Ran Mercruiser 350 with no oil to Nantucket Harbor

[Saltwaterstinger]

Ran the boat (1990 Larson 22ft cuddy) to Nantucket from Marthas Vinyard this weekend. Ran about 3000 rpm for 10-20 miles. Almost at entrance of the harbor the oil pressure dropped and dipstick was dry. There was loud clacking (when it was in gear and in neutral) anywhere above idle speed. I know I should have shut down etc but this isnt a lake and the winds were picking up with the 3ft swells and the harbor is pretty narrow and rocky. It was safer to run the limping engine into safety with 6 people on board.
Anyway, I added a few quarts and Idled to a mooring. At Idle there is no knocking,clacking and everything seems fine.
What do you guys think? I'm hoping its not a stuck lifter so I dont have to take the intake manifold off. If it is a stuck lifter, maybe Marvel Mystery Oil will free it up? I guess it depends how much metal on metal there actually was..I'm confident there is damage to something under the valve cover as well but I wont know for sure unless I take a look. I have heard that it could be an exhaust flapper or exhaust valve that bent so I felt the water jackets and the port side jacket (the same side as I suspect the knocking) is cooler than the starboard side water jacket..This is where I am going to hope someone has a 'Ah-ha' moment and can tell me if its related. Either way I need to start somewhere because there is no doubt in my mind I screwed up some metal parts due to the knocking. But Maybe someone can relieve my anxiety and tell me if they have experienced this. BTW I had not checked the oil prior to the trip and It could have been burning off the whole season. I probably ran it 10 hours so far MAX. And never over 3000 rpm. The engine itself is a replaced engine so it has less than 30-50 hours on it.




***UPDATE 8/19/2013******

Ok guys I hooked up the compression tester and I got the reading I was hoping for!

All 8 cyl pumped up to 150-155 psi (dry) and held for a minute or so before I moved to the next cyl (I did not do a leak down test as I felt there was no need).

I put new gaskets on the risers and I'm planning to put her on the muffs today after work and see what happens.

BTW The plugs in 2 cylinders (the ones on the same cylinder as the loose rocker and the one right next to it) have a small amount of oil. the other 6 plugs are just dark carbon covered but not 'wet' oil. The engine was at idle or just above (750-1100 rpm) for approx 2 hours. Is there any plugs I should consider that might fix this issue? If its not an issue with blow-by or a valve sleeve or something? Could the engine be starving for air?

Thanks!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Ran Mercruiser 350 with no oil to Nantucket Harbor

Ran the boat (1990 Larson 22ft cuddy) to Nantucket from Marthas Vinyard this weekend. Ran about 3000 rpm for 10-20 miles. Almost at entrance of the harbor the oil pressure dropped and dipstick was dry. There was loud clacking (when it was in gear and in neutral) anywhere above idle speed. I know I should have shut down etc but this isnt a lake and the winds were picking up with the 3ft swells and the harbor is pretty narrow and rocky. It was safer to run the limping engine into safety with 6 people on board.
Anyway, I added a few quarts and Idled to a mooring. At Idle there is no knocking,clacking and everything seems fine.
What do you guys think? I'm hoping its not a stuck lifter so I dont have to take the intake manifold off. If it is a stuck lifter, maybe Marvel Mystery Oil will free it up? I guess it depends how much metal on metal there actually was..I'm confident there is damage to something under the valve cover as well but I wont know for sure unless I take a look. I have heard that it could be an exhaust flapper or exhaust valve that bent so I felt the water jackets and the port side jacket (the same side as I suspect the knocking) is cooler than the starboard side water jacket..This is where I am going to hope someone has a 'Ah-ha' moment and can tell me if its related. Either way I need to start somewhere because there is no doubt in my mind I screwed up some metal parts due to the knocking. But Maybe someone can relieve my anxiety and tell me if they have experienced this. BTW I had not checked the oil prior to the trip and It could have been burning off the whole season. I probably ran it 10 hours so far MAX. And never over 3000 rpm. The engine itself is a replaced engine so it has less than 30-50 hours on it.

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Checkin' the Oil Level should be part of yer checklist, before ya start the motor, Every Day,...

My guess is yer motor is Junk,... the damages done are gonna be Deep,...

