Honda BF20 water in crankcase oil

[BenRog]

Shop that replaced water pump failed to properly attach coolant exit water line. Engine compartment filled with water & somehow water entered engine oil. Still ran sorta until plugs got wet. Oil was like heavy cream & very overfilled on dipstick. Replaced oil (twice) plus filter. Can I expect main bearing problems?

 

[MattFL]

It's impossible to say. How hard was it run with water in the oil and how long did it sit with water in the oil before the oil was changed?

 

[BenRog]

Ran for 3-4 hours at a guess (was unaware of contamination.)
Sat for 1 1/2 days.
If it starts ok & will hit max speed with no obvious problems can I assume I dodged a bullet?

 

[Sea Rider]

Aside your issue 4 Stroke motors tend to make what's called "Make Oil" , the oil level inside the crankcase will inevitably be increased way more than what the deep stick measured when at top mark after changing new oil, seems it's due to external temperatures changes and moisture building inside the crankcase. In that case just add 3/4 oil for the level to rest right between the deep stick's min and max level...

Happy Boating​

 

[MattFL]

The making oil thing must be regional, here in FL I've never seen or heard of it happening to anyone I know, just rumors about it being a possibility for motors that idle all day. Maybe it happens in areas where the water is cool enough that the motor never gets warm enough to steam off the fuel blow by.

Was it in fresh or salt water? If it's running good now with no new noises then there's reasonable chance that running it with the water in the oil didn't do significant damage. What you don't know is if the bearings started to rust when it sat, as that would just make things wear out faster. Your two choices are take it apart and inspect it, or put new oil in it and use it. If it were my motor I would take choice B, especially if it was fresh water. If you haven't yet, get it nice and hot once the new oil is in it to help steam off any remaining water. If it's running OK now then I would bet $5 that it's going to be fine.

 

[racerone]

Just $5.00 ?

 

[MattFL]

Just $5.00 ?

I'm conservative, not a big risk taker.

 

[BenRog]

The making oil thing must be regional, here in FL I've never seen or heard of it happening to anyone I know, just rumors about it being a possibility for motors that idle all day. Maybe it happens in areas where the water is cool enough that the motor never gets warm enough to steam off the fuel blow by.

Was it in fresh or salt water? If it's running good now with no new noises then there's reasonable chance that running it with the water in the oil didn't do significant damage. What you don't know is if the bearings started to rust when it sat, as that would just make things wear out faster. Your two choices are take it apart and inspect it, or put new oil in it and use it. If it were my motor I would take choice B, especially if it was fresh water. If you haven't yet, get it nice and hot once the new oil is in it to help steam off any remaining water. If it's running OK now then I would bet $5 that it's going to be fine.

Great advice! Thanks.
Canadian fresh water. Will try this weekend.

 

[ahicks]

Ran for 3-4 hours at a guess (was unaware of contamination.)
Sat for 1 1/2 days.
If it starts ok & will hit max speed with no obvious problems can I assume I dodged a bullet?

Sure sounds like you dodged a bullet - so far?
I'm a little skeptical though, regarding the explanation regarding how exactly, the water got into the crankcase.

I'm left wondering who did the repair work, AFTER the water was found in the oil?

 

[ahicks]

The making oil thing must be regional, here in FL I've never seen or heard of it happening to anyone I know, just rumors about it being a possibility for motors that idle all day. Maybe it happens in areas where the water is cool enough that the motor never gets warm enough to steam off the fuel blow by.

Was it in fresh or salt water? If it's running good now with no new noises then there's reasonable chance that running it with the water in the oil didn't do significant damage. What you don't know is if the bearings started to rust when it sat, as that would just make things wear out faster. Your two choices are take it apart and inspect it, or put new oil in it and use it. If it were my motor I would take choice B, especially if it was fresh water. If you haven't yet, get it nice and hot once the new oil is in it to help steam off any remaining water. If it's running OK now then I would bet $5 that it's going to be fine.

Matt, the "making oil thing" generally happens when the engine isn't being run warm enough to burn off the condensation that forms in the crankcase - which is a natural by product of an internal combustion engine. Could be because the engine is only being run for a few minutes, then shut off, or more likely, being run with no thermostat.

 

[MattFL]

Yes I've heard about it before, we just don't see it much here so I'm wondering how prevalent it is. Do you see it often in your area? Our surf temperature here is already 80F and ambient temps in the 80's-90's so I'm guessing that has something to do with why we don't see it here much.

I too am curious how the water got into the oil. The only vent to the crankcase should be the breather that usually runs into the airbox, so by the time the motor enclosure gets full enough to put that hose under water I would be expecting much more immediate problems. Unless maybe someone didn't push the dipstick in all the way?

 

[ahicks]

Matt, I'm a snowbird. I spend 1/2 my time here in SE Mich. (LOTS of inland lakes, similar to FL) and the other 1/2 is spent near the Gulf Coast (Nature Coast, north central FL).

I've seen the issue, but not like some have described it. For me it's generally just moisture (a few drops maybe) on the back side of the oil filler plug or something similar.

 

[BenRog]

Sure sounds like you dodged a bullet - so far?
I'm a little skeptical though, regarding the explanation regarding how exactly, the water got into the crankcase.

I'm left wondering who did the repair work, AFTER the water was found in the oil?

Thanks for comments.
Dunno how the water got into the crankcase from the engine 'compartment'.
I did the subsequent oil changes (2) & filter replacement myself as soon as I noticed the contaminated oil rather than wait for a shop appointment ( 30 miles away). Also don't trust them after this water pump installation foul up.

 

[ahicks]

Suggest you keep a close eye on it until you get enough time on it to trust it again. Maybe check every 1/2 hour?

 

[BenRog]

Hey Matt!
Good plan. Thanks again for your suggestions & information!
-Ben (in the F Frozen North..)