Okay more probles...

[BIGSTRIPER80]

Okay guys -

I posted earlier n the week that when my mechanic gave my boat a tune up, and relayed the bad news that they found a slight amount of water in the oil when the changed the oil. He told me the only way to see how bad it is, is to run for a while checking the oil every 10 mins or so to see if the level changes or it get's milky. That was last saturday. My motor is an 88 Mercruiser 4.3 alpha one.

Well to make a long story short, it rained for 3 days straight earlier this week and my tarp broke and the a ton of water got into the boat and the engine area. The boat had a fresh tune up with oil, So I went out this morning to start it up and got the motor running for about a mintue very smooth. Then it died out and I couldn't get it started again. I checked the oil and it was completly milky with water in it white color.

So I decided to change the oil to ensure I wouldn't do anymore damage. Chnaged the oil from the bottom of the pan, and put a new filter. I was in a bind so I got some 10w30 and a regualr auto oil filter for the 4.3.

Went to try and start the motor and it would only turn over roughly 1 -2 times and then would stop. Tried to get it going for about 10 mins and could get it to fire up with only 1/2 rotations before going dead. My question is any thoughts? Battery? Also, how did that much water get in the oil from the rain? What do I need to do now to get it running. it's got new filter and oil.

you guys are awesome. This is my first 4.3 i/o so i am learning and taking things a part as i go.

Thanks,

 

[Wotknot]

Re: Okay more probles...

Okay guys -

I posted earlier n the week that when my mechanic gave my boat a tune up, and relayed the bad news that they found a slight amount of water in the oil when the changed the oil. He told me the only way to see how bad it is, is to run for a while checking the oil every 10 mins or so to see if the level changes or it get's milky. That was last saturday. My motor is an 88 Mercruiser 4.3 alpha one.

Well to make a long story short, it rained for 3 days straight earlier this week and my tarp broke and the a ton of water got into the boat and the engine area. The boat had a fresh tune up with oil, So I went out this morning to start it up and got the motor running for about a mintue very smooth. Then it died out and I couldn't get it started again. I checked the oil and it was completly milky with water in it white color.

So I decided to change the oil to ensure I wouldn't do anymore damage. Chnaged the oil from the bottom of the pan, and put a new filter. I was in a bind so I got some 10w30 and a regualr auto oil filter for the 4.3.

Went to try and start the motor and it would only turn over roughly 1 -2 times and then would stop. Tried to get it going for about 10 mins and could get it to fire up with only 1/2 rotations before going dead. My question is any thoughts? Battery? Also, how did that much water get in the oil from the rain? What do I need to do now to get it running. it's got new filter and oil.

you guys are awesome. This is my first 4.3 i/o so i am learning and taking things a part as i go.

Thanks,

Might have gotten water down into the combustion chambers......pulls the plugs and turn it over with them out.....if you've got water in there, you'll know then by watching the plug holes as your engine's turning over.

 

[Don S]

Re: Okay more probles...

Sounds like water to me also. If it is salt water, you better be finding out within hours or expect some serious engine problems.

 

[BIGSTRIPER80]

Re: Okay more probles...

No saltwater. So should it dry out and then fire back up again?

 

[JustJason]

Re: Okay more probles...

you should empty any standing water in the boat and fire it right up. Let the motor get good and hot to help burn off anything that may be on it. Then check the dipstick again....
BTW... an auto filter is fine... as far as auto oil.... this may start a little contreversy but whatever, if it's and older engine its still more than fine.

 

[Coors]

Re: Okay more probles...

Water in bilge, filled to pan gasket, and starter shot.
Starters don't like being in water. been there.

 

[Don S]

Re: Okay more probles...

If you were to put a quart of water in a quart of oil, it would not get milky like that. Oil and water seperates by nature. It would have to be run in order to cause it to become milky all the way thru. So, if your oil is overfull, and milky, it happened when you last ran it.

 

[Coors]

Re: Okay more probles...

Been there, plug in boat, a Florida t'storm; remembered the plug was in.
Called wife, she was 2 hours away, also.

Result= water seeped in pan gasket, starter shot.

But true, if not cranked, not milky.

