newboater21
Recruit
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2002
- Messages
- 1
I am in process of buying a 1998 45ft. cruiser. I remain concerned about the condition of the engines. The boat has two gasoline 8.2 liter MPI Bluewater Mercruisers,each with about 70 hours on them. Upon initial survey, the boat seemed to run fine except for a vibration that turned out to be a bent shaft. The survey indicated the oil in the starboard engine had an abnormal color. A compression test on the engines indicated they were OK.<br /><br />Problems have surfaced from oil tests. First oil test on starboard engine indicated the water level was excessive, sample was cloudy, iron level higher than expected, silicon higher than acceptable. Testing could not be completed due to water contamination. Second test said they were unable to complete the IR testing due to 5 to 10% water content. Third test indicated no major problems except oil viscosity was low.<br /><br /><br />The first oil test on port engine indicated high copper content may be from a wearing bronze component. Iron is higher than expected. Water was detected in lubricant. FTIR glycol results indicated coolant may be present in the oil. Second test indicated silicon value was high, liner wear was detected, copper levels were highter than acceptable. "Copper may be due to coolant, which as been present in the sample." Third test indicated viscosity is low, wear metal content is higher than acceptable (134ppm). Copper was 117ppm. <br />The second and third test occured on a few hours of operation since the previous oil change.<br /><br />As near as I can tell, the water infiltration problem is not new. The first fix was to add risers but that did not work. At one point, owner felt that a retrofit that "installed overboard discharge of mufflers solved the problem". Latest fix suposedly was that they found the mufflers were installed "upside down". The Marina said they righted them between first and second oil sample. Then they indicated oil sample was before the second sample.<br /><br />Any comments/advise would be appreciated, including a referal to an expert on these engines, further tests that should be conducted,the likelihood of extensive damage to the engines, the likely cost to rebuild/replace them if they are severly damaged.<br /><br />Thanks! <br /><br /> 
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