Islandia with 250 Optimax oil light on w intermitten beeps - UPDATE now 4 beeps and lots of smoke

[dblackstone]

Boat ran awesome, on way back to dock the oil light came on and it beeped 1 time. Boat ran fine and didn't go into limp mode.

Took the boat out of the water, Oil tank only took 1/2 gallon to fill it. Double checked the small oil tank on the motor and it is full to the top. How do I check the sensor on this?

I have ordered a shop manual for the motor but have not gotten it yet.

Otherwise the boat ran awesome for our first time out in it! Speedo and fuel gauge are not working but I will double check the the connections at the fuses, not really concerned about the speedo not working. the water pump is blowing fuses so l am guessing that may be bad but will look into that as well as I want to make sure the wash down is operational.

Super impressed with this boat, slow speed handling was exactly what I expected but started to get it down just in the few hours we had it out and I am sure will get better in time.

 

[Dr Honda]

OK....

The problem with the seadoo/Mercury marriage was... someone didn't read the install manual. The little "oil can" icon on the fuel gauge is wrong. It should be a "Bell" icon... and it is a general alarm light.

So... while it could have been an oil alarm... it could have also been something else. (like the water in fuel alarm)

Testing the switch is easy. It's on the top of the tank. Disconnect it from the wire harness, and put a meter on it. you should see it open and close as the float moves.

 

[dblackstone]

Thank you,

With further searching I figured that out. Just tested the sensor and it has continuity.

So next must be to check fuel filter. Will have to do that tomorrow night.

 

[dblackstone]

Changed Fuel Filter and drained fuel vapor separator. Still on

Checked engine oil tank, issue is in the float level so I have a new oil tank on the way will be here Monday or Tuesday. Also have a new inline fuel filter coming with it to change out just in case even thou it was clear when I checked it

Put the boat in last night, very humid here in Maine.

Smoked a ton at start, cleared as we idled out. down about 200 rpm at wot smoke then came back so just idled it back to ramp and pulled it out. No smoke at below 2000 rpm. Light was still on at dock but was expected as test shows tank needs replacement. Boat took longer to plane out and then got the 4 beeps every few minutes

Initial check shows spark at all 6 cylinders but pulling plugs today and compression testing.
Also going to check the TPS today.

Double checked in line oil filter so all good there.

What else should I check?

 

[Dr Honda]

Well.... with what you are describing... it sounds like the pump cable was set wrong... but since you have an Opti... it's electric. So that can't be it.

The 4 beeps is the ECU thinking you have low oil. Since you suspect the sender is bad... that's probably what it is. Also... the ecu will start to limit the power... so that could also be an issue.

As far as the smoke... well... that's kind of normal when cold. Mine pukes smoke for a couple minutes, and then clears up. But smoke coming back when warm, isn't. (a little wisp of smoke is ok)

Since it's an Opti engine... you need to check the fuel and air pressure in the system. they are critical to proper running. Fuel should be 90 psi, and air should be 80 psi.

Let me know what your compression comes back as... but I'm not thinking it's an issue. (but always good to know on a 2-stroke for reference)

 

[dblackstone]

Can't get to it till this afternoon due to BBQ, wife ordered me to not get dirty, haha

When changing fuel filter I had to take off fuel pump bracket to get to it as it was stuck on good, wondering if that may be an issue as I moved pump around a bunch.

 

[dblackstone]

Well.... with what you are describing... it sounds like the pump cable was set wrong... but since you have an Opti... it's electric. So that can't be it.

The 4 beeps is the ECU thinking you have low oil. Since you suspect the sender is bad... that's probably what it is. Also... the ecu will start to limit the power... so that could also be an issue.

As far as the smoke... well... that's kind of normal when cold. Mine pukes smoke for a couple minutes, and then clears up. But smoke coming back when warm, isn't. (a little wisp of smoke is ok)

Since it's an Opti engine... you need to check the fuel and air pressure in the system. they are critical to proper running. Fuel should be 90 psi, and air should be 80 psi.

Let me know what your compression comes back as... but I'm not thinking it's an issue. (but always good to know on a 2-stroke for reference)

Fuel is 90psi Air is 80 psi Waiting for my buddy to drop off my compression tester he borrowed

the optimax has 2 inline oil filters after the oil tank. one has oil all over the outside of it and the other is clean as could be. checking those next, the one i checked before is the filter coming from the 3 gallon tank. I didn't realize there were 2 after the oil pump.

Then pulling plugs to get ready for compression test

 

[dblackstone]

Compression 125 +/- across the board

Here is a pic of the plugs that came out of it in order. What a bitch to get 5 n 6 out.

Didn't get a chance to fire it up tonight as it was dark but will in the morning.

 

[Dr Honda]

I would like to see a little more compression... but you are in the running range.


The plugs look wet, but the color is good for a 2-stroke. Did they have much time on them?? (just want to make sure they have a real "Read" on them)

Well... at this point... I'd say... wait for that new oil sender, and see if it takes care of the issues. All the other critical things are checking out.

 

[dblackstone]

Not sure how long plugs were in it, was told they were changed last spring but was also told it was serviced too which i don't think happened other then taking it out ans wrapping it. I was just glad not to see any tell tale signs on them of major issues.

oil tank should be here monday.


Thinking now once I get passed this issue I may do the top end at the end of summer, wouldnt hurt to put fresh piston and rings in it for our ownership of it.

side note, both boats i looked at did the same thing when starting, turn the key, starts cranking and operating fuel pump then turns over and starts, just a slight delay before motor fired up. Is that normal.

 

[Dr Honda]

ok on the plugs. I just wanted to know if they were in for a few minutes... or for "A while". Last season... that should have plenty of time to give a good read.

Absolutely. Doing a topend, and lower inspection before there are issues is the cheapest way to keep that engine going for a long time. That's what I would do in my dirtbike days. People don't understand when the pistons and rings are wearing... that's when the real damage happens. But a simple re-fresh on that engine will be right around $1k with new pistons, rings, and even crank bearing. But wait until pit pops... and it turns into a $4k (or more) project.


Yes... it's normal. The opti has to build pressure, and find it's crank position before it will fire. Minimum of 2 revolutions.

 

[dblackstone]

So changed plugs, tested systems. Did find one of the 2 inline oil filters after the pump was all cruddy. Took it off and cleaned it as Napa didn't have one that small. Air would barely go thru it when I took it off. After cleaning with seafoam air flowed awesome.

Just restarted it and almost no smoke, idled it up to 2500 rpm and was just a wisp. Yesterday it was a cloud! Still getting code and 4 beeps but that is for the oil tank sensor failure

New oil tank should be here tomorrow

 

[dblackstone]

New oil tank installed, light is gone and minimal smoke at start up. Now to put it in the water and see what happens.

 

[Dr Honda]

Glad to hear things are heading the right way.

 

[dblackstone]

Thanks for keeping me sane Dr.

I'm comfortable with 2 strokes but my background is singles and twins. This is same concept but on a much bigger level plus add in the dfi .

 

[dblackstone]

Ran great, 5900 rpm, 43 mph.

Just 2 of us but full fuel tank and full water tank as I wanted it all ready to leave at the dock.