went on my first trip yesterday. The engine was running good. I was doing 35 MPH (SOG by GPS) at aprox 5200 RPM, after 25 minutes at that RPM rate (5100 to 5300 RPM) the engine alarm went off. I had to reduce the RPM to 4500. After that I had no other issues.

Please let me have your opinion.

Was I pushing the engine too much/higher-than-normal RPM?

Maybe the engine needs a new water pump impeller.
Thanks!
Lui

 

[Flynny]

Re: 97 Evinrude 225 OceanPro...Engine Alarm went off at 5200 RPM. Too fast? New Impel

I believe most outboards are designed to run in the 5000-6000 RPM range at WOT. I am no expert though so maybe someone can confirm for your engine.

Anyways, if that alarm was a constant "beeeep", then it's the overheat alarm. Check for good water-flow out of the water-discharge hole and check your engine temperature gauge if you have one. Again I am not sure about this, but the needle should be about in the middle of the gauge. You may need a new impeller if the engine is overheating.

If it isn't overheating, it could also be a fuel restriction alarm or even a bad sensor.

Good luck!

 

[wilde1j]

Re: 97 Evinrude 225 OceanPro...Engine Alarm went off at 5200 RPM. Too fast? New Impel

Your motor should be propped to turn ~ 5800 RPM @ WOT and 5200 for running shouldn't hurt it at all.

 

[diver94]

Re: 97 Evinrude 225 OceanPro...Engine Alarm went off at 5200 RPM. Too fast? New Impel

I appreciate your help. Yes, when the alarm went off it was a constant (loud) beep. So, it was the overheat alarm. I already ordered the new impeller and will install it as soon as I get it. I hope its not too hard to replace.
Again, thanks for the advice.

 

[diver94]

Re: 97 Evinrude 225 OceanPro...Engine Alarm went off at 5200 RPM. Too fast? New Impel

Got it...5200 RPM should not hurt the engine. At this point I'm almost positive the reason why the engine overheated at high RPM and worked fine when I reduced it to 4500 is because it needs new impeller. THANKS!

 

[wilde1j]

Re: 97 Evinrude 225 OceanPro...Engine Alarm went off at 5200 RPM. Too fast? New Impel

I appreciate your help. Yes, when the alarm went off it was a constant (loud) beep. So, it was the overheat alarm. I already ordered the new impeller and will install it as soon as I get it. I hope its not too hard to replace.
Again, thanks for the advice.

See here for water pump repair and other info. You may need complete water pump, not just impeller.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=299680

 

[diver94]

Re: 97 Evinrude 225 OceanPro...Engine Alarm went off at 5200 RPM. Too fast? New Impel

Great source of info (that link you posted). Thanks!

 

[daselbee]

Re: 97 Evinrude 225 OceanPro...Engine Alarm went off at 5200 RPM. Too fast? New Impel

With a '97 you should have a Systems Check tach. The lights on the tach will indicate exactly which fault condition triggered the alarm.

 

[diver94]

Re: 97 Evinrude 225 OceanPro...Engine Alarm went off at 5200 RPM. Too fast? New Impel

Daselbee,
You are right. I shoud have paid more attention to the System check tach. I do remember seeing two red lights iluminate...one was the check engine light and the other one was either the one above it (water temp) or the one below (oil level). All I remember was a loud and constant beep. I reduced the RPM and it went away.
Thanks
Lui

 

[seahorse5]

Re: 97 Evinrude 225 OceanPro...Engine Alarm went off at 5200 RPM. Too fast? New Impel

Daselbee,
You are right. I shoud have paid more attention to the System check tach. I do remember seeing two red lights iluminate...one was the check engine light and the other one was either the one above it (water temp) or the one below (oil level). All I remember was a loud and constant beep. I reduced the RPM and it went away.
Thanks
Lui

A solid horn tone with your motor should have only lasted about 10 seconds and chances are it was the check engine light that came on. If you had an overheat, the motor would have instantly reduced rpms to about 2500 and would run rough until you slowed down even more, plus the TEMP or HOT light would be on.

From your description, there is a fuel restriction somewhere in the system that triggered the vacuum switch on the motor. It is to protect the motor from leaning out and damaging pistons.

Obtain and owners manual or search online for how the SystemCheck works and what the indicators mean.

 

[daselbee]

Re: 97 Evinrude 225 OceanPro...Engine Alarm went off at 5200 RPM. Too fast? New Impel

^^^^^ What Seahorse said. Good advice.

 

[diver94]

Re: 97 Evinrude 225 OceanPro...Engine Alarm went off at 5200 RPM. Too fast? New Impel

seahorse/daselbee,

I got the SELOC manual. I will check the fuel filter and will definitely pay attention to the systemcheck gauge next time.
THANKS!

?If the CHECK ENGINE LED illuminates on carbureted motors so equipped (some literature says that this switch is only on V6 models, but we believe it was used on V4 models as well), then the vacuum switch (connected via a vacuum hose to the fuel separation chamber) has detected a restriction in the fuel supply line (like a kinked hose or a plugged filter). Check for restrictions and, if none are found/obvious, use a vacuum pump to check the switch. Refer to the procedure later in this section under System Check Gauge - Diagnostic Mode (Carbureted Models).

 

[seahorse5]

Re: 97 Evinrude 225 OceanPro...Engine Alarm went off at 5200 RPM. Too fast? New Impel

The vacuum sensor was only used on a few models of special V-4 engines, very few.