How long will an outboard motor run if its not pumping water properly?

Question

or if its not pumping it at all?

Answer 1

not to long it will overheat and blow the head

Answer 2

from a cold start, it'll heat up and sieze in 4 or 5 minutes maybe.

from a warm start, a minute or 2.

pump failure at WOT, shut 'er down within 10 seconds after hearing the warning buzzer, or else she's toast.

BTW, it only takes about 45 seconds of dry running to damage the water pump impeller.

Answer 3

Had a 90 h.p. motor- water intake got stopped up by lily pad- 3 minutes later the motor seized up.

Answer 4

not long at all. its just like running a car without antifreeze. maybe 15 minutes a shot before major damage. a water pump kit  is 30-50 bucks

Answer 5

It will probably run for a little while before it seizes (maybe 5 minutes, maybe longer), but once it starts getting hot you will be damaging the piston rings and many other internal components.  It's like running your car's engine with no coolant.  

If you're lucky and the engine doesn't seize entirely, the motor will most likely burn lots of oil and have low compression due to the damage to the rings and valves etc., from running it too hot, even after you get water pumping through it again.

Answer 6

Most of these experienced answers are just about right, 2 to 5 minutes until it seizes up depending on the temp of the engine at the time of loss of coolant flow or serious degration of coolant flow.

If your water pump system has failed, don't run the engine for ANY reason.  Use the two way marine radio, flag someone down for a tow, or paddle back to shore, but DO not turn that motor back on.

A good illustration is for every second you run that motor after the overheat has been noticed (temp gauge or buzz alarm), you are shredding a $100 bill.  If you keep that in your mind, shutting it down fast should be like second nature.

Afterwards, make sure you have a dependable marine service shop check engine compression, the cylinder walls, and possibly the integrity on the seals for the outboard.  Seals can be fused or melted entirely if an outboard overheats for too long.  When seals get fused or melted, the tend to leak alot or the seals fail completely.

Answer 7

Couple minutes.