Mercury Optimax 225 Alarms?

[SpunkyMac]

I have a 1999 Optimax 225 on a 23' Sportcraft. Love the engine when I can keep it out of alarm/protection mode. Upon initial startup, it will beep and only run at idle. On average, I have to turn it on and off 5 times to get it out of the alarm mode. The rest of the day, it runs fine. any suggestions to try?

 

[quebec#1]

Re: Mercury Optimax 225 Alarms?

I cant help you but i seem to have the same problem on my 1986 merc 150 xr2.
If not used for a while and upon starting it it will sound the alarm for a while and it also takes a good 3 to 5 times of turning it off and on to have the beep go away. After that it runs fine for the whole weekend upon starting it. Its more prevelent when the engine is not used for a few days.
Maybe someone can help both of us ! Good Luck !

 

[SpunkyMac]

Re: Mercury Optimax 225 Alarms?

I am leaning towards the alarm being from something in the oil injection chain that it dosnt like. It seems like the pressure pump from the engine to the oil tank leaks off after a while and when you start the motor, it takes a while to build up the air pressure to transfer the oil from the main tank to the onbard tank. Could this also be a possible in your situation?

 

[robster]

Re: Mercury Optimax 225 Alarms?

I have a 1998 Mariner 225HP; I noticed the large oil reserve tank was low on oil, and refilled it. After that, the oil warning alarm would stay on for several minutes each time I used the boat. Usually until I shifted into gear and started driving for a couple of minutes.

It seems that air got into the VRO system when I opened the OIL fill on the boat and added oil. Since the reserve tank level was so low there was lots of air space in there to fill. When starting the engine for the first time each day, the alarm would start beeping EVEN BEFORE I started the engine.

I didn't turn the engine on/off several times, I usually did it twice and then just started driving since everything else checked out O.K.

I ended up removing the engines cover, filling the engine's small "onboard" oil resevoir up to the very top and the problem went away after some additional use. I think their is an oil system air bleed screw on the engine.

I don't know if this helps, but my symptoms were like yours, and everything is O.K. now. Good Luck!

 

[j_martin]

Re: Mercury Optimax 225 Alarms?

The instructions in the murky manual tell you to fill the boat oil tank, then idle the engine and crack the cap on the engine tank until it is plumb full, just beginning to spill over. Tighten it (not too tight, lest you crack the cap, but that's another whole thread), wipe up the small mess, and you're good to go.

hope it helps
John

 

[GRADY WHITE]

Re: Mercury Optimax 225 Alarms?

I have 2 1999 mercury optimax 225hp and i've been having the same problem with the alarm going off, sometimes when starting the engine , other times after running for a while,also having to turn it off and on a few times before it will stop. The only engine i have this problem with is the starboard one. Anyone know if filling the oil container on the engine really works?.