Optimax 225 External oil Hoses / Sender

[Jbooth]

Thanks for looking though! I’ve got new hoses ordered, Mercury put a join in the pressure hose to the remote tank, I’m not sure why. I’m going to do away with that and any other joins I can. Pressure is so minimal- must be 2-3 psi I’m guessing- joins are only going to be a possible leak site. Fingers crossed this weekend I’ll get to the bottom of it. Such a simple system- should be fairly straight forward to fix. Says he! 🤞

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Jbooth

I’m now having issues where my engine mounted reservoir is not filling with oil from the remote tank- and no obvious air leaks anywhere.. I’m going to replace the hoses and see if that makes a difference. Maybe a pin hole somewhere. The pressure output from the pulse valve on the crankcase seems so low that it wouldn’t take much to lose it through the system- on tickover you can barely feel the pressure if you put your thumb over the hose??

I had this issue with my old 150 V6 (carbed). I replaced all the bits - but it was ultimately just an old & worn engine and the only way I got it to run "better" was premixing - I just couldn't get the remote tank to fill the engine reservoir - even after replacing the one way valve and all lines. In the end I gave up, it was just old & knackered.

Originally Posted by paintman

No idea if this would be applicable to the Optimax 2-strokes but the earlier carbed Mercury - in my case Black Max 135hp V6 - have a bit of a reputation for the 2-stroke oil pump to fail resulting in engine seizure.

These older engines have a small tank on top of the engine which feeds oil to the petrol inlet pipe through a small pump driven off the crankshaft so mixes it with the fuel before it gets to the carbs.
This tank is replenished from the main remote tank which is pressurised from the crankcase to propel the oil to the small tank.
Mercury do a kit to do away with the oil pump - couple of bits of plastic for a few £s - and the advice is then to run it on 50:1 premix.
www.offshoremarineparts.com/68-14-25bk.html

Yes...but....old engines (carb & efi), the fuel went through through the crankcase to lube the bearings.
On an opti, fuel goes straight in the combustion chamber, so premixing likely not the answer - I feel like it has to "just work" on an opti.

For carb & efi engines, rather than that kit (which looks nice BTW), I just ground the the pump shaft smooth, so it was still in place, but no longer driving anything, along with blanking off the one-way valve that was supposedly to pressurise the remote oil tank.

[Waterman]

Originally Posted by Jbooth

Thanks for looking though! I’ve got new hoses ordered, Mercury put a join in the pressure hose to the remote tank, I’m not sure why. I’m going to do away with that and any other joins I can. Pressure is so minimal- must be 2-3 psi I’m guessing- joins are only going to be a possible leak site. Fingers crossed this weekend I’ll get to the bottom of it. Such a simple system- should be fairly straight forward to fix. Says he! 🤞

Change the 3 inline filters on engine side for sure….. relatively cheap too…..these can cause issues if not changed regularly…….. and obviously ensure they are installed in the correct flow direction [emoji1303]

[Almatt]

Hi all , got an Optimax 225 Mariner and wondered if you might be able to throw any light on an issue with the oil not getting to the reservoir on the engine after running for 45 mins 4300,5200 revs thus putting the engine in limp/ guardian mode ! have cleaned it all out and seems fine bled it and blow me same thing again and again any ideas as lifting the cowling off in the middle of choppy Irish Sea is challenging to say the least !! Best , Al

[Matt]

Here's a link to the oil system pages of the service guide.

Pages 3c-11 and 3c-13 are the relevant pages.

Also check the caps on the remote reservoir are on tightly - they need to seal.

[Almatt]

Originally Posted by Matt

Here's a link to the oil system pages of the service guide.

Pages 3c-11 and 3c-13 are the relevant pages.

Also check the caps on the remote reservoir are on tightly - they need to seal.

Many thanks for this I shall give it a go !

[Almatt]

Pressure seems ok , what are your thoughts on replacing the t check valve and crankcase valve plus inline oil filters? as said goes for short period then the 4 beeps , retool up and same again !! has anyone else actually had this before ? Al

[neil.mccrirrick]

Originally Posted by Almatt

Hi all , got an Optimax 225 Mariner and wondered if you might be able to throw any light on an issue with the oil not getting to the reservoir on the engine after running for 45 mins 4300,5200 revs thus putting the engine in limp/ guardian mode ! have cleaned it all out and seems fine bled it and blow me same thing again and again any ideas as lifting the cowling off in the middle of choppy Irish Sea is challenging to say the least !! Best , Al

Is there oil in the tank on the side of the engine when you check? Quite often this is the magnet sensor in the tank that has failed

[Almatt]

Originally Posted by neil.mccrirrick

Is there oil in the tank on the side of the engine when you check? Quite often this is the magnet sensor in the tank that has failed

Thanks for getting back yes there is oil in it but obviously dropped open up screw and it fills then screw it down and same problem again ! " A tad frustrating to say the least ! "

[Matt]

I can't be dealing with unreliable stuff - so if it were me, I'd be stripping the entire remote oil system apart and checking and/or replacing everything.

I do know from a previous invoice on my motor it had this a few years back. Can see from the invoices that they stripped and cleaned it all and reported the filters were a bit congealed & blocked. And make sure the oil tank is pretty full - less oil means it needs to pump more air to get enough pressure to fill the on-engine tank.

[Almatt]

Originally Posted by Matt

I can't be dealing with unreliable stuff - so if it were me, I'd be stripping the entire remote oil system apart and checking and/or replacing everything.

I do know from a previous invoice on my motor it had this a few years back. Can see from the invoices that they stripped and cleaned it all and reported the filters were a bit congealed & blocked. And make sure the oil tank is pretty full - less oil means it needs to pump more air to get enough pressure to fill the on-engine tank.

Thanks think thats sound advice, did you get your parts anywhere specific ?
thanks Matt appreciate the advice !

[neil.mccrirrick]

Originally Posted by Almatt

Thanks for getting back yes there is oil in it but obviously dropped open up screw and it fills then screw it down and same problem again ! " A tad frustrating to say the least ! "

So when you open it up how are you filling it? When the cap is open on the engine tank and the engine is running it should fill up from the remote tank until it overflows. Is this happening

[Matt]

It was before I had it. But parts wise, I tend to use Kevin @ Pacer marine - he's local to us so I can pick it up and is a decent bloke. I just drop him a mail to sales@pacermarine.co.uk asking for price and availability - but I always specify the part numbers I want, looked up from : https://avonmarinaparts.co.uk/en-GB/...ke-dfi-optimax

Don't be that "I need some bits but I'm not sure what" guy - give him the part numbers you want.

I usually have a good indication of price in advance - you can look up retail pricing on the avonmarina site - but it's good to ask availability since some stuff is in stock in the UK with Barrus - 2 day or so lead time, some stuff is in belgium - 2 week lead time - and some is in the US - 2 month lead time (In which case I usually buy it direct from the US)

https://pacermarine.co.uk/

Originally Posted by Almatt

Thanks think thats sound advice, did you get your parts anywhere specific ?
thanks Matt appreciate the advice !

[Almatt]

Originally Posted by neil.mccrirrick

So when you open it up how are you filling it? When the cap is open on the engine tank and the engine is running it should fill up from the remote tank until it overflows. Is this happening

Yes it fills itself when cap off then close back down and literally gets used up till alarm goes ! thank you for contact will get in touch.