Mercury Four Stroke Air Filter

Posting this in the main forum as a public service announcement: If you own a pre-2014 75-115hp Mercury four stroke, pull your cowling off and check the condition of your foam air filter/silencer. Between the last time I serviced my outboard in April and October my foam air filter disintegrated completely. Some of this foam had to have been sucked into the intake and other chunks were spread around the motor housing. This is apparently a known issue to Mercury and they changed the filter design to a rigid metallic mesh sometime in 2014. $90 later for a new filter and I'm back on the water. Do yourself a favor and check the condition of your foam before chunks of it get sucked in and lodge somewhere they shouldn't.

What the filter originally looked like
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...psy6xz1mnu.jpg

What the filter looked like last week
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...psjncubwbi.jpg

New Mercury design
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...psecpbwjhk.jpg

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You know.......that could be from a fuel additive. Alcohol and styrofoam don't mix! Alcohol disintegrates styrofoam. Melts it like the blood from the aliens in the Alien movies. PVC glue does the same thing to it.

2010 115hp 4 stroke
Quicksilver part number: 35-8M0082911

Mine did it two seasons ago. Mercury service said not to expect any problems as it would disintegrate. No problems so far, only pocketbook with replacement...85.00

Thx buddy

I have a 2005 115 four stroke and haven't ever seen a filter. I have changed plugs, timing belt, water pump. I'll look when I pull it out of the water this fall.

Don