How to prevent hydro lock

[scott8058]

Ok so about a month ago I posted about my horrible service from a local marine mechanic, long story short took it there to get an elbow drain valve on my manifold replaced and when I got it back they chewed the teeth off my flywheel. So I took it to another place to get an estimate and they told me that the motor was water logged and whoever tried to start it did the damage. So now that its June and I'm still not boating I want to ask how to prevent this from happening again. All winter it was covered w the back end parked under a pine tree, nvr let snow sit on the cover and the wood sun deck above it is sealed on the bottom. I thought all should be good but apparently not, the only other thing I can think of is that when the marina had my boat we got 7" of rain over a 2 day period, did they leave it uncovered? Lol idk but what can I do to stop this?

Here's the details.......

20 ft
350 merc
Alpha one 1.5

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: How to prevent hydro lock

"How to prevent hydro lock"?

Make sure your exhaust shutters are intact
Make sure your exhaust manifolds/risers are not leaking internally.

Exhaust manifolds/risers and shutters are how water gets into the cylinders of a marine engine, usually.

Rain has nothing to do with hydro lock. Unless you left the engine cover off AND the carb/throttle body cover off, allowing water to pour in directly.

The water was probably in the cylinders when you took it to the first shop.

 

[Don S]

Re: How to prevent hydro lock

Never shut the engine off until the boat has stopped moving and the engine has idled for at least a minute. This will make sure the stern wake is past, and the engine burns off some excess fuel and heat and doesn't diesel. If your engine does diesel, restart it. If it doesn't crank, you have water and time to pull the plugs. DO NOT keep trying to start it, that is when thing start breaking and bending.

Shutters can only slow down most of the water, not stop it completely.

 

[scott8058]

Re: How to prevent hydro lock

Ok thank u for the responses but if those were leaking wouldn't I have had the prob last season? I winterized it and took it to the shop this yr before it ever even hit the water, so how would it get there then in that case? Thanks

 

[Bondo]

Re: How to prevent hydro lock

Ok thank u for the responses but if those were leaking wouldn't I have had the prob last season? I winterized it and took it to the shop this yr before it ever even hit the water, so how would it get there then in that case? Thanks

Ayuh,.... How'd ya Winterize it,..??

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: How to prevent hydro lock

Ok thank u for the responses but if those were leaking wouldn't I have had the prob last season? I winterized it and took it to the shop this yr before it ever even hit the water, so how would it get there then in that case? Thanks

When the exhaust manifolds go bad, they go bad internally. You can't see it. Raw water (or the antifreeze you dumped in) seeps out the cracks and runs into whatever cylinder has an open exhaust valve. Then it sits in the cylinder until you try to start the engine again. Yiu may have had the issue beginning last year, but it never got enough water to hydrolock. But since it sat in there all winter and most likely rusted, now you have a seized or locked engine.
Winterizing does nothing to help it.