140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

[sylvan22offshore]

140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

I winterized my 1985 140 hp mercusier by opeaning the valve on the block and the two plugs in the manifold. Then I poured premixed anifreeze in the themostat hole and into the hoses until i saw it run out, then i closed the valve and replaced the plugs and poured more antifreze in.<br />After the hoidays i went to the dock where i keep my boat in the water year round. It had been a while since I was there last, I was suprise to see how much water was in my boat i guess the rain blew in under the cover dock. My float swith wasnt working. The water was up over the oil pan. We had had a lot of rain here in NC. I switched on my bildge pump and pumped it out.<br />It started it and it ran fine but when i returned to the dock I checked my oil it was milky. Could it have leaked into the oil pan through the oil pan gasket when it was sitting in water for about a month or could it have come through the carb?, my engine cover hinges right above the carb water could run down easily. I have not been back up there my work has kept me away im very concerned that the water will seperate in the oil pan and freeze, what damage could that do? Do you think water got in through the oil pan or carb,Can that happen? Did I winterize properly? What can happen with water in my oil pan if it seperates and freezes what kind of damage can it do? Where should I start first? thanks Michael

 

[skicat]

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

I hope you winterized it again after you started it and ran it for awhile.

 

[BRIAN03]

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

Water doesnt freeze in North Carolina. We are in Gods country.

 

[sylvan22offshore]

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

Yes I re-winterized it after running it, water freezes on upper lake norman "Statesville". I think it will stay pretty warm it is a 22 ft alumimun cuddy cabin which should conduct the warmth from the water. Last I checked the water temp was 56 degrees. The engine cover is insulated very well too. I work in aviation and Im never home I just have to make some time to go pull it out of the water and check it out. I was just wondering if its possible for water to get in through the oil pan gasket "boat flooded" or in through the carb "lots of rain". Has this ever happened to anyone? thanks Michael

 

[sylvan22offshore]

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

HOW ABOUT THOSE PANTHERS SEE YA AT SUPERBOWL 38!!

 

[mercrewser]

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

I got you beat. ( Im so embarassed) I winterized mine in my shop. Put the drain plug in the transom so when I dumped engine water it wouldnt go into floor of shop. Finished job and put boat in back yard. Month Later threw tarp on it. Boat had mooring cover on it up till this point. 2 months later, hopped on board to measure something in engine box. Temp had been below freezing for month. What I saw was solid block of ice up to manifolds (V8). I forgot to pull drainplug when finished. Took a week! in my shop at 70 degrees, and heaters in boat to thaw that mess. Dumped and changed oil, squirt some down cylinders and it was fine. This was not the first time engine got wet like this. Even my starter was fine. One thing I didnt do was pull the drive. Water got into bellows from inside boat and over time messed up upper seals. So pull yer drive and change yer oil. If it runs, yer fine.

 

[fireship1]

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

Michael, There's no way that the water got in from the oil pan. It's a sealed assembly. If water got in oil would be getting out....all in your bilge. On the other hand water could have into your carb, found it's way into your intake,sliped past your piston rings and gotten into the crankcase. From the way you described your engine cover it sounds like to me the water could have went in where you assumed it did. The only thing that bothers me about that theory is that water usually will get into the cylinder and hydrolock the motor making it unable to start. It usually will stay there sealed by the piston rings. I would pull the plugs and see if you have any water in the cylinders. I would also drain and refill the oil. You need to get that water out of there. Not only can it freeze, but it will rust the hell out of your crankshaft and bearings. After the oil is changed run the engine for a while and see how the oil looks. If it starts to milk up on you again you have a freeze crack somewhere in the head or the block. Sounds like you winterized OK to me. I usually do the same thing, Drain block and manifolds, replace plugs, fill T-stat housing. Doing the same thing for ten years and never had a problem. Let us know how you make out. Good luck and keep posting!

 

[affa]

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

Hi<br />I have a float switch that starts the bilge pump when the water comes up to the bottom of the oil pan. <br />Regards<br />Affa

 

[sylvan22offshore]

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

Actually I was thinking about the oil pan gasket that the water may have entered, but as i was reading about how water can get into the intake and into the clynders,I remembered on my boat the intakes are facing aft and are located aft. I had my boat in the covered slip nose in first, water could have enter that way as well through the intakes . Thanks for the imput guys makes me feel much better. Atleast I know I winterized properly! And I'm not the first to flood a boat! I will get that oil out last thing I need is internal rust. Just hope no cracked block!! I'll let you know.

