overheat warning

timw · 14 May 2006, 19:57

Oops, got a plastic bag wrapped on the leg of my Yamaha F225, didn't know until the overheat alarm went off.

Immediately stopped the engine, saw a bit of steam but not sure where it came from. Removed the bag and off I went again and everything performed fine.

Now this is the first time the alarms ever gone off and I'm wondering what if any damage could have been done with the engine running dry of cooling water for a while when the bag was over the cooling water intakes.

Should I be concerned?

Nos4r2 · 14 May 2006, 20:12

Do a compression check and make sure your bores and pistons are ok after the overheat.

Compression should be within 10% of each other. Any major differences indicate bore/pison damage.

timw · 14 May 2006, 21:24

Thanks, Nos4r2,

That's a bit of ominous advice!

If it's performing as well as before it picked up the bag which it seems to be, do you think it is necessary I do this test?

Aren't picking up plastic bags or other foreign objects something the engine designers expect to happen thus installing the alarm to prevent big damage well before it's onset?

codprawn · 14 May 2006, 22:26

On a different scale I had a similar problem with my suzuki 15hp 4 stroke last year - engine suddenly bogged down to 2000rpm and just wouldn't let me go faster.

Black tape over the water intake didn't help - suddenly steam out of the tell tale.

I was terrified there was some damage done but the engine has been purrfect since!!!

Nos4r2 · 15 May 2006, 00:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by timw

If it's performing as well as before it picked up the bag which it seems to be, do you think it is necessary I do this test?

Personally I'd do the test anyway. It'll only take 5 minutes and it'll give you peace of mind.

IF it's damaged then you'll know earlier and the repair bill will be less.