Mercury 200-warning horn troubleshooting

[EpicDay]

Background:

-1999 Mercury 140 Jet (200 hp powerhead)
-During recent trip to Odell and Wickiup Lake the warning horn was activated after a short 10 min run across the lake. (no warning horn for several previous days of operation)
-Dash temperature gauge reading was normal. Water was exiting in a steady stream from engine.
-Limped back to the dock. (thankfully this happened on the last day of the trip)


Current understanding of this model the warning horn can be activated by the following:
1) High temperature (powerhead mounted temperature switch)
2) Low oil level in engine mounted oil reservoir
3) Oil injection pump motion sensor failure

Upon investigation a low oil level was discovered in the engine mounted oil reservoir. A review of the feed lines and remote oil reservoir show no sign of damage or leaking. All caps are secure.
Started motor (ran at idle) and removed engine mounted oil reservoir cap. NO oil feed occurred after several minutes.

Questions:

What should be the next steps?
Should I replace the 4 psi check valve on the oil feed line?
Should I replace the remote oil reservoir pick up tube and filter?


Thanks

[5-Cents]

Hey - you live right around me somewhere.

FYI - when my engines are real cold, like on a cold morning, the alarms will sound for a second and then stop. I was told the oil needs to get circulating as the engines warm up. I imagine it was pretty cold up there. Good thing you caught the low oil - if you dont have any leaks I wouldnt replace any of the hoses.

[Flatfish]

My 200 has 2 different warning beeps

One is a beep beep beep that is 2 stroke oil related.

One is a constant ring that is heat related.

[Willie Ketchum]

Originally Posted by Flatfish

My 200 has 2 different warning beeps

One is a beep beep beep that is 2 stroke oil related.

One is a constant ring that is heat related.

Mine too.

when I got the oil warning beep last winter, and figured out the engine was still pumping oil, and the oil pump nylon gear was OK, oil tanks were full, so I replaced the black box ($200) end of problem.

not uncommon.

[fishgetter]

Originally Posted by Willie Ketchum

Mine too.

when I got the oil warning beep last winter, and figured out the engine was still pumping oil, and the oil pump nylon gear was OK, oil tanks were full, so I replaced the black box ($200) end of problem.

not uncommon.

My 1992-150 merc did the same thing, black box oil sending unit fried. Cost me a couple of bills but not uncommon.

Once the alarm sounded prematurely when I filled the main reservoir and it had a air bubble, I ran the motor with the internal reservior cap loos and it filled fine and the beep stopped.

Good luck

[Lanyard X]

Do yourself a favor and can that auto oiler and start pre mixing again. Ive seen way to many powerheads fryed because or that nylon gear! You will also get alot more hours out of that motor. Every carbed 200 that we put on boats went out without auto oiler

[EpicDay]

I am still investigating but the "Boat Doc" steered me in the direction to recheck the remote reservior and all of the feed lines to the engine feed tank.

Following a simple procedure I discovered that the remote oil reservior pick-up screen was gummed up with "gel" like stuff.

I have the folowing questions:

Has anyone else discovered a "gel" like material gumming up the filter in the remote oil reservior?
Should I discard all of the existing oil?
What storage life should I expect from the injection oil?

Thanks

[Willie Ketchum]

Is it possible that the oil in the reservoir is mixed brands?

Quicksilver only in mine, I've had poor results with other brands, and mixing is a no-no.

[fishgetter]

Originally Posted by EpicDay

I am still investigating but the "Boat Doc" steered me in the direction to recheck the remote reservior and all of the feed lines to the engine feed tank.

Following a simple procedure I discovered that the remote oil reservior pick-up screen was gummed up with "gel" like stuff.

I have the folowing questions:

Has anyone else discovered a "gel" like material gumming up the filter in the remote oil reservior?
Should I discard all of the existing oil?
What storage life should I expect from the injection oil?

Thanks

Boat doc pointed me in that direction as well, yes I had gumming on the filter pick up as well. I also replaced the float switch in the upper res. It ended up being the oil sending unit though. Good luck

[Lanyard X]

Did you put synthetic 2 stroke in it? I had alot of problems with the new synthetic so i went back to plain old quick silver my motor ran waaaay better.The two mixing could have made them gel.

[EpicDay]

I have run the classic Quicksilver brand injection oil and have not mixed blends or brands.

Since I just fill the remote reservior without ever cleaning it out I am suspecting that the "gel" material has built up over the years. A nice rough ride across the lake provided the necessary agitation for the material to get caught up in the intake screen.

[ReadyPro1]

Pull the check valve off the block. "Its the small brass one way check valve that provides 2-4psi of pressure to the main tank to feed the engine mounted tank. If there is any way the pressure can flow back it will not pressurize the main tank and fill the engine tank thus usin the engine tank until the warning buzzer goes off for low oil. I have had this happen twice on my 1999 225hp

[EpicDay]

Conclusion: ()

I tested the following per the "Baot Doc's" suggestion:

1) Run motor @ idle for 2-3 minutes
2) Remove cap from remote oil reservior and listen for air pressure => Tank was pressurerized
3) Check remote oil reservior screen => gummed up with "gel" like stuff
4) Removed oil reservior intake assembly and cleanned (attempting to purchase backup part)

Repeated test and removed engine oil reservior cap.
1) With engine @ idle oil tank began filling => very nice

Lessons learned:

1- warning beep-beep-beep is bad
2- know what can cause the beep


Thanks to Boat Doc and all of you for your suggestions.