So close to the lake... Yet so far away

[incrediblened]

Hey everyone. I am so close to getting my 1990 Maxum on the water that I can feel the spray of water in my face. Today I got the engine started and running. After about 20 seconds of running I see milkshake coming up from the lifter rods.

I expected this. The PO ran it hot, blew a headgasket and filled 2 of the cylinders with water. I just wanted to warm up the oil a little before I drained it.

I drained the Oil/Water mixture. Picked up a case of oil & a couple filters and began the run & flush routine. Someone at the shop suggested I use an engine flush. So I did. Filled it up with oil & engine flush. Ran it for about 3 minutes. (I was supposed to run it for 5). The engine ran hot. I don't know how hot because my thermostat wire wasn't hooked up. But there was a smoke coming out of the exhaust... and I jumped in and shut it down immediately. The exhaust manifolds were hot and there was a little smoke coming off of the engine. I assume a little oil was burning off b/c I had the lifter covers off to adjust the lifters if necessary after a head gasket replacement.

I Pulled the lower unit - impeller looks perfect. There were a couple of chunks of old impeller that I pulled out - but they didn't look like they were doing much harm.

I pulled the thermostat. It didn't look terrible, but I'm going to replace it anyway.

I pulled out a chunk of soft charred black rubber out of the exhaust. Flapper reminant?

I drained the oil & removed the filter. The Engine Flush really made the oil watery. So it poured out quickly and was again quite milky.

I refilled the crankcase again with oil & 1/2 pint of Seafoam this time (as per manufacturer instructions). Slapped on a new filter. I'm going to assemble it all back together again... but what should I look for? Am I headed in the right direction?

 

[jtmarten]

Re: So close to the lake... Yet so far away

Not much info about your setup; but, if you have power steering and a PS cooler, I'd backflush it. If you found chunks of an old impeller there are likely more, and larger ones can accumulate in the PS cooler.

 

[incrediblened]

Re: So close to the lake... Yet so far away

Not much info about your setup; but, if you have power steering and a PS cooler, I'd backflush it. If you found chunks of an old impeller there are likely more, and larger ones can accumulate in the PS cooler.

Thanks! That's just the kind of info I'm looking for. I'll check it.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: So close to the lake... Yet so far away

I pulled out a chunk of soft charred black rubber out of the exhaust. Flapper reminant?

Technically it is called a shutter, but you got it! Better plan on replacing them cuz the pieces are mostly metal and can partially block the exhaust when they fall apart (which they seem to be doing). Good luck

 

[incrediblened]

Re: So close to the lake... Yet so far away

1990 Maxum 21ft, Mercruiser 4.3 - Continuing on the journey to the lake... I did get the boat running, new thermostat which keeps the manifolds nice and cool. I'm timing it, and when I turn the distributor back so that the mark lines up with the 0... it dies. It runs best with the timing line WAY off of the timing marks. So I've got some questions about that... along with others. Thanks in advance for being a part of the journey.

1) Do you think I have the distributor one cog off?
2) I had water in the oil. I changed the oil ONCE already. Should I change it again?
3) Walmart only had Supertech Outdrive Oil & Quick Silver Outboard Gear Oil. Ain't no way I'm using Supertech... so I bougth the QS. Expensive stuff. I'll use it temporarily until I can get the right gear oil. Is the Outboard stuff just as good as the I/O stuff?
4) The engine won't idle. I figure this is just tune-up stuff... new plugs, wires, clean the carb & jets out, etc.
5) What's difference between a marine thermostat and a regular car thermostat?

 

[jtmarten]

Re: So close to the lake... Yet so far away

Timing should be min 8*, not suprising it dies when you retard it to 0*. Total advance should be 34-36*, your idle timing will be dependent on how much advance your dizzy provides.

 

[SSSuper83]

Re: So close to the lake... Yet so far away

Agreed. Set the initial timing to 8 degrees btdc. Go from there. Sounds like you are on the right track.

If you had water in the engine...change it at least 3 times(ALONG WITH THE FILTER) and run 25w40 Rotella diesel oil for each oil change. It will keep the bearings cushioned and also flush out all that additive crap you put in it

 

[incrediblened]

Re: So close to the lake... Yet so far away

Timing should be min 8*, not suprising it dies when you retard it to 0*. Total advance should be 34-36*, your idle timing will be dependent on how much advance your dizzy provides.

Do you think I have the distributor set to the correct cog? I've got to keep the engine revved to even get the distributor set to 8*

 

[incrediblened]

Re: So close to the lake... Yet so far away

If you had water in the engine...change it at least 3 times(ALONG WITH THE FILTER) and run 25w40 Rotella diesel oil for each oil change. It will keep the bearings cushioned and also flush out all that additive crap you put in it

How long should I run it between oil changes?

 

[IceWater]

Re: So close to the lake... Yet so far away

run 25w40 Rotella diesel oil for each oil change. It will keep the bearings cushioned and also flush out all that additive crap you put in it

I think you mean 15W40 Rotella and I swear by that oil. 600,000 miles on my C15 CAT when the head gasket went, leaked into the cylinder, scored the piston, etc. anyway, when it was rebuild the crank and camshaft were near perfect, as was most of the engine...except the head gasket and the damage it caused.

 

[SSSuper83]

Re: So close to the lake... Yet so far away

How long should I run it between oil changes?

Yes, my bad. Rotella is 15w40.

Run the engine til it is warmed up..about 5 minutes. You really dont want the additives and all the rest of the junk circulating that much. Some folks say to run it to operating temp, but I like to be extra careful when cleaning out an engine. I would rather spend 50 bucks on a couple oil changes than 5 stacks on an engine change. Just check the dipstick OFTEN and if the oil milks up again after a couple oil changes..you have a bigger problem. Depends how much water was in the engine to begin with...

 

[SSSuper83]

Re: So close to the lake... Yet so far away

But FOR SURE do not run the 15w40 oil permanently. Even though Rotella is a very good oil..I always like to go thicker, esp in a boat engine. 10 bucks a quart for Lucas or Royal Purple is worth its weight in gold, and also the Merc oil is good too if you get a deal on it.

 

[incrediblened]

Re: So close to the lake... Yet so far away

Depends how much water was in the engine to begin with...

Don't know. It was all mixed together with the oil when I found it. (Mostly contained in the pan).

 

[incrediblened]

Re: So close to the lake... Yet so far away

But FOR SURE do not run the 15w40 oil permanently. Even though Rotella is a very good oil..I always like to go thicker, esp in a boat engine.

Ok. The mercruiser manual recommends running a good quality straight weight 40 oil. Is that sufficient? I could always add a quart of Lucas.