Outboard motor froze (literally)

[jfrost1920]

MOTOR: 50 HP
YEAR: 1983
MODEL: MERCURY

I had planned on fishing all winter so I never winterized the boat. I keep it in my garage which is attached to the house. So last time I went to the lake, I just trimmed the motor up and came home, parked it in the garage and that was about 2 months ago. I never thought about it because it usually doesn't freeze out there. Well when the weather drops into the negatives, I guess it does freeze. I trimmed the motor down and then sat a heater out there heated it up for awhile and about a cup or less of water drained out (which is about how much comes out normally).

My question is...Is this a huge deal? Is the probability of damage high or low? Where do we worry about damage in the motor when it freezes? Any advice?

It will be another month before I can get back to the lake to check it out, but I wanted to know if there was anything to look for or do before I get 3 miles from the ramp (if I can even get that far!)

Any help or advice would be appreciated. Or even any experiences with winter weather damage. Thanks alot guys. This is the best forum out there

 

[j_martin]

Re: Outboard motor froze (literally)

MOTOR: 50 HP
YEAR: 1983
MODEL: MERCURY

I had planned on fishing all winter so I never winterized the boat. I keep it in my garage which is attached to the house. So last time I went to the lake, I just trimmed the motor up and came home, parked it in the garage and that was about 2 months ago. I never thought about it because it usually doesn't freeze out there. Well when the weather drops into the negatives, I guess it does freeze. I trimmed the motor down and then sat a heater out there heated it up for awhile and about a cup or less of water drained out (which is about how much comes out normally).

My question is...Is this a huge deal? Is the probability of damage high or low? Where do we worry about damage in the motor when it freezes? Any advice?

It will be another month before I can get back to the lake to check it out, but I wanted to know if there was anything to look for or do before I get 3 miles from the ramp (if I can even get that far!)

Any help or advice would be appreciated. Or even any experiences with winter weather damage. Thanks alot guys. This is the best forum out there

It would help to know where you call home, and how cold it actually got.

BTW, just to avoid that scenario, part of the pull-out routine is to trim the motor down (usually the skeg actually touches the dirt) while I stow the gear. Then I trim it up and throw the tilt brace on it just before I leave the landing. That way, even if I forget, it won't have enough water in it to hurt if it gets cold.

 

[jfrost1920]

Re: Outboard motor froze (literally)

Well I don't know how cold it got, but it froze a 32 oz bottle of water I had sitting there down to the core. The outside temp was maybe -10? Like I said, when I get home I usually trim it down and it drains about a 1/2 or 3/4 cup of water on the floor. But last time I went, I didn't do that and left it up. And then it froze in my garage where it usually never freezes.

So what should I do?

Nothing? Should I take the lower off and look for something in particular? Just wonder if anyone had a "next step" for me besides going to the lake and seeing if it works! Thanks alot in advance~

 

[Alumarine]

Re: Outboard motor froze (literally)

Most of the time you'll be ok with it freezing tilted up and not drained.
At least it never seems to hurt any of my neighbors.

Seeing as how most boat ramps are on an angle the motor gets tilted down as you pull it up the ramp as well.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Outboard motor froze (literally)

If you do not see any cracks in the gearcase or any gear oil leaks, you are very likely fine. Fire it up on the muffs on the next decent day and test it. Look for misfires and water leaks.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Outboard motor froze (literally)

The engine itself is self draining and will suffer no damage. Any water that was trapped was trapped in the exhaust housing and possibly in the water pump area. That little amount of water probably did no damage. Removing the lower unit would not show anything so as was suggested, run it on muffs for ten minutes or so. If you see no evidence of oil leakage and the tell tale shows a good stream you should be good to go.

 

[jfrost1920]

Re: Outboard motor froze (literally)

Okay, I ran it on muffs for 5 mins. After having sat for a month or two, it fired right up on 1 key turn. Ran perfectly at idle. Was "peeing" perfectly and it was warm like it always is.

Well, I trimmed the motor down and parked her back in the garage. It sat for two days.

Now there is a small puddle of oil about the size of the palm of my hand or smaller. Its really black and smells like oil, gas, carbon, etc. My buddy said it was most likely just some exhaust stuff. He had me stick my finger in the hub and there was some in there too. It was leaking to the ground from right behind the prop then down the skeg (I think thats what its called) then to the ground. Is he right? Is this most likely from the exhaust? I have never had any oil on the ground before. But I have never let my boat sit around for 2 months either. What is this oil leak from most likely? and what is the worst case scenario?

Thanks a lot!

Jonathan

 

[RaScLeS]

Re: Outboard motor froze (literally)

my merc when last ran left the bucket in a disgusting black sludge....not good so its possible. on the muffs this would just hit the ground, i think its running rich

 

[sschefer]

Re: Outboard motor froze (literally)

Pull the prop and visually inspect. If the lower unit is cracked and leaking you'll find in pretty quick. There's definitely a difference between thicknesses of 2 stroke oil and gear lube.