I killed my engine...is there ANYTHING I can do?

[ZmOz]

I admit it, I forgot to add the oil to my '74 Mercury inline 6 150hp. I was in a hurry and pissed off at the idiots in front of me for using the ramp to start their old outboard for the first time in two years. I ran for about 5 minutes without oil, then the engine died. I added oil (about twice as much as usual) and it started back up. RPMs were really slow at first, then it went back to normal. It worked fine the rest of the day, until I ran out of gas. I switched tanks and it would not start again.<br /><br />Today I went out and played with it a little. I tried turning it over, and it sounds to be turning over just fine, although slower than usual. (this is with a jump start battery hooked up, so I know it's not the battery) I took out all the plugs and they were REALLY dirty, and smelled like burnt oil. I cleaned them and then turned over the engine without the plugs. It turned over at normal speed and I saw some spray coming out of the cylinders. I put the plug back in, and sprayed some deep creep in the carbs. It turned over slower again, but then after a bit it tried to fire. It started for about 1 and a half seconds, then died. It did this a couple of times. Also when I took out the plugs alot of smoke poured out of the number 2 cylinder, but none of the others.<br /><br />This seems strange to me, it's like the compression went up. What do you guys think?? Is there even a tiny bit of hope I could get this thing to just run without replacing anything major? I'm not looking for speed or high performance anymore...just enough to sell to some fisherman...

 

[Joey O]

Re: I killed my engine...is there ANYTHING I can do?

Did you notice any aluminum on the #2 plug the first time you pulled it? I would definitely start with a compression check, that should tell you alot.Hate to say it, but expensive things happen when you run these motors without oil even for a short period of time.Goodluck, and let us know what kind of PSI she blew on the comp. check.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: I killed my engine...is there ANYTHING I can do?

I'm going to try and barrow a compression testor tomarrow. I didn't see any metal on any of the plugs. The thing I'm most confused about is why it would run after the no oil, and actually run well and start easy all day, then refuse to start after running out of gas...

 

[andrewkafp]

Re: I killed my engine...is there ANYTHING I can do?

http://zmoz.us/wakesmall.jpg <br />ZmOZ<br />(That is a great pic)<br /><br />That is a nice old Merc, hope it's not dead.<br />The Comp test should tell you how the cylinders/pistons are, but don't increase the oil from 50:1. It will only oil up the plugs and cause more problems. 5 minutes is not long, but the lack of lube can start cooking things pretty quick. Do a search on here for overheat related threads. I have read some scenario's much worse than yours that have turned out OK.<br />Good Luck..

 

[ZmOz]

Re: I killed my engine...is there ANYTHING I can do?

5 minutes isn't too long?? Really??? I thought was pretty much the worst thing I could ever do to this engine...especially the way people allways freak out about using starting fluid.

 

[andrewkafp]

Re: I killed my engine...is there ANYTHING I can do?

Better than 20 minutes...or a full tank with no oil.<br />It started up again, whereas if it was seized, it wouldn't turn over at all.<br />Be optimistic.. Check it out before going to that bridge with a rope .. <br />Hope it's not too damaged.. They can be pretty pricey to fix

 

[The Marine Doctor]

Re: I killed my engine...is there ANYTHING I can do?

Zmoz<br /><br />You say you ran for 5 mins with no oil. Keep in mind that your primerbulb, fuel line and fuel lines on the engine all still had premix fuel in them prior to starting the engine. I would think that you maybe ran for 2-3 mins, with no oil...unless you ran at full throttle...then it might be a bit higher.<br /><br />TMD

 

[NEECAPRS]

Re: I killed my engine...is there ANYTHING I can do?

ZMOZ: Sorry to hear that just when you had it running pretty well. You're supposed to forget the plug, not the oil!!

 

[jim dozier]

Re: I killed my engine...is there ANYTHING I can do?

This is a wakeup call to everyone who rants against oil injection. Pre-mix is only as safe as your memory. Hopefully Zmoz's merc isn't dead.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: I killed my engine...is there ANYTHING I can do?

