A little help please!

[Ranger Tim]

I posted in the Mercury forum already but figured I'd ask my brothers from down south.
Ok to start I have a 2000 175 EFI... last week I was running WOT and felt a small shutter next thing I know I loose all water pressure and the alarm started going off was getting hot. I shut down and let sit a bit then restarted no water pressure so I get to the house drop the lower unit and remove the water pump and find one area around the impellar about a half inch long section of my gasket was missing. I purchased a new kit and changed the water pump and I went ahead and changed my thermostats while I was at it they were original. Now today I ran the boat water pressure is erratic at all speeds, at WOT get on plane and I'm upward of 24psi then drops to 10-12 without touching the trim! running along at 4000 RPM the pressure is constantly bounching back and forth from 15- 25 PSI. Also the temperature has moved from halfway between 1/4 to 1/2 on the gauge to damn near 1/4 passed halfway. I have no clue what the hell is going on. Any ideas?

[BARRY J]

Check all the water passages and hoses going to the thermostats, they might be obstructed with bits of washer. Check to make sure the thermostats are opening and closing as they should. Check to make sure the fins on the impeller are folded over in the correct direction.

[RogerR]

poppet valve sticking or has trash in it.

[Gun Runner]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by RogerR &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">poppet valve sticking or has trash in it.</td></tr></table>

[toledo freak]

I THINK YOUR MISSING PIECE OF GSKT NEEDS TO BE FOUND?

[RogerR]

Poppet valve is located on the RIGHT or STARBOARD side of the engine, down low. Easier to access with the lower cowling removed.

[Ranger Tim]

Thanks!

[DLAB]

New gasket isnt seated right alowin a small leak would be my guess cause the same thing happend to me