Roger......you have a mean streak in you. ��

Padraig

BUP,

To clarify:
Favor: As in an authorized Mercury dealer sending it to mother Merc for me and knowing somebody there that is fully aware of the technical aspects of my problem, address what can be addressed through a reflash and will also turn it around in a very timely fashion.

There were several updates available for my motor (PCM) of which this PCM had none of them applied. I would assume and update for emissions control just might address the running rich (soot) issues as well.

My post was to everyone else that does not have any relationships with a full blown Merc / Mercruiser OEM dealer. As not to ward them off about checking into the PCM upgrades and or any warranty issues that never been done and or at least check on it. My statements was for all 496 end users. Alot of times I post as not the end user of the engine / boat but as a dealership dealing with the issues thru the OEM's. if that makes sense.

Got it, thanks BUP...........:D

LOL! I like to tell people that I am as far from NYC as you can get and still be in the state.

Padraig

I take it that Merc doesn't send out the info needed to reflash the PCM to the Merc dealers?? I am just reading about this and our summer is just getting nicely started in Michigan and hate to lose a couple of nice weekends.

No they don't, you'll need to accomplish any reflash through and authorized Mercury dealer.....:picard1:

Update: Cleaner didn't work worth a darn. I tried it on a sooty spot I left on the transom just for test it.

I wonder if Turtle Wax Bug & Tar Remover will work. It's like magic on my truck.

I get a little soot on my transome. I'm not sure if my 496 had the updates. I'll check in the fall after the season is over.

This cleaner wax removes anything that I ever wanted clean/waxed http://www.garrysroyalsatin.com/garrys-wax.html

Nope, had some on the shelf and tried that too. I'll know it the updated PCM help this weekend, I'll report back next week.

Tried the vinegar but no go, Soft Scrub did the trick but still need to apply wax, this is gonna be a pain !

When I've got some soot on the transom of my boats I've used Spray Nine and that stuff works like magic. It is wonderful for about any tough boat cleaning job...bilge, vinyl, etc. Just don't get it on threads.

Wipe off as soon as you come out of water

It's when it sits that it gets tough

Running Blue Motor with white transom

I'll post some nasty transom pics tomorrow. Ran today with 5 bottles Techron FI cleaner mixed w/ 65 gallons fuel. Also burning off Merc's winterizing "soup" mix. Transom is nasty!! Same as last year. Once I burn this tank it cleans up for the summer.

and what was your mix ratio - fuel to 2 stroke oil and which oil did you use. Some are bad. I have found a Marine Citgo brand 2 stroke motor oil that has been the best and we have boats that sit for 6 to 9 months min, some even a couple of years stored.

I would not use anything under 50 to 1 ratio mix. Volvo penta has done alot of testing with mix ratio's. they recommend 50 to 1 and IMO for the 496 I would go 60 or 70 to 1, depending on the climate.

Bup, you would be proud. I used your advice and got away from the Merc 10-1 ratio in the fsm. Way too rich IMO. I blended Merc Synblend 2 stroke at 50-1 ratio. Also had the Stabil 360* in with the mix.

Stopped are Wallmart this morning to get supplies for the lake. They had Merc Quick care ethanol treatment on closeout for $5 a bottle. I bought a few. What's your opinion on it? As always thanks for your input and wealth of knowledge.

Just back after a couple of days on the lake with the newly reflashed PCM from MERC, "VERY HAPPY" to report my sooting issue is "NO MORE"....:party-smiley-020:

After 2 days of running through about 70 gallons of fuel, there was hardly any residue on any part of the transom. Before I left for the lake I did give the transom a good waxing just in case it was really needed and I also applied some 303 protectant which was recommended by a friend, made wiping the transom down effortless.

So now I just need to work on why the motor went into an over heat protection mode (195 deg) at the end of our last day out........ :mad::mad::mad:, it was a long day making a 10 mile trip at idle back to the ramp, lake was full of debris so I probably sucked something up as I did find some wood debris wedged in the 2 lower water intake side holes. Hoping it's nothing more than a sea pump rebuild, I'll plug in the RINDA DIAGNOSTICS tomorrow and see what it has to say. If anybody has info to share on this over heat, it would be greatly appreciate it.

Happened to me once with one of the HO's in my last boat. It had a mound of wood chips the size of a tennis ball inside the oil cooler on the back of the engine.

My impeller let me down:


http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w...t.jpg~original

BUP,

Your in box is full, couldn't send you a PM.

BUP,

Do you use the Diacom, what does the "Clnt" refer to ? I'm trying to understand what to look for with this code on the Starboard side:

Port Clnt Overheat: 0
Starboard Clnt Overheat: 229

Thank you in advance,
Gary