 

[BIGSTRIPER80]

Re: Okay more probles...

If I pick up a GM auto starter for the local auto parts store for teh 4.3 will that be okay? Is that an easy fix?

So since I have changed the oil since and you can only see leftover milky oil at the bottom of the dipstick and the rest is fresh oil now, I will probably have to keep changing it until all the water is out right? Once I can get it started to burn off any extra water etc... i should be okay right?

Thanks for your replies.

 

[Coors]

Re: Okay more probles...

NO! Have local starter shop rebuild yours.
Marine starter is needed, so as not to blow your passengers up.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Okay more probles...

If I pick up a GM auto starter for the local auto parts store for teh 4.3 will that be okay? Is that an easy fix?

Ayuh,..... I Agree,..... An Automotive Starter is a Bomb waiting to Blow......

 

[BIGSTRIPER80]

Re: Okay more probles...

Thanks for the replies guys. So I recovered the boat and let is sit over night. I will try and refire today. My question (since I am new) if the starter was shot, wouldn't the motor not try to turn over at all. I mean it's only rotating one full turn maybe a half a turn then locks up. I thought it was the battery not having enough juice but the volt meter is reading about 13 amps on the dash. Also, should I be concerned about hydrolock? Or is hydrolock complete motor freeze up? One other item to note since I was thinking about this last night. When the motor was trying to turn over, when it stopped i could hear a hiss noise coming from the engine. Didn't know if that meant anything.

Thanks,
Andrew

 

[Don S]

Re: Okay more probles...

IF it's only turning a half a turn, it could be water in the cylinders, or even a broken rod. Pull the spark plugs and see if it will crank over.
PS, a volt meter doesn't read amps, it reads VOLTS. it's showing 13 VOLTS

 

[BIGSTRIPER80]

Re: Okay more probles...

Okay -

Update. Went out today and took out one of the spark plugs to see if I could see any water. I couldn't see much of anything. Not sure if I would see physical water in there. I went and tried to fire up the engine again. To give you a more accurate description, the motor sounds almost like a slow motion turnover... spinning reall slow only a half turn here and there. Never a full rotation. I attempted to start it three times and checked the oil which looks better. Anyway, i am lost for next steps. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I have heard it could be the starter and/or water in the cylinders. if this is the case is there a remedy? Or does this sound really bad?

Thanks again,
Andrew

 

[Maclin]

Re: Okay more probles...

Dude, you were supposed to remove all of the spark plugs then turn it over to see if water came out, that also expels any water so it can't sit in there and start corroding the engine pieces. Trying to start an engine with water in the cylinders can bend stuff.

 

[Don S]

Re: Okay more probles...

Went out today and took out one of the spark plugs to see if I could see any water. I couldn't see much of anything.

There are 8 cyliinders and not all may have water in them. Like I said before, pull the plugs and see if it will turn over. Maybe some more detail will help.
REMOVE ALL the plugs and have a friend bump over the engine a little at a time with the starter while you watch the engine and see if water comes out of any of the plug holes.

 

[BIGSTRIPER80]

Re: Okay more probles...

Ahh -

Noob screw up there. Will do. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[buggiedad_67]

Re: Okay more probles...

you might try putting a battery charger on it, if water got into alternator, or starter it would drain battery down.

 

[BIGSTRIPER80]

Re: Okay more problems...

Re: Okay more problems...

Alright - update!!

Man I have to say DonS and everyone else you are good and spot on with your trouble shooting. I pulled the plugs tonight and they all looked like they had some mositure on them. Specifically, I turned over the motor and a lot of water shot our of cylinder#6 I didn't see any other water come out of any other cylinder. The motor did spin in full rotation with the plugs out. I squirted some WD-40 in each cylinder hole and sealed the plugs back in. Now that you guys have been right on, what do you think my next steps should be? I also chnaged the oil and put a new filter in.

Thank for all of your help?

 

[Wotknot]

Re: Okay more problems...

Re: Okay more problems...

"Now that you guys have been right on, what do you think my next steps should be?"

Seeing how long the water's been in there now, and the numerous attempts to compress water......I'd be taking it to a really good mechanic and preparing to cough up your gov't rebate check.