On May 31, 9:28 pm, Jim Rojas wrote:
I have a 1986 fresh water cooled Mercruiser 170HP 4 cylinder engine,
that I am trying to get repaired. I have some questions.

I am getting some tapping sounds from the front top end. How do I tell
if the oil is flowing throughout the engine? The oil gauge shows pressure.

My lower unit shows no sign of circulating water into the heat
exchanger. Does anyone know how to add a weep hole so i can visually see
the flow?

Thank you

Jim Rojas


Heat exchanger? Jim I think you have an enclosed water system, But if
it IS truely a raw water system, you should be able to put it on a
water hose with "muffs" and when runnning, you should have water
splattering out the exhause (directly under the Gimbal bering housing)
and though the propeller.

comcerning the "tap" noise, It's possible that you have a rocker arm
needing adjusting, or replacing. interesting that witht he oil pump
located at the back of the engine, it has to pump oil through the back
to the front, and the rocker arm is at the very top, in the front, and
is the last item to be lubricated. Therefore it's not the case of
starving for lubrication, but rather, a point that the lubrication is
at it's least pressure. It's not uncommon especially an engine that
may have several hr's on it.