(Update:SOLVED!) NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

[El Cheapo]

Hello guys...I have a 2009 model 4.3 TKS mercruiser with a whopping 26 hours on it..I changed the oil and water separator (all reccommended filters, oil, etc..not over or underfilled) Took it out for the first time about an hour ago and at the ramp I had zero oil pressure from the git go. figured it needed time to build pressure so I let it run for about 30 seconds-1 minute. low pressure alarm still blaring. pulled the filter and it was bone dry...tried to run it for 30 seconds a pop about 4 or 5 times to no avail. Filled the filter with oil on a whim, and still no help..what is going on?? Please help! I hope I did not damage it! I have no Idea how a simple oil change could result in this..

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

Exactly how did you change the oil ,pumped thru the tube or out the bottom
Where did you put the oil?
Did you test run it after the change
30-60 sec is enough th damage the bearings

 

[nitrosteve]

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

You are either pulling our leg or you have some real problem there. There is not a chance I would start that engine again until you figure this out. You could try to remove the distributor and spin the pump with a primer and see if that generates oil pressure. One minute of running with out oil pressure is like wiping your butt with sand paper it will work but it hurts like hell.

 

[sxmerc]

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

Uh oh... As Bt Doctur said, where on the motor did you pour the new oil? Is there any oil level showing on the dipstick? I had a customer fill his heat exchanger, not the crankcase, while doing his own oil change.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

Ever find gear oil in the P/S pump and ATF in the res. bottle

 

[El Cheapo]

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

Guys this was a standard oil change..I promise...(also changed water separator). I'm not a mechanic, but I know enough to be dangerous..

Drained oil through bottom (drain tube out of the drain plug)
replaced plug
removed replaced filter
filled (correct ammount, in the correct place..raw water cooled, so no heat exchanger)
Checked (proper oil level on dipstick)

took to ramp, started...no pressure..

 

[nitrosteve]

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

Then you said you removed the filter and it was dry.... That seems very odd to me. You obviously aren't getting oil pressure or you would have circulated to the filter. Could be a bad oil pump. Do you hear any audible valve chatter or excessive knocking large clouds of smoke and rolling thunder. Ok skip the thunder.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

Somethings missing. Did you double check the oil at the ramp. Could the drain plug/hose be broken or loose or the plug fell out. Add more oil again checking for leakage and see if there is any pressure. Any damage has already been done. Next step would be to pull the dist and use a priming pump to verify pump operation. Either the pump shaft is sheared or the pickup tube fell out of the oil pump body.

 

[fossill]

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

I doubt the oil pump would fail like that. Assuming you got oil in the engine (checked on the dipstick....seen lots of oil changes where drain plug got left out and oil went down the sump) pull the oil filter and make sure the protective wrapping is off it and or it is the right one. The oil pressure gage wire is still hooked up to the sender I take it.

 

[nitrosteve]

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

I'm with BTdoctor. Did you like the sand paper analogy?

 

[El Cheapo]

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

Thanks for the quick replies guys..

No external oil leaks anywhere..Bildge is clean..oil level is still exactly where it needs to be.

As for the Sender, I looked for it briefly before it got dark, where would it be located?

Bt Doctur I am real worried about the damage that may have been done now. I bought this boat brand new last september. I hope my oil change did not void the warranty.

this has got me downright sick..

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

But you go with the corn cob first, then the sand paper,get to use the sand paper a few more times.

 

[TiredoleBoy]

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

OK I'll bite. any noise while running? This whole thing sounds odd to me,

 

[TiredoleBoy]

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

But you go with the corn cob first, then the sand paper,get to use the sand paper a few more times.

Sounds like granpas outhouse.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

You ran it to warm the oil up a bit prior to changing it, was everything normal?
You removed 4 qts + the filter and added 5 qts thru the valve cover?
You started it up and had no oil pressure?
You claim to have the correct level on the dip stick but no oil pressure.?
Changing your own oil should not affect the warrenty if it`s mechanical.
dist shaft sheared
oil pump shaft sheared
pickup tube fell out of the pump body.
The motor runs so the cam is turning the dist but it`s not spinning the oil pump or the oil pump is sucking air. 3A-33 here.
http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/18/18A3R2.PDF

 

[El Cheapo]

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

No, no abnormal noises that i could tell. The times I had it running were not long, but no smoke, grinding, etc.

there is definately no oil getting to the filter, at least in the short times i had it running. would pressure get to the filter immediately or does it need time for pressure to build?

 

[sxmerc]

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

Ever find gear oil in the P/S pump and ATF in the res. bottle

Of course.

 

[bnicov]

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

Since it is fairly new, why don't you take it in to get it looked at. It should be covered under warranty.

 

[sethjon]

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

Call or return to where you bought it for an opinion. It sounds very strange but you did something wrong and for whatever reason don't realize it. A circulation problem doesn't just begin, it comes on slowly.

 

[El Cheapo]

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

Re: NO OIL PRESSURE! (4.3 Mercruiser) Help!

Sethjohn,

I hear you..I would say the same exact thing, except I am 100% certain I did everything right with the oil change...100%..oil out/oil in/change filter/no pressure. All reccommended mercury oil /filter. Absolutely no doubt in my mind. But like you say, it is probably one in a million that this happens to a brand new motor right after I changed the oil. Something happend and for the life of me I cant figure out what it could be.

I should hear back from the mechanic in a couple days. I will report back and let you guys know the verdict..regardless of my guilt or innocence!