 

[mikemh]

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

Had this happen to my 140. Was told rear main will keep oil in but will not keep water out.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

Did the Water Level get Up to the end of the Dip Stick ??????????

 

[sylvan22offshore]

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

Water could have gotten up to the main seal but it was not up to the dipstick. Im going to the lake to pull it out of the slip in the morning, trailer it and bring it home. Im going to drain the old oil out and put new in and run it with the hose attachment to see what i have. Im sure I will have to change the oil a few times to get all the water out. I was thinking one positive is that when I ran the boat"for bout an hour" before I dicovered the milky oil, the oil level was normal. That tells me that water was not likely being pumped into the block or head the level would have been high in that case I think, and it may also mean that perhaps it wasnt much water introduced into the oil. If I sound like a guy thats trying to convence himself its not the block thats because i am!!!!

 

[sylvan22offshore]

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

OOOOOOK, The water level is down cant get my boat out of the water, but im not givin up im going to get one of those pumps so that i can pump the oil out from the top side of the motor. I will just have to test her where she sits.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

Since the water level got up so high, be sure to remove the starter, clean out whatever water remains in the flywheel housing, and send that starter out for rebuilding. Otherwise you will have a very expensive ball of rust that will not start the motor come springtime.

 

[sylvan22offshore]

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

I'll pull the starter thanks!

 

[sea wolf]

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

i had the same situation last summer on my 3.0 omc, 140 h.p. had a lot of rain with bilge filling up & water up over the oil pan & starter. after pumping the bilge, i also ran the boat for about a 1/2 hr. before i discovered what had happened. i pumped out a least 4 gallons of water from the pan. i changed the oil 3 times & flushed out a new oil filter with some old oil that i had. i ran the engine for a couple minutes between oil changes to help flush out all of the water. this happened last july, & i ran the boat till mid september with no problems, not even with the starter. but, i do plan to have it rebuilt this spring. i'm sure, but not positive that the water seeped in through the oil pan gasket.

 

[sylvan22offshore]

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

its snowing here near charlotte nc right now. it will be this comming up weekend before i get up there to my boat, im going to look at the differnt types of oil change pumps, I will have one before the weekend. its not the best way to get the water/oil out im sure but, im thinking that if i can get 95% of the oil out with a pump ill pull the oil pan drain plug and drain it into a small pan, theres not much room under there! remember the boat is stuck in its slip for now the water is down can't fill my bilge up with oil. <br />Thank you all for the imput!!! I will keep you informed, after reading other stories on here i like to know the out come so i will do the same. <br />i get alot of my parts at auto zone , advance, NAPA, ect. for my motor a "1970 nova 4cly = a 140 hp mercruiser". i need a new thremostat and thermo gasket is that ok in this case? Oh backing my boat into the covered slip is so much better its a cuddy cabin so the bow is much better to get wet than aft! more of a challange to get it in the slip though.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

Your 140 is not a Chevy automotive block, but a GM industrial engine that is cast in Mexico, and it's been around since the early '60s. The older 120hp stern drives used the 153 cubic inch Chevy car block.<br /><br />Be aware that electrical and fuel components are not the same as car stuff. For safey and to comply with Federal regulations, those parts have to be certified and tested to prevent sparks and explosions and fuel items to withstand a 2.5 min. fire test.

 

[mercrewser]

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

I would change the oil once. Any other moisture will evaporate under load. I highly doubt youll have any problems. Change it and run the engine under load for a half hour or so. Just do it NOW.

 

[outboardguy]

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

Re: 140 merc water in oil, lots of rain engine sat in water

First of all your water most likely entered the engine through the front and rear engine seals,as they are one way seals made only to keep oil in.Second running the engine was the worst thing you could do,The water was perfectly fine at the bottom of the pan. It would have been easy to suck out the water when it is seperated.(worst case pan rust out) but since you ran it now there is a water/oil mixture in the engine bearings rusting out your crankshaft.If I were you I'd suck the oil out of the top and refill it with fresh oil, then run the hell out of it so the oil will boil out any excess water.Lastly you cannot buy a thermostat and gasket for your engine at autozone because car thermostats are 190 degrees and boat thermostats are 160 degrees.