leaving engine on without proper cooling

[import_robj]

I accidentally left my engine running for 12 minutes at 1300 rpm without the plugs in for the cooling system:|:|:|:|. The only thing that looks damaged is some ducts that hook up to the blower and should be easy to fix. Contrary to the instructions I walked away during this time that is why I failed to notice it. Temp outside at the time was around 60 degrees. Atleast I had the top open so it could vent some. What else should I look for that I might have hurt.

 

[Bondo]

Re: leaving engine on without proper cooling

Was there Water pumping Into the Motor,+ hence Out the Drain Plugs you Left Out,..??..??..??........

Or,......
Were the Drain Plugs Out,.....
AND you ran it Without Water being Supplied,..??..??..??..??........

Btw,.......
What Engine/ Drive are we talking about,.......??....
And,...... What is the Top that you had Open,..??..??....

I can think of Alot of Things you may have Smoked............

 

[import_robj]

Re: leaving engine on without proper cooling

I had the water on and the drain plugs were out. mercury mercruiser 4 cycle 5.0 L engine sterndrive. I had the flip top open. It isn't part of the engine it is that the engine is encased in a area in the back and has a flip top that allows you to access it. Engine seems to run fine though.

 

[Don S]

Re: leaving engine on without proper cooling

Outside temperature doesn't mean much in a boat, they are not air cooled they are water cooled.
Drain plugs for what? Transom plug? Engine? Exhaust manifolds?
If it's a 5.0L engine, of course its a 4 cycle engine, it's also a Chevy V8. What year? What Drive, Alpha? Bravo?
If your exhaust got hot enough to melt the blower ducts, then you probably burned up the exhaust hose too, and possibly the exhaust bellows

It isn't part of the engine it is that the engine is encased in a area in the back and has a flip top that allows you to access it.

It's called an engine compartment where the engine is, and a hatch or cover is what opens and closes.
Maybe you should take it to a Mercruiser dealer and have it checked out.

 

[import_robj]

Re: leaving engine on without proper cooling

The ducts were touching the metal parts of the engine. All plugs were out. Also when I place the transmition in forward to turn the propeller there is a clicking sound and the propeller will not move and if I keep the transmition in neutral and just reeve up the rpm it works fine. Everything else seems to be ok though. I think it is a 05 and it is a alpha too. Thank you

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: leaving engine on without proper cooling

Sorry that happened.you also must have melted your shift cable as well.

DHP

 

[import_robj]

Re: leaving engine on without proper cooling

could it be something else worse besides a shift cable and what else should I look for in problems. Thank you

 

[import_robj]

Re: leaving engine on without proper cooling

Anybody know what is going on here. As I wrote I place the transmission in neutral and raise the rpm everything sounds fine but when I place the transmission in forward and raise the rpm the propeller doesn't move and also there is a clicking sound and this clicking sound clicks becomes more rapid as I raise the rpm. Also this sound is from the part of the sterndrive unit that sticks out of the boat. Thank you

 

[jastacey]

Re: leaving engine on without proper cooling

You could have issues with the head gaskets and or the head being slightly warped, you won't know, till you run the engine ( you could do a compression test or a leak down test, to see if you have head sealing issues ) after you've repaired the outdrive water pump, melted exhaust hoses & cables , you may have some wiring issues that may show up at a later date ( burnt & brittle insulation, on the wires near a hot heat source )

 

[tommays]

Re: leaving engine on without proper cooling

There trying to tell you in a nice way you did a LOT of dammage

its a wonder the motor still even runs and you were not out there trying to put a fire

I think at best you melted the exaust flappers ,and all the rubber exaust parts

Its going to take a Merc tech to really say how much dammage was done

the only good thing i can see right now is you were not able to get water in it right away as that would have cracked a lot of the hot parts like the manifolds


Tommays

 

[Scaaty]

Re: leaving engine on without proper cooling

Why did you even think of running it with the drain plugs out? My take is that long at 1300, you have major issues with all the rubber exhaust parts, possible cracked manifolds and heads, who knows. I think you need to take it in, just too much can go wrong with a good overheat.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: leaving engine on without proper cooling

And why try to put it in gear when reving up the engine?
never shift it into gear over about 800 rpms.Not good for it to be put in gear on the muffs also..:%

 

[Don S]

Re: leaving engine on without proper cooling

Not good for it to be put in gear on the muffs also..

Why? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

 

[Drrockter]

Re: leaving engine on without proper cooling

I've put it in gear. I just don't go all out.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: leaving engine on without proper cooling

I know i have read that on this forum Don..?

I don't think reving it up in gear on muffs could be good?

 

[Don S]

Re: leaving engine on without proper cooling

It's not a good idea to just start repeating everything you read on a forum unless you can answer the hows and whys that may come up.
No manufacturer has ever stated that it's bad to put a drive in or out of gear while on muffs.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: leaving engine on without proper cooling

I put mine in gear all the time on the muffs. I'll even raise the idle and let it run at 2000 for a little bit. I am just careful not to overtach it.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: leaving engine on without proper cooling

I stand corrected.....Sorry Don..

 

[import_robj]

Re: leaving engine on without proper cooling

Why did you even think of running it with the drain plugs out? My take is that long at 1300, you have major issues with all the rubber exhaust parts, possible cracked manifolds and heads, who knows. I think you need to take it in, just too much can go wrong with a good overheat.

I am only human, it was an accident. Like I said the engine seems to run perfecly except when I put the transmission in forward then there is a clicking sound coming from the sterndrive unit that is out of the boat not inside and the propeller doesn't move. I am starting to think that mayby the gears just aren't catching and I should've tried to put it in reverse. I just got so worked up that I messed up. I went ahead and winterized it 2 days ago. I have spent enough time working on this issue so I'll just have to wait next year to see what's up.
Thank you

 

[Scaaty]

Re: leaving engine on without proper cooling

Then maybe ya lucked out on the motor. As none of us were sitting there to see exactly how long, rpm, etc, maybe you will not have motor issues. Anyway wish ya luck. Its only a boat, we all do dumb things, and anything easily broke can just as easily be fixed, just take a little more effort an $ on the latter.
On the running in gear...don't know about your Mercruiser, but Volvo 280's like mine MUST be put in gear for a bit on extended idle, as there is a pump for oiling the upper gears.. Running in gear is not a problem, just don't check the prop at the same time