Grey Oil ???

[RocknRollnitmare]

I recently purchased a 1973 fiberform ski boat, and being a new boat owner I am not very familiar with some of the problems that arrise with boat motors, I know that it is a 165 horse 6 cylinder OMC Sterndrive, when I went to change the oil in it, it came out Grey and was as thick as paint!! So I changed the oil, 2 times and it thinned out considerably, but it was still Grey!! does this mean that water is mixing with my oil? and what can I do to repair this? I am also trying to find an owners manual for the boat itself any suggestions? Thank You

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Grey Oil ???

You haven't said if you've run the motor?

 

[BillP]

Re: Grey Oil ???

I doubt it is water. It sounds like the oil sat in the crankcase so long it started turning to shellac. It probably had a distinctive smell to it, right? I've seen this on old ChrisCraft runabouts that sat abandoned in barns for decades. The oil actually turns to pudding. Very hard to flush out but pulling the pan and head off for cleaning will greatly speed up the process.

 

[RocknRollnitmare]

Re: Grey Oil ???

Thank you Boomyal, and BillP for responding so quickley!!! in refrence to boomyal's comment, yes I started it and ran it for quite a while, and it appeared to run o.k. BillP, It was unusuall to me that the oil was so thick, and when I drained it the first time, there was so much of it, that it filled to large pans, thats why I thought there might be water in it, not to mention the unusual light grey color of the oil. I also changed it 2 more times, and still had that grey color in the oil? P.S. the guy I bought the boat from had only owned it for 1 year before selling it to me, and it ran great when we took it out, however the thickness of the oil, and the color led me to believe that it had not been winterized properly, and that maybe some water froze in it? what do you think? Thanks

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Grey Oil ???

"in reference to boomyal's comment, yes I started it and ran it for quite a while, and it appeared to run o.k."<br /> If it will run O.K. in the driveway I wouldn't assume that it is o.k. till I took it to the dock and ran the motor under load. I have had my share of just bought boats that were driveway queens. Just to go to the ramp and blow up a 100 yards from the pier.

 

[RocknRollnitmare]

Re: Grey Oil ???

thanks to f_inscreenname, do you have any idea what may be causing the oil to look like that? and is there anything I can do to insure that I won't have the problem of my boat motor blowing up in the lake?

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Grey Oil ???

When you changed it again, did you do it warm and did the volume seem more than the original volume? Once warmed up, the oil should have flowed out easier. Water and oil mix is usually a tan color.<br /><br />Also, pull the plugs after you've run it and see what they look like. I'd also pull the valve cover. If you've got water in the oil, the condesation and sludge will really show there.

 

[RocknRollnitmare]

Re: Grey Oil ???

Does anyone have any recommendations?

 

[trog100]

Re: Grey Oil ???

yes first make sure u really do have water in the sump oil.. sounds to me like u have.. <br /><br />two large pan fulls certainly was water..<br /><br />head gasket gone or cracked block or head could be the reason.. <br /><br />i think u have problems.. <br /><br />trog100<br /><br />with plenty of water in there it will emulsify as the engine is run and come out like a thick greyish foam.. pretty much like u first described..

 

[RocknRollnitmare]

Re: Grey Oil ???

Thanks trog100 I was hoping that it was going to be a quick fix but I guess not! thanks again, I am also open to any more suggestions you might have in order to be sure that is the case. Thanks

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Grey Oil ???

Whatever it is it isn't lubricating you engine properly. I would suggest not running it until you have completely cleaned it out, this will probably involve removing the rocker cover and sump. Then you can start with comp tests and the like.<br /><br />What does it smell like?<br /><br />Aldo

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Grey Oil ???

