how does my '96 115 merk work?

[sylvan21]

I have a 1996 115 merk outboard. I see the oil line goes from the oil tank to the oil pump and from the oil pump to the gas line and the gas line to the fuel pump and to the carbs. Thats all located on the port side. Then I see several other lines on the starboard side, at least one of them coming from the crank case. What are these lines for?

 

[roscoe]

Re: how does my '96 115 merk work?

The extra lines are part of the fuel recovery/recirculation system.

It takes unused fuel that puddles in the crankcase, and routes it back to the fuel intake system.

It the recirc lines are plugged up, you will have poor low speed performance, poor fuel economy, and possible flooding problems.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: how does my '96 115 merk work?

Sylvan, The line from the port side of the block to the oil tank in the boat is pressurized to keep the motor oil tank full. Kinda like the old two line pressure fuel tanks of the 1940-50s OMC outboards. The motor oil tank gravity feeds the oil pump which forces the oil into the gas line.

 

[sylvan21]

Re: how does my '96 115 merk work?

The only line I see on the oil tank is the line that runs to the oil pump. So the lines that recirculate, do they go to the carbs? If not where do they go? The motor seems to run fine. It never dies and the acceleration is smooth. If anything were to concern me it is that, sometimes when out fishing I shut it down and it will take some cranking to start back up. Most of the time it starts fine. Is this normal?

 

[Chris1956]

Re: how does my '96 115 merk work?

Sylvan, The recirculating lines are on the starboard side of the motor. They distribute unburned oil and gas around the motor, to burn it and lubricate bearings. The oil injection is on the port side of the motor. There should be an oil line from the crankcase to the boat oil tank, a line from the boat oil tank to the oil tank on the motor and a line from the motor's oil tank to the oil pump. If you 'aint got these, you got a problem...

 

[sylvan21]

Re: how does my '96 115 merk work?

Chris, My oil tank has a cap where you put the oil, a vent on top, and an oil line running out the bottom. What is this boat oil tank you speak of? I didn't know that there was another oil tank. Do I need to put oil in this tank? What is it for?

 

[Chris1956]

Re: how does my '96 115 merk work?

Mercs will usually have two oil tanks. A small one on the motor which is always automatically kept full, and a ~3 gallon one in the boat, which you refill. You should see two oil lines and a fuel line exit the motor and run to the oil and gas tank.

OK - According to my Merc Manual, your motor has only a 3.2 Qt engine mounted oil tank. This is supposed to be suficient to run 5 hours at WOT. You should refill it every time you use the boat.

 

[sylvan21]

Re: how does my '96 115 merk work?

That's all I see is the one engine mounted tank.