Oil Pump?

[lncoop]

I have a 2002 90 horse Merc that's been run a lot. It runs good, but it's started smoking quite a bit. I've had it for two years and I've noticed the increase. My mechanic, whom I trust, wants me to disable the oil injection and start mixing. How likely is it that the smoke increase is merely the result of the system adding too much oil? Are there other possibilities?

 

[Laddies]

Re: Oil Pump?

Smoke indicates to much oil, you need to check the linkage adjustment to the oil pump and the check valve on the line. Either could be the problem. See your from N Little Rock, do you know Inman Truck Sales? I was in the service with Dave Inman.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Oil Pump?

Thanks Laddies. I don't know the gentleman, but I have seen the truck lot before. It's out on the interstate I believe. So could over-oiling be seen as a symptom of the beginning stages of pump failure? I got the impression my mechanic is concerned about that. I'd rather not have to start mixing if I can help it, but I'll do that before I replace the oil pump. Guessing a linkage adjustment or check valve replacement wouldn't be that expensive?

 

[Laddies]

Re: Oil Pump?

Most oil injecyion failures on the 3 cyl 90HP engines are a failure of the drive not the pump, the drive gear on the crank strips. The check valve in the system can be checked, I believe it's around 2#and the pump takes about 1/2 hour to adjust.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Oil Pump?

So what's my best course of action? Sounds likely that the worst case scenario would be the drive. If it turned out to be either the drive gear or the check valve would it be feasible to take care of that and continue using the oil injection system? I don't want to depend on it if I shouldn't, but I don't want to disable it unnecessarily.

 

[Laddies]

Re: Oil Pump?

Lets talk about the system as a whole, first the warning system is only for the oil level and does not have a motion sensor on the shaft to warn you when the pump stops turning, nice design Huh. The main reason for the gear problem is according to mercury that dirt in the system has obstructed the gears in the pump causing a jam and shearing the drive, that makes it your problem and not theirs. Now that you have a better idea of the design problem, you will have to make up you own mind. Will it be less reliable than before after the check valve is check and the linkage adjusted, probably not, although the system has so wear on it. This is the same pump that Polaris snow mobiles have used for years I have seen then with 50,000 miles and a couple of rebuild still going, so if the drive lives the pump should be go to. If it were mine I would run it but repairs come cheaper to me than most people.

 

[CharlieB]

Re: Oil Pump?

First thing, get your hands on a factory service manual, study the oiling section so to better understand the system, components, inspection and adjustment.

Better informed will enable you to make a better decision.

Check these links, often you can download the correct manual.

http://1manual.com/Mercury manuals/Service_Manual_Index.html

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=309079&p=2072211#post2072211

 

[lncoop]

Re: Oil Pump?

Finally got the boat in and thought I'd share the results with you guys. I don't think they believed me when I told them how much it was smoking until they fired it up in the shop. Wish I could have been there. Anywho, according to them (and I trust them completely) nothing was out of adustment. They really wanted to go ahead and disconnect the oiler, and since the motor is eleven years old and has a bunch of hours I let them. Hey, the gas tank's only two feet away from the oil reservoir in the motor, so what the heck? Gotta dump it in somewhere, and now I don't have to worry about dumping the oil reservoir cap in the lake any more(not that I've ever done that:facepalm.