454 knocking noise and water in oil after sitting for 4 years

[JohnRP]

Hooked up to a garden hose stuck into the suction pump hose and started the motor for the first time in about 4 years, heard knocking/rattling noise. Shut it down, checked oil and looked for leaks, everything seemed fine other than the suction pump intake hose had a bunch of small leaks because it's old and I guess somewhat rotted. Ran it a few more times trying to trace the noise, seems louder near the exhaust manifolds, I put a crowbar against them and held it to my ear. I didn't notice the water in the oil until I went to put a new intake hose on it, there was milky oil around where the dipstick tube goes into the engine. Videos of the sound:

 

[alldodge]

water in the oil

Being water in the oil its rebuild or replace. In any case its time to pull the motor

 

[JohnRP]

Doesn't it depend on how the water is getting in? Like intake manifold or head could be replaced without pulling the motor and doing a complete rebuild.

 

[Scott Danforth]

rattling and water in oil.

both would say pull the motor

so how was the motor winterized 4 years ago.

 

[alldodge]

Never heard one that sounded like that, that didn't have some major problems.

Pull the drive and see if it quiets down. If it doesn't can start with exhaust and work your way into the motor. Need to get the water out before it starts rusting

 

[JohnRP]

rattling and water in oil.

both would say pull the motor

so how was the motor winterized 4 years ago.

I don't remember exactly but I assume I did it the same way I've done it for years. Normally I drain everything I can and then run 5 gallons of -50 antifreeze through it.

 

[JohnRP]

Never heard one that sounded like that, that didn't have some major problems.

Pull the drive and see if it quiets down. If it doesn't can start with exhaust and work your way into the motor. Need to get the water out before it starts rusting

Yeah I'll drain the oil and water. I doubt the drive has anything to do with it, sound is definitely in the motor, plus the oil and water situation which doesn't involve the drive. I'm looking to sell it anyway, wasn't expecting this surprise, looks like it will be going for cheap as a mechanic's special since I don't have the time or inclination to dig into it too much. Was hoping maybe I was missing something simple and obvious but wasn't counting on it.

 

[Scott Danforth]

advertise with a bad motor

 

[JohnRP]

Of course, I'll list everything I know and link the videos.

 

[JohnRP]

I drained the oil and water, reached under the motor and just barely got a wrench on the drain plug, got about 2 quarts of water and about 4 gallons of oil/water mix. Thinking about reasonable ways to preserve the motor on the chance it can be rebuilt in case no one wants it before winter. What would be the long term effects of whatever remaining emulsified oil and water? Probably not a good idea to keep running it to circulate new oil considering the knocking, though I suppose a short run with the water suction pump and circulator pump belts disconnected and no water would be OK. Could I pump new oil in using the remote oil filter hoses? Any other ideas? Put in something other than oil first?

 

[alldodge]

Run a short time with no water would be good to get oil on everything. Don't know if it would be worth it without disassembly

 

[JohnRP]

What do you think the least amount of oil I could use for the oil pump to pick it up for a brief run to flush out the old oil and water? 3-4qts? Cheapest filter I could find so far is Fram PH30 at $3.88 from Amazon which cross references to the Sierra 18-7824 on the motor.

 

[alldodge]

Unable to say for certain, but could remove the distributor and use a drill to run the pump. Add a bit, run the drill a bit. This will pump the oil thru until you see if coming out the rockers, then keep it going for a bit Could even use the old oil filter so long as its good and drained of water first.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Fill entire engine with 3-4 gallons of used oil

 

[tank1949]

Hooked up to a garden hose stuck into the suction pump hose and started the motor for the first time in about 4 years, heard knocking/rattling noise. Shut it down, checked oil and looked for leaks, everything seemed fine other than the suction pump intake hose had a bunch of small leaks because it's old and I guess somewhat rotted. Ran it a few more times trying to trace the noise, seems louder near the exhaust manifolds, I put a crowbar against them and held it to my ear. I didn't notice the water in the oil until I went to put a new intake hose on it, there was milky oil around where the dipstick tube goes into the engine. Videos of the sound:

4 years is a long time. I hope you used a distributor tool to prime motor? Water might be from condensation. It doesn't take much to really look nasty and scary! Knocking or exhaust leak??

 

[JohnRP]

4 years is a long time. I hope you used a distributor tool to prime motor? Water might be from condensation. It doesn't take much to really look nasty and scary! Knocking or exhaust leak??

4 gallons is not from condensation. Sounds like knocking/rattling. Didn't prime motor, took some cranking to get it to start so that should have primed the oil somewhat.

 

[JohnRP]

Could even use the old oil filter so long as its good and drained of water first.

Good idea. I drained it and rinsed it with some old gas I had.

 

[JohnRP]

Fill entire engine with 3-4 gallons of used oil

Just so happens a buddy of mine had some almost new engine oil and hydraulic fluid that got mixed when the hydraulic pump on his tractor blew a seal and pumped the fluid into the motor. I put about a quart in with the drain plug out to try and push out anything remaining in the pan, put the plug back in and the cleaned oil filter back on and put about 7 qts of oil in and started the motor without the pump belts on and no water. Had good oil pressure and checked the oil after a minute, looked like new oil on the dipstick. Ran it another minute or so, still looks good. I'll run it a bit more then drain it and get some new oil and new filter.