Running on muffs, temp guage not moving

[gabe33366]

Hi guys, this is regarding a 1996 Merc 4.3lx with an alpha 1 Gen 2.

I've got it connected to the muffs, although they leak quite a bit (water on full blast). Upon starting the motor it seems to suck up water (less leaking out).

The thing is I can't see any water coming out anywhere aside from where the muffs leak. Also the temp guage is not moving. I'm wondering if it didn't run long enough for the temp to change or if I might have a bad guage or something, it
was working before winter. I ran the engine for 30seconds to a minute at lowest idle in neutral. The block was still cold to the touch.

I haven't done this myself before and I'm sure I might be being overly cautious just trying not to damage anything.

Thanks

 

[Bondo]

I ran the engine for 30seconds to a minute at lowest idle in neutral. The block was still cold to the touch.

Ayuh,.... Was it winterized wet, or dry,..??

If dry, it takes more than a minute to fill the block, 'n manifolds, at which time water will come out the idle relief ports on the transom,....

How old is the impeller,..??

Btw,... It'll take minutes for the block to warm,... it won't get up to full temps, without a load,....

 

[Scott Danforth]

most likely the water is coming out your idle relief ports.

you wont really get the motor to heat up on the muffs as you cant load the motor.

 

[gabe33366]

Ayuh,.... Was it winterized wet, or dry,..??

If dry, it takes more than a minute to fill the block, 'n manifolds, at which time water will come out the idle relief ports on the transom,....

How old is the impeller,..??

Btw,... It'll take minutes for the block to warm,... it won't get up to full temps, without a load,....

Brand new impellor, just installed new impellor kit myself. Boat was winterized by draining water and a couple gallons of antifreeze poured through thermostat hoses which was also drained (didn't do myself).

 

[gabe33366]

most likely the water is coming out your idle relief ports.

you wont really get the motor to heat up on the muffs as you cant load the motor.

So I should be fine running for 5 to 10 minutes? I'm going to change the oil so I figured it should be warm.

Where exactly are these ports?

 

[enginesilo]

So I should be fine running for 5 to 10 minutes? I'm going to change the oil so I figured it should be warm.

Where exactly are these ports?

You should see the water coming out close to the transom in the bottom of the housing once the water gets flowing. I would watch that temperature gauge closely to be sure the impeller installation was done properly and water is circulating as it should. As a tip, I usually run my hose at about half or 3/4, not on full blast when on muffs, seems like that gives plenty of flow and I can start to see where the flow is coming from.

You can also put your hand on top of the exhaust risers, if the engine is running and they stay on the cooler side you know water is circulating.

 

[gabe33366]

Okay thanks everyone, it seemed like it just needed to run longer. Saw the water exit and temp rose up to 150.

 

[HT32BSX115]

So I should be fine running for 5 to 10 minutes? I'm going to change the oil so I figured it should be warm.

Where exactly are these ports?

Shouldn't be a problem. You really don't have to heat the oil to change it. It'll just take a little longer for your vac to suck it out.

More importantly, in the future, you should be changing your engine oil when you winterize the engine so that it has fresh (UN-contaminated) oil sitting in the pan and on the bearings for the long winter sleep! That's the time to change your drive oil too so that it doesn't sit all winter with water in it (if it does have water in it.)