Blown Opti!

[abs988s]

I feel like I just ran over my own dog, guys. I've read all of the tips and always let it warm up properly; I guess the 47 degree water and 40 degree air temps were just colder than I was used to. Anyway, #6 has 0 lbs. compression and aluminum on the spark plug. Motor is an '02 200 Opti with 155 hrs.

The story is that as I let it warm to at least 100 (now I know I should have waited to at least 120). I took off easy out of the no-wake, after a half-mile there was a reduction in power, followed by a complete shut down with an audible knocking while coming off plane (no alarms). Tried to refire and it'd hit but wouldn't crank. Trolled over to some guys we knew nearby and refired and it purred like a kitten at a 580 rpm idle with no knocking. Fished a while and tried to take off and it would try, just didn't have the power and the knock was back. Trolled into the ramp, next stop the shop, the rest is history.

Anyway, baby #2 is due June 2, so you can understand most of my funds are appropriated for the time being. I wasn't planning on getting out much the rest of the year after the baby, so my plan at this point is to fish out of the 15' jon boat if need be, then get the Opti lookaed at later in the year. Does anybody have any input on what the likely damage is, given that the compression on #6 is 0lbs. Would it be rebuildable, or should I just go ahead and plan on a new powerhead?

Also, who in the Springfield area do you feel is qualified/cometent to overhaul an optimax?

I appreciate any advice and insight.

[minnowhooker]

Do a search, good outboard guy has been discusssed. Or ask on the Table Rock fourm, those tournament guys know.

[DChance]

sorry to hear that man....that sucks.....you know what they say, there are 2 types of outboards....blown ones and those that are about to.

[rangerman]

Sorry to hear about your motor, dude that blows. The 02 and early 03 optimaxs had a habit of blowing there tops.....I'd call Mercury and see what they got to say. How many hours were on the motor?

[Samkam1]

Did you use gas with ethanol? We blew a '00 150 opti and believe ethanol had a lot to do with it.

SK

[abs988s]

It had 87 octane from both a Kum&Go and Conoco near my house. I also treat every gallon that goes into the tank with Quickleen and Fuel System Treatment & Stabilizer.

[fishinwrench]

Get her fixed yet?

[Bill Cooper]

Sorry for the late reply!!! And, I hope baby made it here just fine. The key to finding out if your engine is rebuildable is finding the root cause of the failure. Ethanol-VERY UNLIKELY!!! The engine needs to be disassembled and inspected to evaluate what went wrong. Now, I understand the financial situation with new baby and all, but take my advice and save yourself several thousand dollars and do what I say. I am a Mercury Master Technician. If you let the engine set and do nothing chances are there will be very little to overhaul. The engine must be fully "winterized" now if you have not had it fixed. If water intrusion caused the failure to #6 and you did not oil it down, then the block is probably not repairable now. But, you can still save the fuel pumps and injectors with some easy maintenance. If you plan to have it fixed within one year, then getting some fuel stabilizer in the system will do the trick. If it is going to be longer than a year, you need to come see me to evacuate the system. Send me an email sonsacmarine@hotmail.com

[abs988s]

Sorry guys, haven't been on here in a while. Anyway, baby is here and doing great, however, I'm a planner for MoDOT and if you've read the newspaper lately, you know we're "reorganizing" now. So, as if the baby wasn't enough to dampen my financial situation, I'm now in the position of waiting to see if employment will be a factor in the near future and beyond.

The boat still sits in the garage where I left it in March (fuel is, and always has been treated). I haven't had it checked out beyond the initial compression check. Regarding the posibility of water intrusion, winterization issues, etc., that Bill brought up, I ran it two weeks prior and also the day prior which was just as cold or colder and it ran just fine like always. I just didn't let it warm up like I obviously should have the morning it popped, leading me to believe I cold seized it. My uncle was talking to Mike Edwards at Top Gun Marine a while back and mentioned my issue; Mike seemed to agree that was the likely culprit and said he does three or four every year with due to cold seize. So, next step is to take it in for a teardown and see if the block and crank are salvageable and rebuild from there.

To answer and earlier question, it's an '02 with 152 hrs.

Thanks,

Andrew