Fishermark
Vice Admiral
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2003
- Messages
- 5,617
At least we were able to get some fishing in before getting towed in! 
<br /><br />Went offshore about 15 miles yesterday and had some bumpy seas coming in. As we came into the pass I noticed the engine seemed to lose power - subtle at first, but then within a minute or two of first noticing the problem it would barely run. We thankfully made it into the calmer waters of the inlet before the engine died. I pulled the hatch open and water was way up in the bilge - so much so that it splashed around the engine and got everything wet. The engine refused to start again. So we were towed back to the ramp. (This is in a 24' Sportcraft with a 2003 Mercruiser 5.7 liter engine and Alpha one outdrive).<br /><br />After getting home and drying things off, the engine ran but poorly. I pulled the dipstick and noticed little droplets of water on the dipstick - but the oil wasn't milky. I drained the oil and it looks like water was in it - but again, not mixed, just at the bottom of the pan. I pulled one of the plugs and it had no water, and looked good - nice and tan.<br /><br />I haven't had time to get back at it, but will put new oil and filter in it this afternoon. I will also change the fuel /water separator. I guess I need to know if there is anything else I should do? I have heard of engines hydrolocking, but since mine spins over fine I don't have to worry about that right? I'm concerned about how the water got into the crankcase - any thoughts? The flapper assembly in the exhaust is new (with the engine) - less than a year old, about 65 hours altogether.<br /><br />PS -- The problem with the water in the bilge is that my bilge pump wasn't working in automatic mode - I was able to put it on manual and pump the water out - that's something else I will have to fix!
<br /><br />Went offshore about 15 miles yesterday and had some bumpy seas coming in. As we came into the pass I noticed the engine seemed to lose power - subtle at first, but then within a minute or two of first noticing the problem it would barely run. We thankfully made it into the calmer waters of the inlet before the engine died. I pulled the hatch open and water was way up in the bilge - so much so that it splashed around the engine and got everything wet. The engine refused to start again. So we were towed back to the ramp. (This is in a 24' Sportcraft with a 2003 Mercruiser 5.7 liter engine and Alpha one outdrive).<br /><br />After getting home and drying things off, the engine ran but poorly. I pulled the dipstick and noticed little droplets of water on the dipstick - but the oil wasn't milky. I drained the oil and it looks like water was in it - but again, not mixed, just at the bottom of the pan. I pulled one of the plugs and it had no water, and looked good - nice and tan.<br /><br />I haven't had time to get back at it, but will put new oil and filter in it this afternoon. I will also change the fuel /water separator. I guess I need to know if there is anything else I should do? I have heard of engines hydrolocking, but since mine spins over fine I don't have to worry about that right? I'm concerned about how the water got into the crankcase - any thoughts? The flapper assembly in the exhaust is new (with the engine) - less than a year old, about 65 hours altogether.<br /><br />PS -- The problem with the water in the bilge is that my bilge pump wasn't working in automatic mode - I was able to put it on manual and pump the water out - that's something else I will have to fix!
