Engine problem - '85 Mercruiser 170

[THEFERMANATOR]

Originally Posted by spareparts

does your oil smell like gas? Could be a bad fuel pump leaking gas into the engine, that will make your oil pressure very low and at teh same time cause a fuel delivery issue.

This is what I was thinking as well. Neighbor went through this on his 4.3L. They didn't put but a small filter after the pump, and it quickly plugged up with rubber from the pump. His carb plugged up, engine would barely idle, and his oil pressure dropped like a rock after a gallon of gas went into the crankcase.