Winter Damage - Mercruiser V8

[Gogonova]

I have a 1982 Cruiser Beachcomber with a Mercruiser 898 (305) which I brought from a boat repair shop in October 2005. The shop stored it for the winter and the following spring, tuned it up (out of water). I parked it on my driveway at my future retirement home in Marinette, Wisconsin in April 2006. Now here is the horror story, for many reasons (living out of state, government job, and just plain stupidity), the boat sat untouched thru to two winters. It wasn't winterized so I have no idea how much water many have been left in the block or lower unit. The cylinders and carb weren't fogged, etc. So is the block and/or lower unit junk? Now I am living in Marinette permanently (Got a great job at the local shipyard and I don't have to go and fight in the desert as a 54 year old civilian. 23 years active duty was enough why tempt fate). Anyway, I would like to use the boat now and plan to start it this May. Is there a means of checking for a cracked block and/or stern drive without starting it? If I follow the procedures for starting a winterized engine and the block and/or stern drive is cracked, what should I watch for? What is likely to happen? Thanks.

PS I keep imagining that WWII Malden cartoon of Willie preparing to shoot his broken jeep with his .45.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Winter Damage - Mercruiser V8

Ayuh,..
Just follow the Summerization instructions posted in the Adults Only section of this forum...
If it's Cracked,... It'll become obvious in a few minutes....

 

[Don S]

Re: Winter Damage - Mercruiser V8

First thing to do is go look it over. External cracks in the block and manifolds, core plugs (Known as freeze plugs by some, but they aren't) popped out and laying in the bilge, are usually the first things noticed.
If none found, you can plug the water hoses going to the manifolds and/or risers and pressure check the block. After it thaws out.
Before doing the pressure test, you might want to check that the engine actually turns over first.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Winter Damage - Mercruiser V8

Pulling the dipstick for two tests is another good starting point: Test #1: is there any oil in the engine. Test #2: Is there evidence of water AND oil on the the dipstick. The result of test #2 will determine whether you have any chance of using that boat anytime soon.