2005 Merc EFI Side Oil Tank Not Bleeding

[Natedawg717]

Was fishing a tournament today and headed to a new spot when the ol' Merc started throwing a 4-beep code. I called the tech that I just got the boat back from, and they told me it was a false alarm since I had oil in the bilge tank. I didn't trust that, so I looked into it anyway. I noticed my oil levels were the same as they were the night before, so I check the side tank under the cowling and it was not full (it was 3/4). I immediately started looking into it and tried bleeding the side tank by leveling out the motor, starting it to idle, and loosening the side tank cap a little bit. No dice. The engine idled for about 3 minutes, and the side tank did not fill at all. From my research, it seems like this could be a check valve issue. However, I'd like to know what other possible issues could be going on with this thing to make the side tank not fill from bilge tank. Thank you!

1B010843
2. 2005 Mercury 200hp EFI 3L
3. 24 pitch 4 blade Solas Lexor.
4. 5500 RPM
5. Idle around 5, WOT is 10-15 depending on trim angle.
6. Smart Craft and analog instruments

[Savage]

Read all three pages of this link. Click on this >>>>>>How to BLEED the ENGINE MOUNTED OIL TANK when AIR IS PRESENT

There are diagnostic explanations for your exact problem spelled out in detail

[65Stang]

Been there done that in the last 2 years.. lots of posting and help from people on here allowed me to fix my problem without going to the dealer

[Natedawg717]

I read that post thoroughly. Right now, I am firstly concerned with checking the oil pickup screen in the remote tank. Then the check valve issue. Then searching for air leaks. Does anyone happen to know where I can find specific part numbers for things related to my engine? I am going to try to order a service manual tonight. Really sick of going to a dealer right now. I had a lot of trust in some guys and now I'm worried that the quality and turn around time on service is being decreased because they're pressuring me into buying a boat from them.

[JOE54]

im sure EUROPEAN MARINE web site has all the parts you need to gather /look up

[EuropeanAM]

Rhonda can definitely set you up with the RIGHT parts. Check out her post, pinned at the top of this forum, and send her an email with the above details.

She can get you what you need (the remote tank moves outside of the engine lookup into accessories... so her assistance will help you get it right).

[Natedawg717]

Rhonda can definitely set you up with the RIGHT parts. Check out her post, pinned at the top of this forum, and send her an email with the above details.

She can get you what you need (the remote tank moves outside of the engine lookup into accessories... so her assistance will help you get it right).

I really appreciate it, I'll have a look at things tonight and see what all needs ordered.

[Natedawg717]

Okay, so I pulled out the oil pickup on the boat mounted tank and cleaned it with WD-40. I took it to the water with hopes that I would get the sucker to bleed finally, but no dice. Cap was loosened on the side tank, engine was idling with a level trim, and no oil was overflowing on the side tank. While it was running, I pulled the air hose on the boat mounted tank and could feel a decent amount of air coming through the hose. One thing I noticed is that the engine started smoking quite a bit in the three minutes that I waited for the side tank to bleed. My next thought is to check the inline oil filter now, and then possibly a blown reed? Any better ideas? Why is it smoking so much? Greatly appreciate the help guys, thank you!

[65Stang]

Be sure to blow out the lines real good while your doing the filter

[Natedawg717]

Be sure to blow out the lines real good while your doing the filter

With compressed air I assume?

[Natedawg717]

Also, for what it is worth, there was air bubbles in the oil on the boat mounted tank when I looked in there. Smartcraft currently shows my oil temp at 5000+ degrees.

Also, last year in the summer, the tech I went to gave me DFI Oil instead of Premium Plus (which I asked for Premium Plus, it is all I run). Stupid me, I trusted them to give me the right oil and I didn't check it. Filled the tank at 3am prior to a tourney, and noticed after about half a gallon poured that the oil was brownish instead of blue. Spoke with the tech about it, and they said to run it and that it will be fine. I don't know if maybe now that issue is catching up with me, but I doubt it. I took my boat out almost every day last year all the way up to deer season (October).

End of last year the motor had 400hrs and some change on it with good compression. Boat has always been run on 90+ octane with as little ethanol as possible. No ethanol fuel is tough to find around here.

The boat just came out of the shop on Thursday and touched water for the first time this year on Friday. It was in the shop for a month and a half getting lower unit seals done (had them check prop-shaft, not bent) and the trim was rebuilt by Five Star.

I know some of this information may be useless, but this is my first time with this issue and just want to provide every little bit of detail that I can.

[65Stang]

DFI oil is the recommended oil for these motors as it isn’t “mixed” with gas like premium plus. And yes you want to use compressed air.

There was obviously a problem with a certain blend of DFI oil and it seems most are having a problem after the boat has sat for a while. ( mine sits for 5 months)

[Savage]

Also, for what it is worth, there was air bubbles in the oil on the boat mounted tank when I looked in there. Smartcraft currently shows my oil temp at 5000+ degrees.

Also, last year in the summer, the tech I went to gave me DFI Oil instead of Premium Plus (which I asked for Premium Plus, it is all I run). Stupid me, I trusted them to give me the right oil and I didn't check it. Filled the tank at 3am prior to a tourney, and noticed after about half a gallon poured that the oil was brownish instead of blue. Spoke with the tech about it, and they said to run it and that it will be fine. I don't know if maybe now that issue is catching up with me, but I doubt it. I took my boat out almost every day last year all the way up to deer season (October).

End of last year the motor had 400hrs and some change on it with good compression. Boat has always been run on 90+ octane with as little ethanol as possible. No ethanol fuel is tough to find around here.

The boat just came out of the shop on Thursday and touched water for the first time this year on Friday. It was in the shop for a month and a half getting lower unit seals done (had them check prop-shaft, not bent) and the trim was rebuilt by Five Star.

I know some of this information may be useless, but this is my first time with this issue and just want to provide every little bit of detail that I can.

Your motor does not have any sensors that read "oil temperature". The function needs disabled on the Smartcraft instrument, it is for four stroke motors.

[Natedawg717]

Okay, I will disable it. Thank you.

[Natedawg717]

Pulled both oil tanks off last night, and blew air through the oil lines. There was gunked up oil in both tanks, and the in-line oil filter seemed to be clogged. I have an in-line oil filter delivering today. Cleaned the tanks with 92 octane (no ethanol) gas. Hopefully this solves the issue!

[JOE54]

bet ya got it

[EuropeanAM]

DFI oil is the recommended oil for these motors as it isn’t “mixed” with gas like premium plus. And yes you want to use compressed air.

There was obviously a problem with a certain blend of DFI oil and it seems most are having a problem after the boat has sat for a while. ( mine sits for 5 months)

This engine is an EFI 2-Stroke engine.

It uses Premium PLUS oil (NOT Optimax/DFI oil).

[65Stang]

Hey Don, thanks for catching that.. my bad…

[Natedawg717]

So, I cleaned out all the oil tanks, blew old oil out of oil line. Used 92 octane no ethanol to clean. Let it dry overnight. Tested it with all new pennzoil xlf oil. No luck. Pulled the check valve, that had a hole in the screen. Replaced that. Still won’t bleed. I feel like I can hear air coming from somewhere, but it sounds like a high pressure air leak which doesn’t make sense. The motor is pissing for what it’s worth. I inspected both tanks for cracks and the caps as well. No signs of any cracks. Any other ideas?

[Natedawg717]

Put a pressure gauge up to the end of hose that connects to big oil tank, 0 psi