A simple compression test will show if there is an issue with a cylinder. Pull plugs out and look inside also. Just a few drops of oil in the water spreads out quickly and looks like a bunch, kinda like blood at a crime scene !!
I havnt had a chance to get the engine to water to test it yet (off site). But you are right about oil.
Clearly its trying to add some oil to a likely flooded engine, but not sure why the oil pump was working until it fires up, or does it add oil prior to firing up? Lastly where is the oil likely to have been exiting the engine into the water?
I will pull the sparks and inspect.
We dont have seafoam here, just the mercury/quckksilver and the equivalent line of yamaha additives. Quickleen is said to be Mercs version of seafoam. Should I flush the fuel line with some of this stuff? its been sitting since we failed to start it incorrectly, I did disconnect the hoses and tilt it so hopefully the old fuel has left the carb, just worried the oil might have gummed things up.
My gut tells me it was a combo of not knowing how to choke with the key pushed in, not knowing where to set the neutral idle speed lever and most importantly, I suspect it was old fuel
