Is this normal ?

[curtis45]

Hi, I just recently purchased a 1998 mercury 9.9 EL. I had a new water pump installed in it because I didn't know how old the one that was in it was. I have not run this motor on the water only in a tub of water. My question is: The water that comes out of the tell tale comes and goes. It will pee a steady stream for a few seconds and then it will just kinda sputter out for a bit then start a steady stream again, etc. I pulled out the thermostat and heated it in a pan of water and it appears to be working. Do i have anything to be concerned about? Thank you for any advice.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Is this normal ?

Thats normal, thats the thermostat opening and closing like it should, when you run it at higher RPM it will stream a lot more.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Is this normal ?

Do you have the lower submerged so the water inlets are covered? Can't pump water if the inlets are not fully submerged.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Is this normal ?

I agree with both replies but will go a bit farther on the water height and that is to cover the water pump which puts the water level about half way up the midsection for a test tank. Additionally, running the engine in the tank heats the water so keep an eye on it. Course if you put the engine in gear and splash it out, the water hose replacement water will cover that. On a boat it is designed to take care of itself.

You can look and see if the pee tube is plumbed off the outlet of the stat. Since you had it out, was it? Apparently so from your symptoms. The stat starts opening at 143F. What makes it open is the pellet and temp sensitive spring that are in the block cooling passages get hot and the spring expands. As soon as it opens, fresh cool water comes into the block which is below the opening temp and the stat closes back off. Until you run the engine at high enough loads to keep the heat applied to the water higher than the water's ability to cool it down, you will have intermittent pee. Once you get above that, the pee will be constant.

Mark

 

[curtis45]

Re: Is this normal ?

Thank you all for the replies. Yes I was running it in a large tub filled completely full,allmost entire lower unit submerged. I have only run it at idle or slightly above. Yes the pee tube outlet is plumbed to the thermostat housing. The person I bought it from told me it would pee constant once throttle was opened up on the water but was intermittent at idle. I was just wanting to make sure this was normal. Thanks again I feel much better about taking it out now.