Water in the engine oil

[DamnitBadger]

Well the hole in the water where my money goes has a new problem. Water in the oil. Mercruiser 260 (350 GM) runs great but on pulling it out of the water the other day I had oil in the bilge. After I got it home I noticed white jello insif=de the oil filler cap. Suprisingly the oil looked OK. After sitting for a day I put a hose down the dipstick tube and siphoned from the bottom of the pan about a quart of water. This motor runs great so I'm hoping it's nothing more than a head gasket. Any other ideas?

 

[Don S]

Re: Water in the engine oil

Block off the water to the manifolds and risers and pressureize the cooling sysem and see if you find (hear-see) the leak.

 

[DamnitBadger]

Re: Water in the engine oil

Is there a diagram somewhere? What's the best way to proceed? Four hoses to the rear of the manifold and two to the front of the manifold. One hose coming to the water pump from the outdrive. Connect hoses so nothing is leaving the thermostat housing. How would I go about sealing the water pump and intake. I can put a schrader valve into the thermostat housing.

 

[Don S]

Re: Water in the engine oil

No diagrams, just plug the hoses with anything. Wood dowels will work. Pressure check it with a hand pump adapted to one of the hoses, no need to install schrader valves and makeing the process complicated.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Water in the engine oil

Four hoses to the rear of the manifold and two to the front of the manifold.

That's Alot of hoses.......<br />How Old is this Beast ??? Log Manifolds ??<br />

One hose coming to the water pump from the outdrive.

Just put a Clamp on this 1,... That solves the outdrive end.....<br /><br />Actually Several Clamps on several Hoses Might be enough to Test it......<br />

I can put a schrader valve into the thermostat housing.

Sure,... How about a Temp. Sender Hole ??

 

[DamnitBadger]

Re: Water in the engine oil

1978 mercruiser 260 with split seal

 

[DamnitBadger]

Re: Water in the engine oil

I inter connected all hoses from the t-stat housing so no exit for any and a ball pump was perfect size for the intake hose so I clamped it in and pumped it up until all hoses were inflated and it would pump no more. It holds pressure for about 10 or so minutes and no leaks can be heard with my homade stethescopes.??????

 

[Bondo]

Re: Water in the engine oil

Well,........<br /><br />In that case it's time for some History to figure out What's Up....<br /><br />You don't list where you call Home,.... Is it a Cold Climate ??<br />How about somebackground on the boat,+ motor ??<br />What's changed since it started mixing ??<br /><br />Switch your Testing System around,+ Pressure Test each Exhaust Manifold....???

 

[Don S]

Re: Water in the engine oil

What's the chances of water leaking down the carb, wouldn't be the first to get water that way.<br />Could also be water in the cylinder due to leaks from the exhaust manifolds or risers or the connection between them. Could also be an engine oil cooler if your engine happens to have one. <br /><br />

1978 mercruiser 260 with split seal

Ok, what's a "Split seal"? Not familiar with that term.

 

[DamnitBadger]

Re: Water in the engine oil

Don't know much. The boat came from Pensacola. Insurance settlement from Ivan.1978 Cobalt 22', The boat was a rack storage boat and the rack collasped damaging the railing. Thieves stole the electronics so the owner claimed it a total loss. Boat had no apparent damage to engine systems. Appears to have been repowered in the mid 90s, So far I have replaced boots and u-joints, flushed all systems and replaced all fluids. The motor runs great although I've only had it out 3 times for a couple of hours each run to check repairs made sofar. Temp has been steady as has the oil pressure. Each time on take out there has been oil in the bilge. The first time I thought nothing of it be cause after the hurricane the boat stood on its nose for two weeks before being righted then sat in a boat insurance yard for 8 months exposed to the rain. I assumed it would have water in the motor (which it did)before I began to get the boat in shape. Oh, the boat is now in south Mississippi. Not exactly what you might consider cold. LOL

 

[KaGee]

Re: Water in the engine oil

Originally posted by DamnitBadger:<br /> ...pulling it out of the water the other day I had oil in the bilge. After I got it home I noticed white jello insif=de the oil filler cap. Suprisingly the oil looked OK. After sitting for a day I put a hose down the dipstick tube and siphoned from the bottom of the pan about a quart of water.

OK... you say oil in the bilge? How much? What common denominator is there? Don mentioned oil cooler???

 

[Don S]

Re: Water in the engine oil

Since it was in the hurricane, and who knows what happend that could have gotten water in the engine, and since you have no history, my suggestion would be to change the oil to get rid of the water and run it and see if the level goes up. It may take several oil/filter changes to get the "Milky" out of the oil and a few good runs to burn the water off will be necessary. Just keep an eye that the oil level doesn't raise.<br />Then see what happens.......

 

[DamnitBadger]

Re: Water in the engine oil

Water through the carb is a real posibility and one I had not thought of. Even when covered the hinge for the cover is directly over the carb and flame aresstor. I removed the valve covers and took the mayo out but can assume the lifter valley is in the same condition. Think I will drain the oil and crank some diesel through it with the coil unpluged and the change the filter and add new oil. Maybe the diesel will help get the congelled mess out.<br /><br />There is a cooler on the power steering side with what looks to be a heat exchanger on the water intake before the water punp. Oil in the bilge was about half a quart. Hard to say as it was mixed with water that was leaking into the boat from a through hull tranducer. I pulled it yesterday and glassed up the hole so all the leaks should be history with new boots and all.

 

[KaGee]

Re: Water in the engine oil

A can of BERRYMAN'S added to the crankcase and run for about 15 minutes after engine gets up to temp works great for getting the "milk" out.<br /><br />Of course, change the oil and filter afterwards.