correct flushing technique ?

[ColoSR]

The alarm is likely still intact, at 120 you may not be getting near the high temp alarms.

 

[ColoSR]

Not sure how your boat is wired, but my boat has two separate temp senders. The engine has one and there is a second analog one that drives the gauge. I would replace the thermostat first, your gauge may be fine.

 

[Pirate Lady]

Regarding yours running at 120. Mine been on land since 6/5 from overheating. Did major work to cooling system ($1000). Found it had a 140 thermostat. Not good for efficient operation. Changed to 165. Just getting back in water, but i expect a slight increase GPM. You really dont want it running too cold.

 

[Pirate Lady]

Regarding the sensors, in all this, I learned there are 2 sensors in the thermostat housing. 1 for the gauge. 1 for that damn squealing alarm under dash.
Its almost never ever the gauge, its the sender.

 

[Ron1204]

So I just looked at these two cables. One is completely disconnected. Also just saw this tank completely empty. Is this the out drive oil?

 

[ColoSR]

Yes, that is the out drive oil. Those two wires are likely the low oil float alarm. Hook them up and the boat will likely start beeping. Fill it up to the high line and it should stop beeping. The bravo 3’s use a blue oil from merc, not sure what the difference is but I was told you don’t want to use other types.

 

[Ron1204]

Correct me if I’m wrong, I probably am…
But I looked online for the thermostat parts. The below attached pictures are the parts of the thermostat, housing and additional surrounding parts. Number 6 on the diagram is the temperature sensor. If that is correct, the plastic part that goes on there is broken . Number 3 is the water temperature sender, which is connected. If this is all correct Would it be possible that ordering this part and connecting it could possibly fix this?

 

[ColoSR]

Personally, I would get an oem (quicksilver) thermostat and see what happens. It’s $30, and a consumable part, so you aren’t wasting any money. Google on the site, I think people use 160 fir salt and 170 for freshwater.

If I had to guess, the engine started overheating due to bravoitis so the prior owner pulled the thermostat. The thru Hull solved the overheating issue, and the PO never got around to putting a new one in. 120 is a strange temp for the gauge/sender to fail at, so starting there you may be spending $150 for a gauge and sender to find out that the old one worked.

 

[Ron1204]

I’ll be honest, I’d be over my head trying to do this myself. I’m going to contact a few mechanics to get different opinions and try to fix this. See what is going on with all of this. On top of that the drive oil and power steering is completely empty. I think I am going to try to fix these problems and sell the boat. I really don’t want to sell it like this to anyone. It could be nothing, but it could be something . Btw, what website is It that they sell these parts ?

 

[ColoSR]

Certainly a tough spot, but don’t underestimate yourself. You can do the thermostat in 20 min. Also, the outdrive oil bottles tend to crack and leak, but can be replaced in 10 min.

If it isn’t the outdrive bottle, the mechanic will pull the drive and pressure test it to find the leak. Power steering is much more difficult because it is usually the power steering cooler which is on the back of the engine. Neither of these are particularly expensive problems to repair for a mechanic, but the problem is all the mechanics are multiple weeks if not months out, and boats are worth far less at the end of the season.

 

[Ron1204]

Hey man thanks for all of this information. It’s actually giving me some type of hope. I do like the boat, and don’t want to go through the whole selling and buying process all over again. But I do see these issues and the engine at least on the outside doesn’t look in fantastic shape. I’m going to see what a mechanic tells me about this. Then I’ll decide what I do. I’m probably 50/50 selling or keeping at this point. I’m going to look into the steps to Change the thermostat myself. Where is it that I can order these parts? There’s no store like for cars where they carry these right ?

 

[ColoSR]

Take a look on your engine cover and see if it lists your engine serial number. If it does, google the Mercury Parts Catalog and put the number in there to get the right part number. The serial numbers start with zero, not O.

once you have the part number google mercruiser plus the part number and you will get lots of vendors. I have had good luck with both the internet dealers and Amazon so long it is Mercury, Mercruiser or Quicksilver (Mercury’s parts brand).

Let us know if you can’t find the serial number, we can help track down the right part number

 

[Ron1204]

I’m going to do that today. Let me see if I can find the serial number and order the correct liquids and thermostat from there.

 

[Brite Idea]

I see that you're getting great input from fellow boaters. The thermostat is an easy fix, the low power steering fluid and drive oil are easy to top off. All these things are fixable and it's up to you to address nd maintain the boat. We all started out not knowing and had to learn although it can be an expensive education sometimes it just comes down to how much you love boating. If you have a Walmart near you they carry oil & gear case oil. Your local auto parts has power steering fluid and can probably help you with a thermostat. Try watching a Youtube video on changing the thermostat. I noticed the sender is unplugged but didn't see the plug find it and plug it in. Good luck and keep us posted. Also don't be afraid of bringing the boat to a mechanic ask a fellow boater for a reference to a mechanic they'll usually steer you to a good one.

 

[Little Ducky]

Ron1204 where are you located?

Finish out your information to the left and I bet someone in your area could lend a hand or at least give moral support.




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[Ron1204]

I see that you're getting great input from fellow boaters. The thermostat is an easy fix, the low power steering fluid and drive oil are easy to top off. All these things are fixable and it's up to you to address nd maintain the boat. We all started out not knowing and had to learn although it can be an expensive education sometimes it just comes down to how much you love boating. If you have a Walmart near you they carry oil & gear case oil. Your local auto parts has power steering fluid and can probably help you with a thermostat. Try watching a Youtube video on changing the thermostat. I noticed the sender is unplugged but didn't see the plug find it and plug it in. Good luck and keep us posted. Also don't be afraid of bringing the boat to a mechanic ask a fellow boater for a reference to a mechanic they'll usually steer you to a good one.

Yes im getting a lot of great info from here. Im very glad I joined the forum. From what I can find online, it looks like the drive oil is quicksilver high performance gear lube 90. Power steering is Quicksilver power trim and steering fluid. Im going either today or tomorrow to look for it somewhere locally. Im guessing west marine should have it. The sender is not only unplugged, the plastic part where it attaches on to the other plastic part that's on the engine is broken so it won't plug in. Im thinking now about how I can get that fixed.
you mentioned about a local auto parts store being able to help with a thermostat, would it be the same as a cars? sorry if its a dumb question (like many previous ones lol). In the mean time I will keep looking and see if the thermostat of any cars are compatible with this one. I looked online and doesn't look that difficult.

 

[Ron1204]

Ron1204 where are you located?

Finish out your information to the left and I bet someone in your area could lend a hand or at least give moral support.




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I am in Miami. Around Kendall, for any locals. Since I always logged on through my phone I never saw the left side. Had to log in on my computer to see it and fill it out. And yes, I would def take the recommendation of any local mechanic around here. Thanks

 

[ColoSR]

Car thermostats are a little higher temp than boats, so make sure you get one for a boat. Most of the 5.7L MPI engines have 160 degree thermostats and run between 160 and 180. Fuel injected Chevy 5.7L run 180 or 195 degree thermostat and operate between 190 and 210F.

 

[Ron1204]

So are all thermostats the same size and everything ? What changes is their operating temperature? For mine that’s carb I should get one that operates between 160 and 180? Meaning at 180 it opens and at 160 it closes? Am I somewhat getting it ?

 

[Pirate Lady]

In your picture#1, the thermostat housing(#1) mine was corroded bad after 30 years. Just got boat fixed after 6 weeks from overheated issue. Anyway that housing is $480 from Merc. Just fyi.