Pull the motor, 'n tear it down,...
A Long Block replacement will probably be the Cheapest, Quickest, Easiest way to get back Boatin',...

 

[achris]

Re: Ran Mercruiser 350 with no oil to Nantucket Harbor

Bearings will be shot, pistons will be scuffed, cam will be history... If you only have a stuck lifter, consider yourself the luckiest man on the planet (no, make that the universe!!!)....

I'm with Bond-o on this too... Go to your engine... and say 'good-night Gracie'....

Chris.....

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Ran Mercruiser 350 with no oil to Nantucket Harbor

Ran the boat (1990 Larson 22ft cuddy) to Nantucket from Marthas Vinyard this weekend. Ran about 3000 rpm for 10-20 miles. Almost at entrance of the harbor the oil pressure dropped and dipstick was dry. There was loud clacking (when it was in gear and in neutral) anywhere above idle speed. I know I should have shut down etc but this isnt a lake and the winds were picking up with the 3ft swells and the harbor is pretty narrow and rocky. It was safer to run the limping engine into safety with 6 people on board.
Anyway, I added a few quarts and Idled to a mooring. At Idle there is no knocking,clacking and everything seems fine.
What do you guys think? I'm hoping its not a stuck lifter so I dont have to take the intake manifold off. If it is a stuck lifter, maybe Marvel Mystery Oil will free it up? I guess it depends how much metal on metal there actually was..I'm confident there is damage to something under the valve cover as well but I wont know for sure unless I take a look. I have heard that it could be an exhaust flapper or exhaust valve that bent so I felt the water jackets and the port side jacket (the same side as I suspect the knocking) is cooler than the starboard side water jacket..This is where I am going to hope someone has a 'Ah-ha' moment and can tell me if its related. Either way I need to start somewhere because there is no doubt in my mind I screwed up some metal parts due to the knocking. But Maybe someone can relieve my anxiety and tell me if they have experienced this. BTW I had not checked the oil prior to the trip and It could have been burning off the whole season. I probably ran it 10 hours so far MAX. And never over 3000 rpm. The engine itself is a replaced engine so it has less than 30-50 hours on it.

I think you might want to take the ferry back to the mainland . . .

I am wondering where the oil went? A good engine will not loose much oil at all, and certainly not in 10 hours of operation.

 

[DAN M VAGOS]

Re: Ran Mercruiser 350 with no oil to Nantucket Harbor

I'm confused is it still making a noise ? I have worked on cars all my life and a GM 350 is one strong moter I my self have seen 305 350 4.3L engines run with no oil for some time and come back to life.. I'm a glass half full guy so get it looked at and go from there. I live in ma but my boay is to small to go to the islands lol .

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Ran Mercruiser 350 with no oil to Nantucket Harbor

Might run 30 seconds might run years. If the water you boat in is so potentially dangerous as to run your engine with no oil to get through what will you do when it seizes up? Better bite the bullet and tear it down as the damage is done and its gonna be ugly.

 

[aerobat]

Re: Ran Mercruiser 350 with no oil to Nantucket Harbor

fill up the oil and run the boat, you have nothing to loose.

like you described by yourself no oil means metal to metal contact. so your bearings, cams, piston rings and cylinders suffered damage for sure. now it depends on if they suffered that much damage that your engine is junk or just a wear out in some minutes which would equal 1000 operating hours - but still hold together. when the engine is not seized and fires without unusual noise just go.

 

[DAN M VAGOS]

Re: Ran Mercruiser 350 with no oil to Nantucket Harbor

:juggle:

 

[agallant80]

Re: Ran Mercruiser 350 with no oil to Nantucket Harbor

Please post back and let us know how it goes. I would be interested to see if the motor survived. If it were me I would change the oil, find out why it lost its oil and run it until it dies (you have seatow right?)

 

[Saltwaterstinger]

Re: Ran Mercruiser 350 with no oil to Nantucket Harbor

Ok guys sorry for the delay, and thanks for the quick responses! This community is awesome and I cant believe how knowledgeable everybody is.

Yes I have unlimited TowBoatUS which Is why I could keep calm and not bother diving into the engine tied up at a mooring with a headlamp at night haha. It was a nice relaxing 30 mile tow at 6 mph and had to call out of work monday!

