1996 4.3 Mercruiser water in my oil? Hoping not!

[chuckndiscs]

So I bought the boat in June. Checked oil on dip stick and it looked good. Checked oil fill and it looked ok. Didn’t do a compression check. I did look at the motor and not rusty or obvious cracks. Doesn’t over heat, can get 41mph at 4400 rpm. Rubs and starts ok.

Took the boat out 6 times, pulling a tube once for an hour, cruised the Mississippi for 6 miles otherwise a little bit of motoring and then trolling motor fishing.

pulled the dipstick tonight and I think the oil is milky. Looked in the oil fill cap and it’s got white sludge. Pictures included. I plan to drain the oil, put in new. Run it on muffs. Drain it again and refill. Run it again on muffs and see what the result is. Then depending I’ll start compression checks and such.

Thoughts?

i have no idea how PO winterized it. Said it was kept in heated garage....

Here is to hoping!!!

 

[achris]

Heated garages are great, until the power goes out, then they are engine killers!

Looking at the sludge in the oil fill cap, you got yourself a cracked engine my friend.... Sorry.

Compression test isn't going to show you anything. Pull the elbows and put blanking plates in place, pressurise up the block. Then listen for where the air is coming out.... That's where the crack'll be...

Chris......

 

[Scott Danforth]

may not be cracked block. generally a cracked block dumps enough water into the motor for foamy sludge to come out the breathers

could be water leaking past the rings due to bad exhaust
could be cracked intake manifold leaking water in the oil
could be missing the thermostat and running cold and cant get the oil over 200

pressure the cooling system and check

 

[chuckndiscs]

Thanks. Not what I was hoping to hear but I guess as my gpa always said “You can hope in one hand and crap in the other and I’ll tell ya which one will fill up first!”

im going to change the oil this weekend like I said and run it on muffs and see if the oil gets higher on the dipstick and if it gets milky.

Then I’ll get knowledgeable on pressure testing the cooling system. Expecting not great results I’m going to start calling around for repair costs and crate motor installs. I only paid a dime for the boat (and now I know why!!!) so putting a rebuilt in and even upgrading (350 fit? Worth it?) then it would be my motor.

Here is to looking up from the “Damn, bummed!” spot I’m in right now.

 

[Bondo]

and see if the oil gets higher on the dipstick and if it gets milky.

Ayuh,...... How high above Full, was it when ya took the pictures,..??

 

[chuckndiscs]

I cleaned the dipstick and put it back in and it was an inch or less. Pulling it out the first time it was much higher but that’s oil spray, correct?

 

[Scott Danforth]

suggest you change oil prior to starting it. water/oil mix doesnt treat bearings very well.

 

[chuckndiscs]

Scott - Most certainly will! Was planning on changing thonday, e oi first. Run it for a minute or two, redrain and refill it again with second round of new oil. Then run it for 10 minutes on the muffs. Then drain again and see what I have.

So far Im hoping its no tstat and water from sitting all winter
OR
something similar to that like leaking other system
HOWEVER
come Monday, based on my findings, Im going to start calling around for options and costs.

There is still hope but there is also a glass full or reality.

Keeping the faith!

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,...... An inch high is well beyond condensation, unfortunately,.....

 

[Scott Danforth]

So far Im hoping its no tstat and water from sitting all winter

remember the old saying about hoping in one hand and crapping in the other. you may get lucky, however I would plan for the worst

Ayuh,...... An inch high is well beyond condensation, unfortunately,.....

doesnt take much condensation to froth the oil an inch higher on the dipstick. actually about 2 tablespoons would do it

low chance, however worth taking a look.

 

[Lou C]

If you find water in the oil you must run it, warm up change the oil and then drain the water out of the manifolds & engine till you find the cause. I had to do this when I had water in a cyl and bit of a spray of water in a cyl 4 years ago. I changed the oil 4 times in the diagnostic process. Found out I had blown head gaskets, and after the tear down, cracked heads (both from a previous overheat). Because I changed the oil repeatedly, drained the water out and fogged it liberally, I was able to save the short block and resurrect it with reman heads the following spring. Still running fine 4 years later. Remember, run it to get the oil warm, drain water change oil and test for leaks in the cooling system and manifolds.
PS mine had salt water in it!

 

[chuckndiscs]

Drained the oil. Not good!!

Ive got plans tonight but will be finishing the oil test tomorrow.

Ugh!

 

[chuckndiscs]

[No message]

 

[karayj]

Seeing that the seasons almost over if it was me those engines are easy to work on you can literally sit right there. I would change both head gaskets change the intake and exhaust gaskets and have peace of mind that everything’s new.I remember one of the valves went so I just replace the entire head that cost me $200 I started at 7 AM and by 3 o’clock I was on the water and I took my time

 

[Lou C]

However you don’t yet know where the breach is make sure that you do an air pressure test of the cooling system in addition to a compression test. You might get lucky and find defective exhaust or a rotted out intake manifold. The intake will put water directly into the cam valley and into the oil. The intake and exhaust are easy fixes. Even doing head gaskets is not difficult.

 

[chuckndiscs]

Pulled all the plugs. No water, no rust on any plugs or in the cylinder...well, it didn’t come out anyways.

changed the oil but now I have starter issues... it doesn’t spin and hammers / clicks when I turn they key. I jumped the starter and it didn’t do anything. Tapped the solenoid and starter while starting and no help.

so...the water in oil from where is temporarily on hold until I figure out my starter problem. Oy!

Problems come in threes...
when it rains it pours....

 

[nola mike]

Does the motor turn over by hand?

 

[Furbird]

Head gaskets blow many different ways. If it blows from oil to coolant passages, you won't have anything coming out of the cylinders.

 

[chuckndiscs]

Yes, motor turns over by socket / hand.

Right on head gasket...just eliminating things and adding info.

appreciate the chatter and the help!!!

 

[chuckndiscs]

QUESTION!

last two times we were out we had kiddos jumping off the backs of the boat and I would say a good amount of water from in and out of the boat came aboard. The kiddos were going right over what I believe is the air intake. It’s the silver slotted job on the left of the rear fabric.

Could that possibly be the water in my oil??

I mean kids jumped in and climbed back in 30+ times and stood over it dripping water twice in one week!

thoughts?

picture is a photo of what I am referring too.