3.0 Mercruiser been sitting in open conditions all year

[semmey87]

No doubt having trouble starting engine after been sitting outside for a solid year. I can hear the starter clicking sometimes but engine won't turn over.

I drained the engine and poured anti antifreeze before I abandoned it. I believe I put fuel stabilizer in the tank but not sure.

What I'm worried about:

1. There is yellow liquid on the inside of the fuel cap..what could that be? Gas gone bad? Will it be a problem If I try and start the engine with this old gas...?

2. The areas with cooling hose (pictured) all rusted on inside and outside of the connection. Could this be a problem?

3. Engine oil is empty...why would that be?

4. Engine won't turn over.. Bad starter? rusted? or worse fucked? haha

Would love to hear your input on a starting point...

 

[Bt Doctur]

Should never have been left exposed ,but it was so...............
You drained and fill the engine , what about the exaust manifold?
It you did not drain the oil , and its empty it drained out thru a hole in the oil pan
Remove the sparkplugs and check for rust.
Remove the starter an have it tested.
What may have happened is the drain plug was clogged and the hull filed with water or if in a cold climate the drain plug froze with snow/water/ice and filled the hull

 

[Scott Danforth]

Pull the starter and use a prybat on the flywheel teeth. It the motor doesnt turn, cylinders are rusted.

Before you poured antifreese, did you poke all drain plugs?

Never leave engines open to elements

 

[semmey87]

when I poured anti freeze i left the plug on the manifold open, and the plug on the boat open.

I just pulled the spark plugs(pictured) . They are quite rusty on the base but the terminal looks ok....ISH LOL

Is this bad???? haha

What should I do with this rust...?

 

[semmey87]

Update: So I pulled 3 plugs and tried to start...this is what happened.

It looks like its really labouring to turn over. I did manage to turn the engine over just slightly and water shot out of one of the spark plug holes. I can see water moving around in there now.

Also when I try and start its labours and the battery wire starts to hiss

 

[Scott Danforth]

Your motor needs a full rebuild

Cheaper to buy a different 3.0

 

[Bt Doctur]

motors toast. Either it cracked from freezing or water entered thru the carb. Water on the flame arrestor does find its way in thru the threaded stud

 

[Scott Danforth]

And no, there is no salvaging your motor for less than $1500/$1800

Exactly how did you "winterize"?

 

[semmey87]

well that's no fun! are you guys sure its toast...

my friend who is a mechanic (car) came by but he didnt have much time to look at it. But he said you could fill it with a 50/50 transmission fluid & Acetone. Leave it for a while and then flush it out.... what do you guys think?

Would the engine be cracked for sure? I left the drain plug open on the side of the engine and I poured anti freeze into all the hoses........

 

[Scott Danforth]

Its a boat anchor....as a motor, it needs a rebuild

 

[andrewterri]

Scott is right. Acetone and transmission fluid will not undo the damage caused by water and rust like pitting and seized bearings. Good news is you can find a 3.0 for a decent price as there are many of them out there. You can also see what parts from the motor are salvageable and sell them. Even with a true story of the parts history (i.e. being left in the rain) someone is always looks for a cheap option. I would move on to the drive and start checking to see what kind of condition it is in.

 

[semmey87]

Hey guys wanted to give an update:

I took off the cylinder head.(picture attached) what do you think?

Also there is a plug on the side of the block..I opened it up. pure antifreeze came out (pictured)

What do you think? How can I inspect it further?

 

[Scott Danforth]

You only pulled the valve cover, not the cylinder head

 

[fishrdan]

No oil in the engine? Was it in the bilge? It had to go somewhere. Anything in the crankcase, water, or is the dipstick completely dry.

With water sitting in the cylinders all winter long (rusted spark plugs) I'm in the "ruined engine group". Seeing that it's a basket case, not much to loose by filling the cylinders with ATF/acetone to see if it frees up the engine. Once it's free and "turning over by hand freely", run a compression test on it, the results will tell you what condition the engine is in.

I'm guessing bad compression from pitted cylinders and rusted (stuck?) valves, from the rusted spark plug pics...

 

[semmey87]

I can't tell if there's anything in the crank case. I pull the dipstick out dry... no oil.. no water looks like..

Is there a way for me to check what's in the cylinders if it is indeed water .. or antifreeze?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Remove the spark plugs, and using a clear hose from an aquarium insert into cylinder and gently suck on he hose
You said you removed the plug and poured AF into the hoses. then you said you removed a plug on the engine and AF came out.Witch is it. Did you drain the manifold also? And if the engine was left uncovered water will enter thru the flame arrestor stud down the manifold into the engine

 

[fishrdan]

I'm pretty sure ATF/acetone will float on water, so you'll have to get the cylinders emptied for it to work.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Probably oughta pull the drive, just to be sure the motor is afu, 'n not the drive, as they're spline coupled, 'n rotate together,.....

 

[Scott Danforth]

I can't tell if there's anything in the crank case. I pull the dipstick out dry... no oil.. no water looks like..

Is there a way for me to check what's in the cylinders if it is indeed water .. or antifreeze?

if either sat in the cylinders all winter, the motor is toast.

I would pull the drive like Bondo pointed out, as you would have to pull the drive anyway to remove the motor.

 

[Roadblock007]

For me personally I would pull and rebuild my 3.0 if it came to it. I don't see any of them in Canada here for sale for less than $1200 used. For the extra cost I would have it done right and basically like new. But I do my own mechanical work. Would just farm out the machining.