Ron V
06-30-2005, 10:46 AM
I've done some searches here and there seem to be varying answers on two topics. I just got off the phone with Mercury's customer service department and I'm not totally confident.
1) What is the normal operating temperature for my 2005 Merc 150 XR6 at idle, at a cruise, top end, and slow down? The rep at Mercury says it has 143 thermos in it so it should run about that temp at idle and cool down once underway. I thought there were 165's available and that was what it had, since I am getting readings of about 165 at idle, 150-160 while cruising (was 140 back in the spring) and a temporary heat-up to 165-170 during the slow down and cooling period after a high speed run. For starters, it's a Faria gauge so I suppose I could just as well unplug it and leave it in the dash to fill in the hole. When it read 170 yesterday after a WOT run, I shut it off (that should heat it up in itself), quickly pulled the cowl, and was able to hold my hands on the top of the heads for several seconds and even near the plug areas for a second or two. Certainly didn't seem to hot. The rep at Merc was not concerned about those readings at all, said that the hot horn goes off between 220-240 and if that's not going off it's fine. My water pressure is more than adequate, about 20 at top end, 10-12 at a moderate cruise, 6-8 at a slow plane once the valves open (10-15 when they are closed), 4 at idle in gear.
2) I asked about the oil injection and what ratios it mixes at. The rep said it is 50:1 all the time, that is the standard on their motors. I said I thought it idled at over 100:1, but the rep said no, it is 50:1 all the time and is not a variable system. Anyone know? The consumption in the reservoir would indicate it's using about 50:1 overall, but I don't do a lot of idling so it's hard to tell. Yes, it's under warranty but I'd hate to contribute to long term wear that won't make itself known until after the warranty is up. I don't like the thought of screaming out of the hole with skiers with carburetors full of 100+:1 mix. The arm rotates on the pump to control the flow, but I suppose that doesn't mean it's variable ratio. It obviously does take more oil to mix 50:1 at WOT than at idle. I plan on removing the injection after the end of next year but don't want to void the warranty until then. I can always run 100:1 in the gas if need be to give it some extra lube.
Anyone who for sure knows the answers and has actually repaired or trouble-shot one of these motors instead of reading a computer screen would be very helpful. Remember, it's a brand new 2005 motor, so maybe some things changed. Need someone who knows THIS motor to tell me. Thanks.
1) What is the normal operating temperature for my 2005 Merc 150 XR6 at idle, at a cruise, top end, and slow down? The rep at Mercury says it has 143 thermos in it so it should run about that temp at idle and cool down once underway. I thought there were 165's available and that was what it had, since I am getting readings of about 165 at idle, 150-160 while cruising (was 140 back in the spring) and a temporary heat-up to 165-170 during the slow down and cooling period after a high speed run. For starters, it's a Faria gauge so I suppose I could just as well unplug it and leave it in the dash to fill in the hole. When it read 170 yesterday after a WOT run, I shut it off (that should heat it up in itself), quickly pulled the cowl, and was able to hold my hands on the top of the heads for several seconds and even near the plug areas for a second or two. Certainly didn't seem to hot. The rep at Merc was not concerned about those readings at all, said that the hot horn goes off between 220-240 and if that's not going off it's fine. My water pressure is more than adequate, about 20 at top end, 10-12 at a moderate cruise, 6-8 at a slow plane once the valves open (10-15 when they are closed), 4 at idle in gear.
2) I asked about the oil injection and what ratios it mixes at. The rep said it is 50:1 all the time, that is the standard on their motors. I said I thought it idled at over 100:1, but the rep said no, it is 50:1 all the time and is not a variable system. Anyone know? The consumption in the reservoir would indicate it's using about 50:1 overall, but I don't do a lot of idling so it's hard to tell. Yes, it's under warranty but I'd hate to contribute to long term wear that won't make itself known until after the warranty is up. I don't like the thought of screaming out of the hole with skiers with carburetors full of 100+:1 mix. The arm rotates on the pump to control the flow, but I suppose that doesn't mean it's variable ratio. It obviously does take more oil to mix 50:1 at WOT than at idle. I plan on removing the injection after the end of next year but don't want to void the warranty until then. I can always run 100:1 in the gas if need be to give it some extra lube.
Anyone who for sure knows the answers and has actually repaired or trouble-shot one of these motors instead of reading a computer screen would be very helpful. Remember, it's a brand new 2005 motor, so maybe some things changed. Need someone who knows THIS motor to tell me. Thanks.