1986 Mercruiser I/O Seal Fix - Need a solution - Leaking Coolant on inboard

[kevinstan]

My boat is currently with a friend that knows motors... I enjoy boating but I am not an engine person.... He has been doing the repairs on my boat for me and just called me to let me know the small leak I noticed was actually a seal leaking coolant. He said the whole engine would have to be taken out to replace it the correct way... He explained there was an inner seal, an outer seal, and a seal in the middle ? He said the boat can be ran but it will slowly leak coolant, and to be watching since the other seals could go bad as well... Since I am not an engine person I am asking on here for some advice: He quoted me $850 to fix it the right way *which I do not have right now....

1) Is the engine in fact safe to run this way? Since I dont have the funds to have it fixed... he depleted my funds doing everything else...

2) Is there any type of quick fix to remedy this and make the boat more operable or more safe to use for the summer without paying $850 to pull the engine and replace the seals?

I would greatly appreciate any help anyone can give me with this... Thank you to all in advance!

 

[zdeyonker]

In order to know the severity of the leak, or possible cost of repair, we would need to know where it is leaking from and what engine you have. Pictures would be great.

 

[kevinstan]

He currently still has the boat. It is a mercruiser 470 and it looks like the leak is coming from around the circulation pump. He said it was around the "cam" ?

 

[zdeyonker]

Ahh, that is quite an extensive repair then. It is a well documented problem and rather than type it all out, I'll include a full link if that works for you.

http://www.sterndrives.com/470_coolant_leak.html

Best practice is oil pan and front cover removal to insure all seals stay in good shape.

 

[stonyloam]

OK first off the engine DOES NOT need to come out if you have room to pull the rotor off of the crankshaft. You do not need to remove the oil pan. If you are careful you can save the gasket between cover and the pan, if not a new section of gasket material can be cut to fit. There are two seals, an inner and outer seal. Both seal on the camshaft to keep coolant out of the crankcase. The weep hole that is leaking coolant is between the two seals, so he is correct that the front seal has failed. The parts for the repair cost about $100, you need a gasket set for the covers, two camshaft seals and a oil seal for the crank, Spedisleeves to repair the camshaft sealing surfacing, if it is grooved, maybe some stuff to repair the pan gasket if needed. Lots of guys here have done this job, and it in not nearly as difficult as that link makes it out to be. Can you run it with the leak? Yes, but you run the risk of leaking coolant into the engine, and loss of coolant can cause an overheat, and you are leaking toxic antifreeze into the environment. It is best to get it fixed. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU TRY TO PLUG THE WEEP HOLE, THAT WOULD FORCE COOLANT INTO THE CRANKCASE! Come on back if you have any questions, lots of folks here to help.

 

[JerryIrons]

After having recently done this job myself, I will concur with what stony said. Ask your friend if there is enough room to pull the stator/rotor assembly off with a harmonic balancer remover, sometimes there isn't room for the tool or the rotor to pull off. If there is room, this job can be done without pulling the engine or removing the oil pan. If it is a small leak, you can probably run it for a while, but remember that the leak is only going to get worse, and once the 2nd seal goes you will then have coolant entering into the crankcase (where engine oil is), and that is not good at all.