I finally got the boat cleaned and dry and ready for surgery. I popped of the GLM risers and valve covers last night...and the rocker on cylinder 3 (not sure if it was exhaust or intake, see pic) was loose and the nut was backed off almost all the way off the stud. I pulled the rod and it was straight and the lifter didn't seem like it was collapsed (from a flashlight inspection with the intake manifold still on) so maybe I had just enough oil to keep pressure up on the lifter and the rocker rattle was a warning sign from the angels!!ray2:ray2: I think my next step is order new gaskets for the risers and start her up with the valve covers off and see whats going on. I added a bottle of Mystery Oil for good measure. I haven't checked the oil filter for metal shavings yet because its stuck but I will hopefully do that today. I guess I wont really know until I start her back up and see if the hollow tapping goes away. But like I said at idle she purrs so I can hopefully rule out a catastrophic piston ring failure or broken valve in the cylinder .

 

[bonzoscott]

Re: Ran Mercruiser 350 with no oil to Nantucket Harbor

There may have still been a quart or two in it when it happened. Yes, check filter for metal (cut it open). Find out where oil went too.

 

[slothman]

Re: Ran Mercruiser 350 with no oil to Nantucket Harbor

compression test will tell you the story. low compression or 10% difference within cylinders means rebuild time. Oil is like blood, if the engine loses oil, it can die REAL quick. However you may have gotten lucky. drain the oil and look for metal shavings. If you see big chunks...time for rebuild. If the motor wasn't knocking real loud and the oil pressure was still decent, you might have lucked out. But you also have to figure out where the oil went.....lol ....oil leak, bad valve seals, piston rings, etc

 

[Saltwaterstinger]

Re: Ran Mercruiser 350 with no oil to Nantucket Harbor

Yeah when I added oil it took about 3-4 quarts so its possible I had some oil left. I forget how much it supposed to take (maybe 4-5). There WAS some oil under the flame arrestor and on top of the carb but not much. I mean like maybe 2 teaspoons that probably went up the vent hoses over the course of 10 hours. I dont think that would be where ALL the oil went. The bilge had some dark water in it but not really a full 3 quarts of oil. Maybe its blow by?

 

[Oshkosh1]

Re: Ran Mercruiser 350 with no oil to Nantucket Harbor

Just put some RESTORE? in it...it'll be good as new!:facepalm::lol:

 

[tank1949]

Re: Ran Mercruiser 350 with no oil to Nantucket Harbor

Bond-o as made a very astute observation! In addition, that is a lot of oil to use or burn up with that few hrs on it. Check for oil leak maybe oil sender unit or switch leaking????? Add oil, crank and check pressure before you pull motor. However, I strongly suspect you will need new motor. Check out EVERYTHING before you go out next time!!!!!!!

 

[LiquidC]

Re: Ran Mercruiser 350 with no oil to Nantucket Harbor

Did you see a lot of smoke especially a light blue colored smoke on your way to Nantucket?? That would indicate you're burning oil.

Fill it with oil, clean out your bilge, and check back to see if you have leaks. Since it's new, I would contact whoever installed or sold you the engine.

Do a compression test & post the pressures on each cyl.

Good luck

 

[slothman]

Re: Ran Mercruiser 350 with no oil to Nantucket Harbor

you should have around 160-170 lbs in each cylinder. and each cylinder should be within 10% of each other. If you get a low number in one cylinder (like 90 etc) pour a cap full of oil in that cylinder, and see if the compression number rises.

 

[svb165]

Re: Ran Mercruiser 350 with no oil to Nantucket Harbor

DAN M You can make the vineyard in that thing,, its not that far! just plan your day. i do it often in my 16.5' stingray bow rider
now Nantucket,,, thats a whole different ball game.

Nantucket sound - YouTube

 

[Saltwaterstinger]

Re: Ran Mercruiser 350 with no oil to Nantucket Harbor

svb cool video! almost as wet as a jet ski Its so much fun blasting across the sound!

 

[svb165]

Re: Ran Mercruiser 350 with no oil to Nantucket Harbor

svb cool video! almost as wet as a jet ski Its so much fun blasting across the sound!

it finally calmed down enough to pull out the gopro, at one point we were in some pretty heavy water about half way across.
I love the area, done it so many times i cant count how many times ive crossed that sound.
You otta try it in a kayak,, at night.....alone.

So hows the motor?