1998 Mercury 200hp Optimax Oil Warning

[TunaMan]

I have a 1998 Mercury Optimax 200hp Outboard. I have about 250 hours and have had very little issues with this engine, save for some obnoxious warning signals on the fuel/water side. Yesterday, after running about three hours at various RPMs, (none over 3800) the oil warning signal came on with the red light illuminated and four warning beeps every three minutes or so.<br /><br />The oil reservoir was low, but not near empty (app 20% full) and the last oil had been changed about fifty hours ago. Two gallons were added and the reservoir is about 80% full after a visual inspection. <br /><br />My problem is the warning will not stop and I don't want to run the engine until I find out everything is OK. (I did run it about 25 minuts at 1200 RPMs or lower to see if it would reset after I added new oil.<br /><br />Can anybody tell me if there is a reset function that needs to be set or are there bigger issues that I need to call a tech in for? Any help will be appreciated.

 

[bret walters]

Re: 1998 Mercury 200hp Optimax Oil Warning

tunaman,<br />remove the engine cowling and refill the engine oil resevoir on the port side of the engine. when the main tank on the boat runs down the engine uses from tis tank, an air space wll develop in the engine tank and will not refill by its self. the best way to refill this small tank and check the oil delivery system from the boat to the engine is to open the black screw cap on the engine tank a few turns, then start the engine, make sure you have a hose hooked up to the engine for cooling or the boat is in water. after about 30sec. to a minute the oil level should start rising in the tank. if it does not rise make sure that the oil tank caps on the boat tank are tight, if they are not air tight the tank will not pressurize and supply oil to the engine tank. if boat tank is pressurizing and oil is still not flowing to the engine tank the oil filter screen in the bottom of the large tank may be clogged or a hose kinked or pinched. make sure that there is some oil in the small engine tank before starting but don't fill it manually, it is important to test the flow of the system to ensure everything is ok.