Pls help! Water and oil everywhere.

[Snoopygw73]

Please help. As stupid as I may sound and as stupid as my actions, I will be ad honest as possible.

The story: I went for a boat ride last weekend and my brother left the ear muffs on the outdrive. I didn't notice this when I put the boat in the water. The boat ran a little slower than usual, but the motor sounded fine. At first I figured it was a fuel problem (old gas in the lines). On the wu back, the oil pressure dropped for about 15 sec, then came back to normal. When I got back home, I noticed a tan colored oil substance draining from the plug hole and bilge hole. I opened the engin compartment and noticed the same tan colored oil everywhere. The bottom of the engine compartment was covered, the dipstick cover and I opened the oil cap to discover the same. I have not touched anything as of yet nor have I attempted to start the motor. Here is the odd part, the motor sounded fine on the way home, just a little slower. And the temp guage read normal the whole time.

Does this mean I have a cracked block or head gasket? What should I do first?

The boat: 2003 chaparral 210 with a mercruiser 5.0 and alpha 1 outdrive.
Any advise would be greatly appreciated

 

[ziggy]

Re: Pls help! Water and oil everywhere.

did ya see this?

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=369864

it's the very 1st thread in the i/o section..

when i had water intrusion, the bottom link in that thread was what i used to get me straightened out..

 

[Snoopygw73]

Re: Pls help! Water and oil everywhere.

Ziggy,
what was your cause for water intrusion and what did you do to fix it.

Thanks

 

[Bondo]

Re: Pls help! Water and oil everywhere.

Ziggy,
what was your cause for water intrusion and what did you do to fix it.

Thanks

Ayuh,... Ziggy's motor is irrevelant,... Your motor is the Problem...

Was it Winterized,..?? dry, or with antifreeze,..??

 

[ziggy]

Re: Pls help! Water and oil everywhere.

yes, my engine is irrelevant. but the link did cover my woes and led me in the right direction.

my manifold and riser were rusty garbage...
the engine was saved. oil was changed within 24hrs of water intrusion..

 

[Snoopygw73]

Re: Pls help! Water and oil everywhere.

Bond
I didn't winterize it at. But in my defense, I live in the most southern part of Louisiana and I run my boat all year round. We only had a few, very light, freezes and my boat was protected.

The part that really has me stumped is the boat sounds like it's running fine, I've seen a blown head gasket and it wasn't pretty. My boat had no problems starting, ideling, or planning out. It ran approximately 10mph slower though. I kept a watchful eye on the temp guage and it was at normal at all times. Hmmmm?

 

[lmannyr]

Re: Pls help! Water and oil everywhere.

How was your boat "protected" from the freezes. When ever the temp got below 38 here in WPB, FL, I put a 60 WATT bulb in the engine bay with the door closed to keep it warm.

All you need is freezing temps for a few hours and viola, you have a cracked block (if not winterized). Start with the basics, drain your oil and let us know what it looks like. Post up your compression numbers.

 

[Snoopygw73]

Re: Pls help! Water and oil everywhere.

My boat was garage kept. The oil pan is over filled with oil which looks like the color of sand and it's very "gooey" (for lack of a better term). I will have to do a compression test later and get back to you once I borrow or buy a compression guage.

 

[lmannyr]

Re: Pls help! Water and oil everywhere.

The sand color - or better known as "milky" - oil is water in the oil. With a full pan (and engine bay) full of milky oil, tells me you have a large water intrusion into your oil lubricating system. Let us know the compression numbers.

 

[lmannyr]

Re: Pls help! Water and oil everywhere.

Oh and if you wanna have any chance on saving the engine if it's not cracked, change the oil ASAP. Take the valve covers off and add the oil down them instead to cover all the springs and help push down more water/oil down to the pan. Don't want the internals to rust....

 

[Bondo]

Re: Pls help! Water and oil everywhere.

I didn't winterize it at. But in my defense, I live in the most southern part of Louisiana and I run my boat all year round. We only had a few, very light, freezes and my boat was protected.

Ayuh,... It only takes 1....

 

[Snoopygw73]

Re: Pls help! Water and oil everywhere.

