1999 mercury 8hp issues?

Question

I have the 1999 merc 8 on an aluminum 14ft polarcraft fishing boat. It seems to push it good at 17mph loaded down pretty good. Eccept for three things.

1, Every once in awhile it will spudder and pop around 1/8 to 1/4 throttle. ( used to die out but has not done that for a few months).

2. Most of the time its hard to start after shutting down to fish for awhile, I have to keep pulling one after the other real fast and it hits slowly to a full run, then its fine. If I take the cover off and hold the throttle open it hits faster, like it was flooded.

3. After bringing home to the garage it drips a milky oil puddle on the floor from the prop, but the lower unit oil is full and looks like new.

I do troll alot on the river, but open it up as much as I can in this never ending no wake river. I run unleaded 87 octane and penzoil two stroke oil at 50.1. ...And never changed the plugs because they still look decent ,nor have I adjusted any carb settings.
Thanks for any responce

Answer 1

Maybe this will help with your questions:

1. Change your spark plug anyway because a weak plug will misfire more at lower speed (and engine RPM) than at higher speeds because the ignition voltage is less at lower speeds. If that doesn't fix the problem, then experiment with the "low speed" carburator adjustment because it creates a different mixture than that controlled by the "high speed" adjustment.

2. Your engine IS flooding when it sits for awhile. Residual engine heat builds after shutting it off and no water is circulating; this causes the gas in the carb's float chamber to expand and "perk over" into the cylinder. Even though it's a warm or hot summer day and the engine has been running earlier, move the choke to full-choke position before trying to crank the engine. Usually it will start (or try to start) on the first or second pull; quickly move the choke back to normal position as soon as it tries to start and crank it again.

3. Oil mixing with water creates a milky residue. If your lower leg gearbox oil is full and normal looking, you're probably getting a mix of water in the leg with oil residue from the exhaust in the leg - no problem.

Answer 2

Sound like your float is not holding might have a piece of trash between the seat & needle pull carb remove bowl pull the little pin an the float will come off with the needle clean call ports with carb spray be carefull no brout force as it will change the setting of float height. assemble an test run. When done using disconnect the fuel an run dry before storage.

Answer 3

The engine is probably toast. Are you doing the work yourself or taking it in? If you're taking it to a mechanic, make sure he would use a good salvage engine. You should be able to find a good low mileage engine for that car and at a decent price. Don't let someone tell you that you HAVE to buy a new engine unless that's what you want to do. If you do want a used engine, try to shop around for yourself and let the mechanic know the prices. I just got a rearend for my truck installed at a garage. I called around for prices and found a good one for $700. Meanwhile, the garage told me that they had a rearend coming for it. After it was all said and done, I payed $960 for the rearend that the garage found "for me". A couple weeks later I found out it was the same one I called on for $700! Lying, cheating bastards. So make sure they know that you know what it should cost!