Cause of engine seizing while running

M

Mande1992

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Aug 11, 2010
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Hello all, looking at buying a boat that the seller says seized while he was motoring down the lake. The purchase price leaves room for putting a new block in, but I was wondering what could cause this and if it is possible that the engine be saved.

It is a merc 4.3, he says there was oil and the temp was around 140 F when it quit. It didn't go out with a bang or anything, it just died on him.

Any ideas? Need more info ?
 
Don S

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
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Re: Cause of engine seizing while running

Pull the outdrive and see if the engine is still siezed. If the outdrive locks up, the engine will not turn.
 
Howard Sterndrive

Howard Sterndrive

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Re: Cause of engine seizing while running

if it just died on him, there's a huge amount of assuming going on to say it seized up. Maybe it ran out of gas.

If it did seize up, it needs to be diagnosed. There's no one cause.
There are no 50 causes either.... there's hundreds of scenarios that can stop an engine, most to do with a failure of the lube or cooling system.

Keep in mind the running gear behind the engine can seize up and stop the engine- outdrive, gimbal bearing
 
Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1

Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1

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Mar 27, 2010
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Re: Cause of engine seizing while running

No oil in the engine or drive could do it.
Even if a bearing was bad and on the way out, would have probably given a sign.

Hydrolocked,-water back up in the engine from the exhaust, from a missing or damage exhaust water shutter. If that was it and the water was left in the block for an extended time very bad for engine too.

Check to see how oil looks, drive lube looks, compression test, leakdown test, just rambling now.

Or easier would be to just consider the engine and drive needs replacing when considering an offer for the boat.
 
M

Mande1992

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Re: Cause of engine seizing while running

Wow, you guys are great, thanks for the advice.

The purchase price of the boat will definitely reflect replacing the engine and drive. Will be taking a look at it later this week.
 
erikgreen

erikgreen

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Jan 8, 2007
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Re: Cause of engine seizing while running

For the record, pouring several handfuls of dry sand into the carb of a running engine will also seize it. I've seen a tape...

Erik
 
H

HT32BSX115

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Dec 8, 2005
Messages
10,083
Re: Cause of engine seizing while running

Mande1992 said:
Wow, you guys are great, thanks for the advice.

The purchase price of the boat will definitely reflect replacing the engine and drive. Will be taking a look at it later this week.
Click to expand...


Be particularly careful with what you think the purchase price of the boat should be to "reflect replacing the engine and drive"......

In many cases, even a FREE boat is not worth it if you have to have someone replace the engine and drive.......... because the boat with the "new" engine and drive is not worth the cost of the new engine and drive when it's all said and done!!


Caveat Emptor!!



Cheers,


Rick
 
Friscoboater

Friscoboater

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Jul 3, 2009
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Re: Cause of engine seizing while running

HT32BSX115 said:
Be particularly careful with what you think the purchase price of the boat should be to "reflect replacing the engine and drive"......

In many cases, even a FREE boat is not worth it if you have to have someone replace the engine and drive.......... because the boat with the "new" engine and drive is not worth the cost of the new engine and drive when it's all said and done!!


Caveat Emptor!!



Cheers,


Rick
Click to expand...

I totally agree with that statement. Most boats with bad engines cannot be discounted enough to really make up for a blown engine. Now if is a really new boat, it might come close.

T
 
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