Mercruiser 3.0 went boom :(

U

uinthas7

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[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif]hello all,[/FONT]

[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif]Want to check in with the experts here and make sure I'm taking the right trail on this, already screwed up once.[/FONT]

[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif]June I bought a 2003 sea ray 175srx with a 3.0 mercruiser. First couple months seemed to run good, hard starting and rough idle so I ran some sea foam through it, seemed to help a bit, other thing that was very odd is I could get up to 5300 rpm with a 21' prob, mind you I'm at 5000ft, no way in the world it should of ever reached that high of rpm and I'd only do about 35mph, in any case I would just back it off to 4800. Talked to a couple of dealers, they just felt my rpm gauge was off but I always backed it off to be safe.[/FONT]

[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif]Come August I noticed oil leaking out once I removed the boats water drain plug. Took it out a couple more times after that and just topped off the oil, also had a few occasions where I would punch full throttle and it would run at 40% for a few minutes then all the sudden kick in full throttle, figured it was a carb adjust problem. Come October and I took a fishing trip up on high elevation lake (7000 ft) ran good all day, then on the way back I'm running full throttle (4800 rpm) and bam, horrible noise out of the engine. Engine would not restart, never saw the temp or oil gauge out of range, and when trying to restart it sounded like it struggled just to turn over.[/FONT]

[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif]Got her home, pulled plugs and did a compression check. Cylinder 1 no compression and spark plug destroyed, #2 no compression, 3 and 4 seem to be fine. So I have taken the route I have major damage and need a new engine (pissed)[/FONT]

[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif]Anyway I have gotten a few quotes from some local dealers, it has come down to 2. One of them says they can get me a mercury re manufactured 3.0 long block installed for about $3800 1 year warranty, he also keeps telling me he'll find something else that is wrong and price will most likely go up. Dealer 2 says he cant even get a reman mercury 3.0 from mercury (says they don't have any) but will install a brand new mercury 3.0 with 3 year warranty for $4400 and says that should cover it, he will also test my rpm gauge and adjust my carb for no additional cost, he is also given me a winter discount.[/FONT]

[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif]I have almost decided to go with the new motor with the longer warranty and dealer #2 I just have allot more trust in, I work with 2 people that have had major repairs done there and says they are great, also have been around for quite a while, respected marine shop in these parts. Dealer #1 with the reman I know nothing about.[/FONT]

[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif]Question I have is I'm I taking the right route, should I spend the extra $$ on a new motor and if not what other options are out there for re manufactured engines? I don't want to do the work, don't have the time plus I have medical problems that will make it tough on me. Any advice on this would be appreciated, I already bought a piece of junk and don't want to throw more $$ away, at this point just want a boat that works and is reliable. [/FONT]

[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif]Thanks in advance[/FONT]
 
K

keith2k455

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Messages
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Dealer 1 seems to be shooting straight, he's telling you straight up he can quote a block, but something will surely come up. Dealer 2 seems to want to provide a package deal, which may be straight up as well.
 
bspeth

bspeth

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I would go new for 600 bucks and the additional warranty
 
Scott Danforth

Scott Danforth

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welcome aboard.

I personally would find a used motor, spend about $800 total, and do the work myself.

however if your hiring out everything, go for the warranty.
 
alldodge

alldodge

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Howdy

Agree with Keith, both are shooting straight with you, and I would go with dealer 2 and the longer warranty
 
Bondo

Bondo

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[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif]Come August I noticed oil leaking out once I removed the boats water drain plug. Took it out a couple more times after that and just topped off the oil, also had a few occasions where I would punch full throttle and it would run at 40% for a few minutes then all the sudden kick in full throttle, figured it was a carb adjust problem.[/FONT]
Click to expand...

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Sounds like it was runnin' Lean, in which case, ya probably detonated the motor to death,....

Buy whichever motor ya want, but don't run it til the fuel system is sorted out,....
 
rolmops

rolmops

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uinthas7 said:
Where would I find a used motor that cheep?
Click to expand...

On E-bay,Craig's list. Another possibility is Michigan Motorz.
I would ask the first dealer how much he would charge if you bring him a refurbished engine.
How about taking your block to a machine shop and have them do a rebuild?
 
Scott Danforth

Scott Danforth

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actually, I would pick up a $600 rotten hulled boat and spend the $200 to scrap the hull

Plenty of boats down here in FL sitting with a bilge full of water and rotten stringers/transom/interior
 
U

uinthas7

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Joined
Dec 13, 2015
Messages
45
Scott Danforth said:
Here are just a few

http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/boa/5347129282.html

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/boa/5358929078.html

http://columbia.craigslist.org/boa/5312068895.html

http://knoxville.craigslist.org/boa/5344192263.html

http://zanesville.craigslist.org/boa/5296316055.html

http://cnj.craigslist.org/boa/5313024569.html
Click to expand...



Been looking at Michigan Motrz new motors, looks to be about $1000 less than Mercury, anyone have any experience with these, are they solid motors? I'm not going to do this until January - February so I want to explore all options. Feels a bit sketchy buying a motor offline
 
Rick Stephens

Rick Stephens

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uinthas7 said:
I'm in Utah....
Click to expand...

I'll take a look around, see if we can find something. Do you want/have the history of doing your own wrenching? Most engine work on a boat is easier than today's cars, other than the inconvenience that the motor is basically stuffed into a bathtub, they are are really easy to get out, and simple to work on.

My experience looking at CL adds is that pulled motors are more expensive than rotted out donor boats. And often a pulled motor is not as easily fired up to prove it is in working condition. Mind you, it isn't all that hard to fire up a boat motor that's sitting on the floor, just most people don't know how or would rather not since it would quickly demonstrate any problems.

If you were further up north I could point out a couple decent used motors. Do some of your own searching on Craigslist. You'll see a number of them. Usually a freeze broken block on a 3.0L breaks right under the exhaust manifold with a horizontal crack. Pretty easy to see if you know where it most commonly is.

Rick
 
alldodge

alldodge

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uinthas7 said:
Been looking at Michigan Motrz new motors, looks to be about $1000 less than Mercury, anyone have any experience with these, are they solid motors? I'm not going to do this until January - February so I want to explore all options. Feels a bit sketchy buying a motor offline
Click to expand...

They do OK and stand behind their work. If you have a problem they are easy enough to contact and get answers. Not praising them, just a company that will be there to answer questions and work with you. Just remember there are remans , like Michigan motors and others, and there is brand new crate motors.

Make sure to read the fine print

As Bondo pointed out (and real good catch) it appears you destroyed your motor by going to high altitude and not changing carb jet size. At high altitude you need more fuel to run.
 
Bondo

Bondo

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Ayuh,.... To be honest, I was goin' on how bad it ran, sounds like crap in the fuel system or a bad carb,...

Didn't really consider the altitude,....
 
johnkom

johnkom

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"At high altitude you need more fuel to run." Huh?? Explain.

JK
 
Rick Stephens

Rick Stephens

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No way to guess at why the motor blew a couple holes without tearing it down. If the carb was plugged up and it was running lean, then it will show those signs. High altitude should make it so rich it dogs.

Rick
 
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