TMD - I did run at WOT, almost the whole time. I have a small tank that was hooked up with oil in it, I used that to get from the ramp to the middle of the lake. Then I switch over to my big tank and opened it up as far as it would go...until it stopped... I was just thinking the day before, that I should write something on the tank about oil to remind me every time. <br /><br />Unicorn - thanks...here's a link to the full sized pic. http://zmoz.us/wake.JPG

 

[andrewkafp]

Re: I killed my engine...is there ANYTHING I can do?

Don't want to be a smartass, but as I am not wealthy.. and cannot afford<br />to pay for major repairs that are aviodable, I tend to stick to a <br />procedure.<br /><br />I buy dark green Castol Marine oil., which changes the colour of the fuel when mixed.<br />I use 2 glasses.. Fill one with unmixed and the other with fuel squeezed from<br />the boat tank.<br />They should be clearly different colours... Then I know I've mixed the fuel.<br /><br />As far as ratio goes, I have a glass container with various fuel ammounts<br />marked on the side, and just fill to the level and mix.<br /><br />Bit late to be mentioning this stuff for poor old ZmOz, But might help someone else.<br /> <br />That pic is so clear, you can almost read the serial no.. I'd say around 4.1 Megapixels ????

 

[ZmOz]

Re: I killed my engine...is there ANYTHING I can do?

Nope...it's only 2.1 megapixel. Someone is offering me a 140hp powerhead for $400 should I find what I'm pretty sure that I will. (a dead engine) Is that a good price for one in good condition?

 

[Hasbeen]

Re: I killed my engine...is there ANYTHING I can do?

You really need to do a compresion test, I think the general concensous is that you are probably ok! No aluminum on the plugs is good! Put new ones in if the compresion is even and try it again!<br /><br />Of course there is always this senario!!<br /><br />Maybe you want your wife to think that the engine is blown so you can get a bigger one! A long time ago when I had big block corvette I told my wife that the cam was flat so that i could put in a faster one! Funny thing about it was that when I pulled the cam out it was flat!!<br /><br />Sorry, No disrespect intended, (my dry sence of hummor taking over!) Not to say that you would do anything like that!!<br /><br />Is your boat rated for a 140??<br /><br />Hasbeen

 

[ZmOz]

Re: I killed my engine...is there ANYTHING I can do?

I know I need to do a compression test, and I will before I replace the engine. The problem is, whatever the outcome of the compression test is, the engine still does not run, and it does not run because of no oil. The boat is only rated for 120hp...but the current motor is a 150hp. As for something faster, as soon as I get this **** thing going again I'm getting rid of it...and probably getting something with a 454 V8.

 

[Hasbeen]

Re: I killed my engine...is there ANYTHING I can do?

Sorry, somehow I had it in my head that it was a 90 HP! Dont know where that came from! I just cant figure why it ran while you were out on the lake after it stopped the first time, and now it wont start??

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: I killed my engine...is there ANYTHING I can do?

1st step, pull plugs and look for melted metal...<br />sure hope u don't find none, but would n't bet the farm.<br />good luck,<br />M.Y.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: I killed my engine...is there ANYTHING I can do?

I already pulled the plugs out...they were dirty but no aluminum on them.

 

[sorrydog]

Re: I killed my engine...is there ANYTHING I can do?

Zmoz- you should really listen to what raceman tells you. His political opinions and sense of humor are from the 50's but he know his inlines. <br />Pull the tranfer port covers on the right side of the powerhead- I think it is a few 7/16" bolts and then you can rotate the flywheel around and see the condition of the sides of the pistons. If you shine a light down the plug holes you will be able to see the condition of part of the cylinder. If you see scuff marks or moderate to deep scratches then it will have to be dissasembled for closer inspection.<br />If it runs, $400 is a good deal for that '72 1400. The fuel pump setup might be different but it will fit fine. Running a Holley Red pump makes life with these easier anyway.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: I killed my engine...is there ANYTHING I can do?

I know, I plan on taking something apart before deciding that it is completely dead. Problem is, like I said before, it died because it ran out of oil, and there is still something wrong...and it's most likely something very serious. Also if I get a new one I can part this one out on ebay...so it wont be toooooo big of a loss.

 

[ronmold]

Re: I killed my engine...is there ANYTHING I can do?

Was the main tank you switched over to completely empty when you filled it with gas?. If not you still had some kind of oil ratio in there. What kind of oil do you use? The not starting and lack of oil may be unrelated.