There are two potential leakage paths you need to check. 1) do a compression check. If you have low compression on adjacent cylinders you probably have a blown head gasket. If you have low compression on one cylinder you may have a a) a bad head gasket, or b) cracked head. The fact that the engine "runs good" as you said, would tend to indicate this is not the case. Either of those conditions would likely cause overheating and possibly a hydraulic lock if the leak was severe. 2) You can disconnect all external water lines, plug their exit/entry points on the engine and using whatever method at your disposal, pressurize the cooling system to 16 PSI. If you hear air escaping (externally or into the pan) or you can't maintain pressure, you have a leak and water is indeed going into the pan. However, before you panic, you mentioned changing oil a couple of times. Do it again, only replace one quart of oil with a product called Rislone which is available at any auto store. It's an extremely high detergency oil and should help clean out the gunk you have collected. Rislone can remain in the engine during this interim period. Run the engine for as long your neighbors can stand it, and then check the oil level. If the oil level has risen on the stick, you definitely have a leakage problem. If not, make a short trip to the lake, drive a moderate speed and check the oil frequently until you have determined whether or not its OK or the level is rising. Rislone is a 5 weight oil so you won't want to use it if you plan to make extended high speed runs (although its better than water).

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Grey Oil ???

Take some of the used oil and put it in a glass jar and see if anything settles out. If water is in there it will sink to the bottom. It may take a little while.

 

[Mahoney]

Re: Grey Oil ???

I had a similar problem with my boat that I recieved that had sitten in storage for 4 yrs and water got into the intake manifold and slowly seeped past the rear cylinder walls. It took me a good 4-5 full oil changes and 3 oil filters to get the oil totally clean again. Good news here, the oil is still clear and the engine runs great. I hope yours works out the same.

 

[trog100]

Re: Grey Oil ???

just give it a reasonable run with some flushing oil in there.. u dont need to get every last minute drop of water out of it.. do change your filter thow.. <br /><br />drain the flushing oil out.. put some cheapish straight 30 oil in there and run the boat carefully for a bit.. if u do have a cracked block or head the oil level will rise and the oil will soon go greyish..<br /><br />small amounts of water left in will soon boil away as the oil heats up if thinga are okay.. treat it gently till u are sure.. if u are sure its okay put some decent oil in it.. dont rush that one thow.. <br /><br />thats the easiest way to check.. there are other ways.. take your pick..<br /><br />i think u have a problem but lets hope a rat nipped in while u had it parked and peed down the carb.. he he<br /><br />trog100

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: Grey Oil ???

This may be a real long shot....but I have to agree with other posts that water usually doesn't turn oil grey. Just wondering if the previous owner might have tried to hide an oil leak or "smoking" by putting an additive in the oil...you know, something like "motor medic" or "engine overhaul in a can". Some of that stuff can turn to sludge and cling to metal parts....might take several oil changes to get it out.

 

[Mahoney]

Re: Grey Oil ???

Could it be possible the cylinder o-rings are so bad oil is getting up and mixing with carbon from the walls and settling back down after the engine is turned off? This is the only thing I can think of as turning the oil grey. <br />Another easier explaination is that, and I am not trying to be judgmental or anything, but if you are a bit color blind and are interpereting a light mud brown color as grey. People can have drastically different interpretations of color.

 

[trog100]

Re: Grey Oil ???

i dont think the "exact" colour matters.. grey.. greyish brown.. brown.. brownish grey.. its always looked more grey than brown to me but i sometimes call certain shades of green blue.. there comes a point where colours kinda merge.. and as mahoney says we might all see em differently..<br /><br />something is wrong with that oil.. the most likely cause is water in it.. after all it is a "boat".. also the most likely cause is a cracked block..<br /><br />a milky grey or mikly brown might be a better way of describing oil with water in it.. and if it has enough water in it.. it will turn into a thick foamy kinda stuff.. that thick it dosnt want to pour out of the sump drain plug..<br /><br />a very small water content in oil is normal.. at correct operating temperatures it boils away and dosnt build up.. the thick sludgey stuff that sometimes builds up in rocker/cam covers is down to two things.. the engine not running hot enough and perhaps poor crankcase ventilation..<br /><br />trog100

 

[Mahoney]

Re: Grey Oil ???

We haven't heard from the original poster for quite a while, but if he was paying attention to the level after the changes and after short easy runs on the muffs, and the level was not increasing, he might be fine, just patiencs and changes to work it out.

 

[RocknRollnitmare]

Re: Grey Oil ???

I would like to say thank you to all who replied to my post all of you provided mith with much needed information, I am going to wait untill the weather get's a little warmer here befor I take it out and run it. Thank's again to everyone!!!