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496 mpi HO question

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Old 04-25-2026 | 11:09 AM
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Default 496 mpi HO question

Hello all.

I have a pair of 400 hour merc 496 HO mpis and at 1000 rpm one burns twice as much as the other according to vesselview. Was up with that? What should I check?

also see a little fuel sheen on thirsty motor’s side when I shut em down. Not sure if related.

thanks

Swampy
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Old 04-25-2026 | 12:38 PM
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Check Fuel pressure.
Check spark plugs to see if one or more look like its running rich.
Send injectors to Smitty/arcticfriends to be cleaned and flow tested.
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Old 04-25-2026 | 01:31 PM
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Thanks Griff. I assume my Rinda tool cant tell me which injector might be having issue.
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Old 04-25-2026 | 02:31 PM
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1K rpm is idle, whats it seeing at cruise ?
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Old 04-25-2026 | 03:08 PM
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400 hours, and 'something' awry...
...I'd pull ALL of the injectors and have them professionally cleaned, inspected, refurbished, and flow tested.

www.injectorpulse.com (Typical turnaround is a week. Xavier is a trusted resource and does the racecar injectors for a bazillion fellow racers. He can do any injectors.)
or
https://www.boatunlimited.com/marine...ting-cleaning/ (Not sure on turnaround time, but reach out and John will tell you. He has forgotten more about 496s than any of us will ever know.)

Last edited by Sydwayz; 04-25-2026 at 03:11 PM.
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Old 04-25-2026 | 03:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Swamplizard
Hello all.

I have a pair of 400 hour merc 496 HO mpis and at 1000 rpm one burns twice as much as the other according to vesselview. Was up with that? What should I check?

also see a little fuel sheen on thirsty motor’s side when I shut em down. Not sure if related.

thanks

Swampy
Can you check fuel usage at other rpms ?
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Old 04-25-2026 | 07:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Swamplizard
Thanks Griff. I assume my Rinda tool cant tell me which injector might be having issue.
I'm not sure what a Rinda will show for the PCM555's. I have MEFI 3's and it doesn't show much.
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Old Yesterday | 10:18 AM
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Ran boat a bit yesterday - both motors using same at 1,000, 1500, 2000, and 3000 this time .... couldnt do more as weather was rough in ICWW was packed!

When I tun STBD motor off, fuel sheen on water surface. Will check plugs next.

It cant be the idle sensor IAC thingy can it?
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Old Yesterday | 12:14 PM
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I would check your engine oil level. You might have a leaking oil cooler that is letting oil get into the raw water side of the oil cooler and out the back of your boat.
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Old Yesterday | 04:19 PM
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Uh oh!!!

I can almost guarantee you have the Cool Fuel paint peeling problem and it has now entered into the fuel rail and injectors. You need to pull everything fuel related on that motor!. Get a new Cool Fuel module, pressure regulators and clean, clean clean. I HIGHLY recommend new injectors. The other motor is probably right behind this one. So I would do both.

This is the EXACT same thing that happened to my HO's. One started burning WAY more fuel, sheen on the water, etc etc.

Sorry....good luck!

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