Thank you guys soo much for the input. I'm considering leaving work early just to go do a compression test. My boss will just have to understand. You guys are great. Thanks again

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Pls help! Water and oil everywhere.

Oh boy!

Spring has sprung!

It's starting.........

 

[liquidlew]

Re: Pls help! Water and oil everywhere.

[QUOTE
The story: I went for a boat ride last weekend and my brother left the ear muffs on the outdrive. I didn't notice this when I put the boat in the water. The boat ran a little slower than usual, but the motor sounded fine.[/QUOTE]

I did the same thing last year, temps were normal but the boat felt like I was dragging something, but that didn't screw anything up (it did bust the hose fitting off the muffs!). I doubt what you did is the cause of your oil problem, sounds like rotten manifolds, risers, or cracked block. Sorry to hear of your bummer.

 

[littlebookworm]

Re: Pls help! Water and oil everywhere.

My thoughts: Leaving the muffs on cut down tremendously on the cooling water coming into the engine. The engine overheated, blowing a head gasket. The blown head gasket allowed the little cooling water that came into the engine to mix with the oil. The temperature guage didn't read hot because it was reading the air or vacuum in the thermostat chamber. So now, change the oil, as was suggested. It may not help, but there is a chance it might. You'll need to do that compression check; I suspect you'll find poor compression on at least 2 cylinders. You need to replace the water pump impeller in the outdrive; it's toast. You might have to replace the water pump housing as well. When you pull the heads, as I suspect you will have to do, check them for warpage. Check the cylinder walls for scoring. Unfortunately, you can't check the bearing without pulling the engine. That is a possibility. Sorry you're having to go through all this. I hope you can get away with just the pump and the head gaskets. Good luck. Hy

 

[Snoopygw73]

Re: Pls help! Water and oil everywhere.

Update. Ok, I change the oil (no easy task, it was like trying to drain caulk). I was thinking compression was going to be low on one cylnder but all 8 had compression between 145-150. That had me a little stumped. I was expecting 130's and one cylender to have about 80. But nope, compression was high on all. So I changed the oil filter, added fresh oil a few times, and ran it on idle for a while. Everything was looking good when it got up to temp. The oil was looking ok, the impeller was working properly (water going through the muffs and out the water exhaust). So I think I am doing pretty good. I'm smiling and Im happy. So I give it a little gas and rev it up to 1500 rpm's. Then BAMMM!!!! White oil shoots out of the oil pressure release valve by the valve cover. I shut the motor off immediately. I looked at the dip stick and the oil pan is overfilled with white oil (at least it was still oil and not chalk). So now I am back beating my head against the wall.

Recap. good - Compression good, impeller good, oil pressure good, temp guage good, and motor sounds good. The bad - oil is white and over filled. The ugly - my boat used to be clean, now it looks like an enviromental nightmare.

If it's not a cracked head, head gasket, cracked block, where else could water come in from

 

[fishinpa]

Re: Pls help! Water and oil everywhere.

Have you now pulled the plugs for a visual ?
keep them where you know which cylinder they are from and then spin the engine ,plugs out ,ignition disabled .look into the plug holes with a flashlite .





fish

 

[Snoopygw73]

Re: Pls help! Water and oil everywhere.

Ok. Before I pull the heads off, I will remove all the plugs and spin the motor. When I look in the spark plug hole with a flash light, what am I looking for. I am neither a mechanic or a proctologist. Please bear with my ignorance.

 

[Snoopygw73]

Re: Pls help! Water and oil everywhere.

Bubba...
I was in denile about it being a cracked block, head or gasket. As much as I don't want to admit it, I think you are right and I am going to be forced to take the heads off. I was truely hoping it was going to be a silly and less involved project. But I guess there is no point of avoiding the real problem. I really do not have the extra cash to get involved with a block swap or having the heads professionally replaced. But I am starting to believe that's what it's going to come down to.

 

[lmannyr]

Re: Pls help! Water and oil everywhere.

... You can test the heads yourself using acetone.

Bubba, can you explain that for me. Thats good info. Thanks!!