I ran the engine out of 2 cycle oil now it has a sound like a thrown rod bearing

[iamwill1973]

Went out on a new to me boat and it kept cutting off on me was the 4th or 5th going out and had never had a problem with this. It kept recranking and I would go a little ways then it would cut off again. When I got it trailered I opened the cowl, ummediately noticed the oil tank was empty. Right at the dock I noticed the tinging noise in the engine. I didnt run it long without the oil but there is that noise. I know that the engine will usually seize or never run again without a complete rebuild. But... I took it out again after refilling the oil tank and it kind of sounded ok, not as loud, same speed was obtained and maintained and power was about the same no change I could tell. Anyway my question is how to tell if you just should not run it anymore? It is a 1996 60hp mariner elpto 2 cycle engine. I am thinking it ruined the rod bearings and continued running will throw said bearings parts throughout the engine ruining more then themselves? I really do not know anything about motors much less boat motors. Should I run it until it dies or what? A mechanic said it would have to be completely rebuilt $1800 but if the bearings are just bad why cant they just replace them and go on? If it runs it has compression and the rings should be fine right?:facepalm::facepalm::facepalm:

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: I ran the engine out of 2 cycle oil now it has a sound like a thrown rod bearing

This is a tough call. First, think 2500.00 for the rebuild. 1800.00 is a little low but it can be done for that if the damage is minimal. I usually just quote 2500.00 and it seems to cover the bases.

The damage - The upper main is the one that takes the biggest hit usually but the cylinders will scuff long before that fails. The tinking noise was heat stress on the Aluminum so there may be some gasket failures in your future.

Oddly enough, I've pulled some motors apart with scuffed pistons that were running pretty well. The aluminum on the cylinder walls might affect compresssion and you would see that with a compression test.

The rod and main bearings on these motors are pretty resilient and may be blue but will probably survive.

I won't go as far as to say it will run like it did before, that would be just pure luck. However, if you take really good care of it from now on you might be o.k.

 

[iamwill1973]

Re: I ran the engine out of 2 cycle oil now it has a sound like a thrown rod bearing

So lawsen you think running it would not do further damage I know there is no real way to know unless it is taken apart and checking it but I was thinking just maybe add more oil to the gas along with the automatic oiler should keep further damage to a minimum. does that make sense?

 

[scootchu]

Re: I ran the engine out of 2 cycle oil now it has a sound like a thrown rod bearing

I had done the same to a 140 OMC seadrive. Brother in law, boat mechanic, said I probably just aged the motor about 10 years in 10 minutes. Compression was still decent, ran it for another 2 years before I sold it. Just my experience.

 

[iamwill1973]

Re: I ran the engine out of 2 cycle oil now it has a sound like a thrown rod bearing

I had done the same to a 140 OMC seadrive. Brother in law, boat mechanic, said I probably just aged the motor about 10 years in 10 minutes. Compression was still decent, ran it for another 2 years before I sold it. Just my experience.

Did it have a knocking noise while running after you did it? Mine does but like I said it didnt seem to lose power. I may take it back out this weekend anyway. A guy in pelham nc has a late 70s merc 650 for sale may be able to get the old glasstron boat and motor for 600-700 being he has no title to either and the boat has been stripped. I have a 1996 mitch craft center console do you guys think the merc would do well on this type of boat? With the 60 mariner it would run 35 with a 15" pitch prop.

 

[Outsider]

Re: I ran the engine out of 2 cycle oil now it has a sound like a thrown rod bearing

Run it like you stole it, it'll cost more to rebuild than it's worth ...

Oh, and more oil will not mitigate any damage already done. What I'd investigate first if why there was no alarm triggered by the empty tank ...

 

[iamwill1973]

Re: I ran the engine out of 2 cycle oil now it has a sound like a thrown rod bearing

There are 2 connectors where the wires come out on the side that have one male and one female connectors that is not hooked up could that be the alarm wire? One wre is brown and I forget the other color. I bought a 650 merc 70's model to repower the center console and I have to make the decision to part the mariner out or try and rebuild it myself. I know parted out will pay for the repower as I only paid 500 for the mercury 650 on a boat and trailer the boat was gutted and owner could not put it back together was a glastron pretty cool looking old hull but not for me.