Mercruiser 6.2L w/Bravo - 1st Start this year, no temp

[H8tank]

This boat has a 2007 6.2L, 86hrs, the water pump is the original.

I put the muffs on the Bravo 1, water full blast, boat starts right up, but the temp gauge wouldn't register, even after a few min, so I shut it down.

It was winterized by a Merc dealer, my old boat I would see lots of water come out the exhaust, did not see that here.

What can I check or do to make sure I am not gonna do any harm, was hoping to splash today for first time, it is a perfect day.

Any and all fast info appreciated. Thanks.

 

[fuzzybob]

Re: Mercruiser 6.2L w/Bravo - 1st Start this year, no temp

You could try less water pressure. About a 1/3 or 1/2 of full blast.

 

[Zackman]

Re: Mercruiser 6.2L w/Bravo - 1st Start this year, no temp

What can I check or do to make sure I am not gonna do any harms

The raw water pump impeller (not the engine water pump).​

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Mercruiser 6.2L w/Bravo - 1st Start this year, no temp

Thats a big engine to warm up...
So you are saying the temp gauge never moved?
Was water coming out around the transom?
Many of these setups will not push much water out of the prop when on the muffs.
Are you sure the dealer put all the plugs back in? Any water in the bilge?

Give us something to work with here...

 

[H8tank]

Re: Mercruiser 6.2L w/Bravo - 1st Start this year, no temp

Bilge bone dry, tons of water coming out around muffs as usual, I only ran it for a couple min, may not have been enough time to warm up, but no temp needle movement, the lack of water in exhaust compared to my old 350 OMC with thru hull, I didn't want to chance anything. There were water 'drops' in thru hull tips, not soaking wet spray like my old one, this one has captains call.

I removed two hoses from stat housing, they were wet, but the exhaust manifolds were fairly warm, not scalding, but they were hot. Not being use to this newer setup, I didn't want to risk anything.

The engine itself didn't get overly hot, no pinging, smells or anything, I think/hope I am just being overly cautious...

 

[Phantom_II]

Re: Mercruiser 6.2L w/Bravo - 1st Start this year, no temp

Normally, when running on muffs, there will be "tons of water" as you put it, from around the muffs until the engine starts.
Once the engine is running, most of the water should be drawn up into the engine and start coming out from the assorted exhaust outlets, not the muffs.
I suspect impeller problems.

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Mercruiser 6.2L w/Bravo - 1st Start this year, no temp

When you hooked up the muffs to the main water pick up holes on the side of the drive, Did you or do you know to also cover up the low water pick up holes on the nose cone area at the front of the lower unit there should be 4 holes there that you will need to cover up or you will suck up air and could burn up the impeller in no time at all. merc sales a cover for this but you could use good old duck tape to cover them up also, It works varry well just don't for get to remove the tape when done. Also make sure before you hook up the muffs you need to lower the drive down first so you can make sure you are geting all the air out of the water hose system between the drive and the impeller housing then hook up the muffs then cover the 4 holes then turn the water on all the way up, Then while you are watcing the water psi at the muffs you want to watch to see if the water almost stops flowing all over the drive way and see if it lookes like the water is being sucked into the drive when the engine starts up so you know the impeller is doing it's job or not. Then have the guy/girl rev the engine up to 1300rpms, And if you know for sure there is no big water leake inside the bilge area coming off the engine then with in 45 seconds you should have a lot of water coming out the exhaust holes either at the too side holes on the out side transom area almost up aginst the transom of the boat on both sides, You should see it start flowing while back there Or it should come out your exhaust tips if they are open.If you have no water with in 45 seconds to 1 min max shut it down. Then If you know by chance where the impeller housing is on the inside of the boat mounted to the engine block try to feel the impeller housing behind the pully to see if it is warm or hot to the touch it should be cold like the garden hose water, IF it is hot then the impeller is bad. Also if you do not see it suck in water at start up it will be a bad impeller. [FYI] If you have been running the engine on the hose and you have the low water pick up system and you have NOT been covering them 4 holes up, And you have almost 2 years Or 50 plus hours on the engine then it is time to replace the impeller becuase it will be bad soon and you WILL find it right at the time that you really do not have the time to be dealing with this problem. THIS IS ON ALL BRAVO ONE MERCRUISER DRIVES, from I believe 1998ish and up The bravo 3s do not have the low water pick up system in that time frame. I hope this helps you some good luck with it.

 

[H8tank]

Re: Mercruiser 6.2L w/Bravo - 1st Start this year, no temp

Thanks boat teck, the dealer that winterized had me bring it in, was informed that a bravo I should never be started on muffs, said it can burn the impeller in seconds, which when we tanked it, it is a bad impeller.

Lesson learned I guess, good news they can have it back to me tomorrow, and I'll agree as regular maintenance, it's not a bad idea to have it changed now anyway.

So, if you have a Bravo I, beware the muffs.

 

[Zackman]

Re: Mercruiser 6.2L w/Bravo - 1st Start this year, no temp

the dealer that winterized had me bring it in, was informed that a bravo I should never be started on muffs, said it can burn the impeller in seconds, which when we tanked it, it is a bad impeller.

So, if you have a Bravo I, beware the muffs.
​

With advise like that, you may want to consider taking it to another shop for future repairs ​

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Mercruiser 6.2L w/Bravo - 1st Start this year, no temp

Howdy,


Did you put your hand on the intake manifold to see if it was getting warm and did you check your temp gage to see if it was working at all?

the dealer that winterized had me bring it in, was informed that a bravo I should never be started on muffs, said it can burn the impeller in seconds, which when we tanked it, it is a bad impeller.

I'd get another dealer....That statement is complete BS (barby-strysand.....very similar to jonnycat sand!!)

You can run ANY Bravo on "muffs" as long as you start the water before you start the engine.....


Check your temp gage and as long as you have water exiting the transom, and thru-hulls (if installed) run it and put your hand on the t-stat housing to see if it gets warm...


Cheers,


Rick

 

[H8tank]

Re: Mercruiser 6.2L w/Bravo - 1st Start this year, no temp

You don't get pregnant every time you have unprotected hanky, perhaps the same holds true with the Bravo on muffs.

I'll see if mine has a dual water pickup when I get it back.

Life was so much easier when I owned an OMC.

Wonder if I can put my 1986 OMC Cobra on my 6.2L.... lol

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Mercruiser 6.2L w/Bravo - 1st Start this year, no temp

Thanks boat teck, the dealer that winterized had me bring it in, was informed that a bravo I should never be started on muffs, said it can burn the impeller in seconds, which when we tanked it, it is a bad impeller.

Lesson learned I guess, good news they can have it back to me tomorrow, and I'll agree as regular maintenance, it's not a bad idea to have it changed now anyway.

So, if you have a Bravo I, beware the muffs.

I understand what the dealer said becuase putting it in a tank is the best thing to do for temp testing, BUT you do NOT need to be afraid to run it on the muffs as long as you are doing it the way I was talking about in detail "on the above post" you will be fine and it is varry safe to do it, Also you should look in to buying a certin muff set that merc sales just for the bravo/alpha drive, It is a too part style rubber muff with a long skiny rod that that will go thur the holes of the lower unit and hook up on both sides of the drive holes, And all you do is push it up to the drive really tight covering all the holes and turn the water on. Any merc dealer should be able to get them or you can find them at west marine. PS you still need duck tape or buy the cover for the low water pick up to run it on the hose.