No "pee" coming out

[bluedolphin]

I have a 1992 Mercury 200 hp V-6 2.5 ltr on a 1972 22-2 - I noticed very little water coming out from the pee hole. Took it out to the beach - about an hour at low speeds (max 10 mph). Came back in for another hour (again, max 10 mph), this time the water coming out is almost non-existent.  What started out as almost just a dribble of water, is now nothing coming out. I don't have a temp gauge or overheat alarm hooked up. Is it possible for the engine to overheat and continue running for 2 hours? What do I need to check? Impeller? Water Pump? HELP!

[John Jones]

It could be a restriction almost anywhere or a worn out water pump.  First thing I would do is run something like 200# fishing line up the pee tube.  Take the cowling off, you should be able to follow the rubber hose to where it's connected and make sure that's all clear.  If that doesn't do it, I would replace the water pump.  Not that expensive or hard to do.  Usually these two things fix them.  There are other things but try these two first.

BTW, if I remember right, Mercs pee hot water and most others pee cold.

[JimCt]

Take a piece of small diameter wire and stuff it up the pee hole tube as far as you can.  Slide it in & out a few times, pull the wire and try the engine again.  Not uncommon for this tube to become blocked.  If the wire fix doesn't work possibly you have a worn water pump impeller. If in any doubt about the impeller or if it hasn't been changed to your knowlege, get it replaced.

[JimCt]

If I'd waited a minute on my post I would have seen JJ's post.  

[bluedolphin]

Thanks, JimCT and JohnJones. I will try that. I guess the outboard did not overheat because it kept going?

[JimCt]

You're probably ok.  If it was seriously overheating you would have seen steam or the engine would have seized.

[John Jones]

If I'd waited a minute on my post I would have seen JJ's post.  

Great minds think alike  

[RickK]

I had the same problem and the wire did the trick.  Seems wasps / mud daubers (or something) like to make their nest in the tube on an unattended boat or a boat that is not run very often. Ants like to get up in there too.  I know if I lower the motor too much at home, so that it's touching the ground, there's a real good chance I'll have ants in the motor the next time I start it.

[John Jones]

Ants find their way to mine whether it's wheels or the tongue jack.  Persistant buggers.

[bluedolphin]

I finally got to try the wire trick, and VOILA, there's pee coming out. Thanks, all, for your help.

[JimCt]

Good to hear the fix worked.  Not an uncommon problem.

[RickK]

Good to hear the fix worked.  Not an uncommon problem.

Especially here in FL.  Glad it worked out.

[JimCt]

Pee always seems to slow down as man & machine get older.

[John Jones]

[gw204]

Pee always seems to slow down as man & machine get older.

Beer helps resolve that Jim....