Hello,
I have 1992/3 Merc 3.0 with alpha one outdrive. The engine had been knocking (feeling like it's not in gear) at low speeds and fine at high speed, also fine at low speeds after coming from high speeds. This insinuated worn clutch dog, something I don't have the facility/tools/knowledge to investigate. They dumped the boat in the water and saw that the oil pressure was low. Looking at the oil dipstick it is a silvery milky substance. The mechanic there said this means water in the oil and leak, the oil was changed for the beginning of the summer and fine then (probably used the boat 30ish days this summer with knock slowly getting worse). He said that basically means a new block ($3200ish). It stalls at idle as well. I now have a fun decision and I welcome recommendations or other options: pay for a new block, buy a new boat (this one was circa five grand with one grand put into it immediately.).
Money right now is too tight to get a new and high quality enough boat for waterski optimization (our only use), so the new boat is off the table for now (unless someone wants to buy this one) but I should have a lot more dispensable cash come spring. I really do like the hull and interior and it is in good condition minus the whole engine part. I could also change the oil so the bearings aren't being quite as badly destroyed to get me through to October (supposed to be camping on a waterlocked campsite Thursday Sept 1 though Labor day). A new block won't find its way here in a week supposedly so this seems very feasible if the one I have now is trash anyway.
Is there any reason to get a second opinion? Thoughts, suggestions, hope?
Thank you,
-Sean
I have 1992/3 Merc 3.0 with alpha one outdrive. The engine had been knocking (feeling like it's not in gear) at low speeds and fine at high speed, also fine at low speeds after coming from high speeds. This insinuated worn clutch dog, something I don't have the facility/tools/knowledge to investigate. They dumped the boat in the water and saw that the oil pressure was low. Looking at the oil dipstick it is a silvery milky substance. The mechanic there said this means water in the oil and leak, the oil was changed for the beginning of the summer and fine then (probably used the boat 30ish days this summer with knock slowly getting worse). He said that basically means a new block ($3200ish). It stalls at idle as well. I now have a fun decision and I welcome recommendations or other options: pay for a new block, buy a new boat (this one was circa five grand with one grand put into it immediately.).
Money right now is too tight to get a new and high quality enough boat for waterski optimization (our only use), so the new boat is off the table for now (unless someone wants to buy this one) but I should have a lot more dispensable cash come spring. I really do like the hull and interior and it is in good condition minus the whole engine part. I could also change the oil so the bearings aren't being quite as badly destroyed to get me through to October (supposed to be camping on a waterlocked campsite Thursday Sept 1 though Labor day). A new block won't find its way here in a week supposedly so this seems very feasible if the one I have now is trash anyway.
Is there any reason to get a second opinion? Thoughts, suggestions, hope?
Thank you,
-Sean
