I have a merk 20 hp outboard that was running sweet until a few nights ago. Fired right up and then went trolling for about an hour at just over idle. Ran fine. Then opened it up to full throttle for about 1 or 2 minutes and it ran fine until it just slowed WAY down and started running really rough. Died pretty much immediately.<br /><br />Tried about 10 or fifteen times pulling the cord to get it started again and finally started back up but would only run at about 20% speed even with the hand throttle opened way up.<br /><br />Throughout the night (i didn't run it that much more) it would start up OK and continue to run as long as it was in gear and would eventually work it's way up to full throttle and run good, only to die way back down again very suddenly like it did the first time.<br /><br />I noticed some brown sludgey grease/oil coming out of what I think are the exhaust prots when I pulled it out of the water.<br /><br />My only thought is that there may be some water in the gas tank? My boat got quite a bit of rain in it while I was on vacation (almost to the top of the transom). Do any of you engine guys think that may be it or do you have any suggestions? The motor is a gas oil mix and that's about all I know. I know my mix is correct.<br /><br />Thanks for any help and sorry for the long post. I know pretty much ZERO about outboard motors.<br /><br />Bo
