motor not running hot enough

[iggyw1]

What can I do about my outboard motor that is not running hot enough? I have a 1962 Evinrude 40 h.p and I just installed a temp gauge and sending unit on it. The gauge is reading about 105 degrees F. I think it is pretty accurate as I am seeing the rainbow of unburned fuel and the oil is globbing up in little balls (at the discharge) the same as when I ran my motor without the thermostat in place. When I did that, the motor ran cold too and I had the same indications until I put the thermostat back in, then the fuel rainbow and oil globbing stopped.

I have these same indicators again today, and the gauge reads 105 degrees like I stated. Now the lake water temp is only about 40 degrees F at the surface. I know this probably plays a roll in the engine not heating up properly. Is this something I just have to live with until I store the boat for the winter, or can I get a differant thermostat in the motor to make it run hotter or is there something else I should do?
Thanks.

 

[rolmops]

Re: motor not running hot enough

These engines do run quite cool even with a thermostat. Usually the way to check out whether they are overheating is by putting your hand on the block. If you can keep your hand on the block without getting burnt,it means that you are ok. I doubt whether anybody can hold their hand on an engine that runs even as low as 120 degrees.

 

[boobie]

Re: motor not running hot enough

Buy a cheap temp gun at Harbor Freight and check the temp with that. Takes all the guess work out of it. I don't trust temp gauges.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: motor not running hot enough

As long as you have a good thermostat in it, then you should be okay. 105 is actually pretty good temp to run at.

 

[iggyw1]

Re: motor not running hot enough

As long as you have a good thermostat in it, then you should be okay. 105 is actually pretty good temp to run at.

I thought a more normal temp would be about 140 degrees?? I know in the summer when the water hits about 75-78 degrees, the motor will probably run hotter for me correct? Just wondering how much of a role the temperature of the lake water plays on the temp of the motor? My problem on the motor currently is not running hot, but I'm afraid it is running too cold. Like I said in my post, the fuel is not burning and it is actually floating around my boat on the lake and at the dock like it did when I took out the thermostat. Once I put it back in at that time, the rainbow around me on the water was gone. I guess there is really no other thermostat available to make the motor run hotter?? Maybe the stat is sticking open??

 

[kmarine]

Re: motor not running hot enough

When you have 40 degree water your engine will run cool because even with the thermostat closed the lower water temp is keeping the engine from warming up. The age of your engine also plays a role as they were designed to run rich back then before epa regulations. $4 gallon fuel and newer technology oils. this will not harm you engine other than foul plugs. Sorry to say that the old engines were notorius for polution.

 

[iggyw1]

Re: motor not running hot enough

OK thanks. Yep, my old 1962 motor runs great but she sure is a pollutor alright. I feel really guilty about this sometimes too, but then again, I figured if the EPA wanted to outlaw the older motors because of the pollution, they would have done so by now. I know there are some smaller lakes in Michigan that 2 cycle gas motors are banned or gas motors totally, but not yet in the great lakes and connecting waters. I am almost ready to store my boat for the winter pretty soon here anyways, so the plugs may not be too bad yet, and I can alway just replace them in the spring time if that's the only damage the cold temp will do. I only have two sprk plugs to contend with LOL.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: motor not running hot enough

That motor is designed to run on 24:1 mix. It will pollute a little more than the later ones.

 

[iggyw1]

Re: motor not running hot enough

Yep, that's the mix I have been using for it. Once the thing is warmed up after choking it to start it, it starts with just turning the key for one RPM of the engine and it is running. It drinks a lot of gas. The thing runs really great! Never had any problem with the power head on it, but I had to rebuild the lower unit gear case because I lost my forward gear this past summer. That was a major repair job to do as it is the selectric shift motor. Had to replace the forward gear electro magnet (the one way in the rear of the gear case) and the spring with it. I did the work myself and I am not a mechanic, but it came out just fine!! I surprised myself with that repair job I did.

edit: Also had a heck of a lot of help from you guys on this forum that really was a life saver for me during that repair I did. (I should say the repair "WE" did) LOL

 

[rolmops]

Re: motor not running hot enough

The 1:24 was repudiated by Evinrude in 1963 for all needle bearing engines as of 1961. You can actually run this one on 1:50 using TCW3.
Many people still did not feel comfortable with this "lean" mixture and it is by now very common to use 1:32. Which is very reasonable considering the difference in quality between SAE 30 oil which was originally recommended and TCW3. I run my '57 35 horse Johnsons on 1:32 and have done so since I picked them up in 1998 without ever a problem. (They also have needle bearings).
The 1:24 and 1:16 mix was necessary on earlier engines because they had bushings instead of bearings.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: motor not running hot enough

Well, that's true to a point. 7.5 and smaller was all bushing and the 10's had bushings on the wrist pins. The bigger motors were infact "fully jewelled" I'm willing to bet, that if the part numbers for the '61 model 40's as it is for the later ones, then I couldn't see why it would hurt to run them at 50:1. Then again, oil is the cheapest thing you'll ever put in an outboard, so why skimp on it? It'll prolong the life of it.

rolmops, what is that in your avitar?

 

[rolmops]

Re: motor not running hot enough

rolmops, what is that in your avitar?

It is a "rolmops" , a pickled herring wrapped around a pickle with onions and held together with a tooth pick or two.
This is/was very common winter food in north western Europe. It prevented scurvy.
Part of my family,hails from a very small fishing village on those shores.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: motor not running hot enough

Interesting. Learn something new everyday. Over the course of being in these forums, I've always wondered what that is.