wax instead of water? what?

[iamchrisstone]

ok, first of all, please forgive me for my lack of vocabulary. i'm knew to the marine life.

i recently bought a boat. 1980 chris craft scorpion 230 with a mercruiser inboard 230 (350). it has sat for a long time so as soon as i bought it we did full tune up, oil change, and a bunch of other stuff. hooked it up to water and ran her for a few minutes and watched the tempeture. just as we suspected, we need to replace the impeller (the water pump repair kit). took apart the lower end (is that correct terminology?) and the "tunnel" where the water would flow, is wax. not old salt water. not a mouse next. WAX. literally like candle wax. what could cause this? everyone that i've spoken with today and shown, they are all confused. HELP!

and by the way, i'm loving this forum. everyone is awesome!

well, we cleared out the wax after alot of work and the water flows freely, but we are really confused about the "candle wax" like substance.

 

[Lrider]

Re: wax instead of water? what?

When the boat was given it's last rites, they spilled the wax?

 

[Bondo]

Re: wax instead of water? what?

When the boat was given it's last rites, they spilled the wax?

Ayuh,... Or the former owner had Enemies...

 

[QC]

Re: wax instead of water? what?

I am moving this over to the I/O section to get you a more focused response. Good luck and welcome aboard!

took apart the lower end (is that correct terminology?)

We would usually call that the lower unit, and I am going to assume that this is actually a Stern Drive or I/O (inboard/outboard). Mercruiser makes both straight inboards (prop and straight shaft under the boat) as well as I/Os, so there can be some confusion with you calling it a Mercruiser Inboard.

Was the "wax" more like a pudding? Or hard like cold wax? If the former it could be emulsified water and oil.

 

[iamchrisstone]

Re: wax instead of water? what?

it was actually hardened like cold candle wax. i meant to take pics and video and forgot.

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: wax instead of water? what?

hardened watered grease looks like wax.

 

[iamchrisstone]

Re: wax instead of water? what?

the boat has sat since 2005 with nothing done to it, so you guys think maybe it might be grease??? just over time turned into this wax?

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: wax instead of water? what?

What color?J

 

[iamchrisstone]

Re: wax instead of water? what?

the wax was mostly a white or cream color....

 

[Philster]

Re: wax instead of water? what?

I am going to say some form/combo of grease and oils. Ever fry up some bacon and look at the fat that hardens? It's is a cream colored fat and resembles candle wax.

Grease and oils are carbon-based compounds from decaying carbon-based life forms (plants, animals, etc).

They really do look like whitish/creamish colored candle wax when hard. Just pop open some Crisco or check out some lard.


Not much of a mystery.

 

[6meter]

Re: wax instead of water? what?

Maybe some honey bees got up into it?