oil change problem 4.3 mercruiser GM

[tashasdaddy]

i got this boat free this week,as the owner had grossly negelected it. plug left in under oak trees of course in filled with rain water. i've gotten it started. tried to pump out oil. the gunk is so thick it is stopping up siphon tube. in the old days with cars we use to pour some kerosene in the filler opening and turn the engine over several times. ANYBODY got any ideas, please let me know..It's 4.3LX GEN+ (GM). engine # 009133 drive # 063037 Alpha 1.. thanks bob sorry guys engine #OK009133 1996-1997 drive 0K063037.. i can't feel a drian plug any where on bottom use a mirror can't see one. i've stripped all the seats so ther ia alot of room to work

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: oil change problem 4.3 mercruiser GM

First I would try running motor for a good 20 minutes so you know it is as warm as it should be.This is a must for the oil to be warm and thin enough to be able to pump.The oil will hardly pump out if cold.The kero is ok if you are sure you can drain the oil,like through the drain plug.You would not want to leave the kero in for any length of time should you not be able to pump it out.Try pumping it out again after you run the motor for a good 20 minutes.What type of pump are you using?? Charlie

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: oil change problem 4.3 mercruiser GM

thanks charlie, i'm use one of those $50 hand pumps. i'm afraid to run it to long as i aready know there is water in the oil. that ugly milky crud. it runs great. whats your opinion.

 

[Bondo]

Re: oil change problem 4.3 mercruiser GM

Pull the Plug out of the Oil Pan,+ Drain it into a Plastic Bag.............<br /><br />Let it Drip for a week or so,..........Refill the Oil,.. Change the Filter,+ Run It,..........<br /><br />Then Do It Again after a couple hours run time.........<br /><br />It'll be Fine by then,............... Unless there's Other Problems............

 

[Don S]

Re: oil change problem 4.3 mercruiser GM

Pull the Plug out of the Oil Pan,+ Drain it into a Plastic Bag.............

Man Bondo, you must work on some way different boats than the ones I see. First of all there isn't a drain plug, just a fitting for the dip stick tube, and usually there is no way in the world to get a bag under it if it's empty, let alone one full of oil. Might just as well drain it in the bilge to start with, cause it will get snagged on something, rip the bag, and you guess the outcome. <br /><br />Tdaddy, you left out the most important part of your serial number. The first 2 digits 0D,0F,OM or something like that. What year? Should be somewhere in the 90's.

 

[vipzach]

Re: oil change problem 4.3 mercruiser GM

I can't argue with DonS, but I have never seen a motor without a drain plug in the oil pan. I am no real boat mechanic though. <br />You might try pouring some seafoam or B12 in the oil, and cranking the motor a few seconds, don't start it though. This should help thin out the oil and then try pumping it out or IF you have a drain plug, just drain it out.<br />Even if there are no cracks or other problems causing the water intrusion into the oil, it could take several oil/filter changes to completely get out the water.

 

[Bondo]

Re: oil change problem 4.3 mercruiser GM

I Don't Know Don,.......<br /><br />The engine I transplanted into My old Starcraft Ser.# F127929 has a Steel base,+ a Drain Plug,... Which I removed,+ Added a drain Hose...........<br /><br />In the last year,... I helped transplant a Newer Vortec based 4.3l into an old High-Liner,.. It has a Cast Aluminum base,+ a Drain Plug,.........<br /><br />And,... While I Have/ Would rather just Drop the oil into the Bilge than try to pump Contaminated Oil thru the Dipstick tube,........<br />I Have/ Can slip a 30 gallon garbage bag under Most of the motors I've wrenched on,.... And hold the mouth of the bag About where it's got to be,.......... After That,.... Grabbing the Top of the bag,+ Slipping it Out really isn't much of a Problem,..... He11,... 4 Qts of oil barely Coats the inside of a Bag that Big........ <br />

Man Bondo, you must work on some way different boats than the ones I see.

Ayuh,........... No Doubt...........<br /><br />You're the Marine Tech,.............A Darn Smart 1 at That.............. <br /><br />I'm just a Backyard Jack of All Trades, with a degree in Creative Engineering from the College of Life,............<br />About the Newest Iron I get to see is Atleast 10 Years Old,...................

 

[Lou C]

Re: oil change problem 4.3 mercruiser GM

On my 88 OMC there is a fitting with a plug in it that screws into the pan, the fitting bascially holds the dipstick in place. I bet if someone removed it the oil would drain for sure! It is tough to get that kind of a mixture out of the engine since it is so thick compared to regular non contaminated oil.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: oil change problem 4.3 mercruiser GM

sorry guys engine #0K009133 drive 0K063037,, it 1996-1997 GM. block i've stripped the seats so there is plenty of room to work. can't find a drian plug use my hand and a mirror. yeah, is nasty.

 

[Dave S3948]

Re: oil change problem 4.3 mercruiser GM

That much sludge would worry me. I would pull a valve cover and see if it is all full of crud in there as well. If it is, then I would really be suspect as to how good the engine really is. Did you run a compression check yet? If the pressure is way down you have a lot more problems than your sludgy oil.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: oil change problem 4.3 mercruiser GM

you are right dave. got milky gu coming out the valve cover vents today, and can feel compression when i opened the oil fill. soooooo much for a free boat. now that i have it freed up i will just keep turning it over every couple of days to keep it from seizing up again. hopefully i will be able to work on soon. (you know SS& VA income),

 

[I/O WALDO]

Re: oil change problem 4.3 mercruiser GM

Sounds like U have a classic Freeze damaged dead,cracked block to me!

 

[Friz]

Re: oil change problem 4.3 mercruiser GM

I've used the kerosene treatment on motorcycle and auto engines without problems. Usually just for some water intrusion, never for years of neglect.<br />The problem with a kero flush or commercial motor flush at your stage is that there may be serious hard goo and gunk stuck in various places throughout the engine.<br />A flush will often break off chunks and clog oil passages. Then your problems just go from bad to worse.<br />Valve covers and the intake valley seem to be the best places for that sludge and goo to collect. I recommend pulling both and looking around before flushing.<br />I have 3 GM 350 marine engines with plugs in the oil pans.

 

[Darkhorse1201]

Re: oil change problem 4.3 mercruiser GM

Something else that might help - pour in Lestoil - you can buy it in the cleaner section of your grocery store. Lestoil is a very high grade detergent oil and when I am about to tear down an engine I always put some of that in and cleans the inside real nice. In this case you would pour the Lestoil in and it would thin the oil enough to suck it out. You would need to then change the oil a few times to clean out engine (running it a few minutes to get it to temp) but this will also take care of the water in the engine as the detergent part will absorb the water. Old car guy trick!

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: oil change problem 4.3 mercruiser GM

Lestoil.??????????? Now theres a first !! Charlie

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: oil change problem 4.3 mercruiser GM

See if a shop near you has a 'SLURPER'.This is a 5 gallon canister that uses vacuum to suck the oil out.Same thing your hand pump does.But better.<br /><br /><br />DHP