Running hot?
 

Do any Mercury owners (2 stroke. ) notice that there engines seem to run hot when slow trolling? I always had that issue. . The over heat alarm never goes off just the gauge needle goes very close to the end of the hot side. Than I run It and starts going down And the needle comes down and stays in the middle .

when was the last time you put a water pump in it? I recommend yearly on those motors

Ever changed the poppet valve?

Water impeller changed about 3-4 years ago but she is pissing out strong ( sorry for saying that) and the poppet valve. I did change it once but a long long time ago
The impeller was not used much. I didn't use the motor a lot. ( covid plus other things going on)

Do what Spare says

I d change water pump every year, they are not expensive and good insurance for cooling and making sure your lower unit will come off when u want it to

Also, I would only use Mercury kits

Also add a water pressure gauge if u don t have one

what Phatt said

Ok I will do that, thanks