milky oil/gunge in rocker/valve covers v6 4.3 mercruiser 1998

[henry1357]

Re: milky oil/gunge in rocker/valve covers v6 4.3 mercruiser 1998

Hi do you know the exact procedure to do this as in the manual in earlier link it says to torque them down.

Just want to make sure I do them right if and when I do

Regards
Henry

 

[henry1357]

Re: milky oil/gunge in rocker/valve covers v6 4.3 mercruiser 1998

Ok have now dropped the oil and it is contaminated with a little water
Am presuming this was laying in bottom of sump as there was no sign of water on dipstick and oil level was correct

 

[Oshkosh1]

Re: milky oil/gunge in rocker/valve covers v6 4.3 mercruiser 1998

Don't know if you've read this...http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=533341&highlight=valve+lash.

There are BOTH "torque down" and adjustable rockers on the 4.3...Each has their own procedure, and are NOT interchangeable.

 

[henry1357]

Re: milky oil/gunge in rocker/valve covers v6 4.3 mercruiser 1998

Thanks for that info, makes sense now

Do you have any idea regarding my previous post

Regards
Henry

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: milky oil/gunge in rocker/valve covers v6 4.3 mercruiser 1998

put in fresh oil, run. if water comes back, it was a problem. if water does not come back, its condensation.

when you actually use the boat, how long is your normal trip?

 

[henry1357]

Re: milky oil/gunge in rocker/valve covers v6 4.3 mercruiser 1998

Hi
The boat has hardly been used since new , engine looks like new, I have owned the boat for 3 months and used for second time last week, first time was when I bought

It has been run for about an 30 mins to an hour each time I've used it, mostly just sitting and fishing

Seller had all service paperwork and reciepts for winterisation etc

Regards
Henry

 

[henry1357]

Re: milky oil/gunge in rocker/valve covers v6 4.3 mercruiser 1998

Hi
So to summarise my problem.

Just bought boat which has hardly been used from new, boat running perfectly noticed ticking noise on second outing.

Pulled oil filler cover and filled with milky gunge.

Checked dipstick and no sign of water and oil level is correct

Valve covers are thick with gunge,

Cleaned out rocker covers

Drained oil and there is some signs of water, slightly milky

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: milky oil/gunge in rocker/valve covers v6 4.3 mercruiser 1998

if during that half hour, your only idling, the engine does not get warm enough to burn off the moisture from the combustion process let alone any condensation that may have occurred.

put fresh oil back in the motor
do a compression check
if the compression checks out then run it - not idling, however a good cruise at about 3000 RPM for about a half hour, 45 minutes

if the oil shows no further signs of oil, then your issue is simply water vapor that has not been burned off yet

if the oil shows signs of water again, you have either leaking head gaskets, or a cracked block, manifold, or head from poor winterization.

 

[henry1357]

Re: milky oil/gunge in rocker/valve covers v6 4.3 mercruiser 1998

Ok thanks for input

Will be running boat on Friday will post results then

Thanks again everyone for all your help

Regards
Henry

 

[needsmoreboat]

Re: milky oil/gunge in rocker/valve covers v6 4.3 mercruiser 1998

Ok thanks for input

Will be running boat on Friday will post results then

Thanks again everyone for all your help

Regards
Henry

Please post the results. I just bought a used bought with a 97 5.7 mercury in it. We took two very short test drives and stupid me never checked the oil. It started and ran great and there was zero noise. Got it home and found oil milky on the stick and inside the valve covers. This is my first boat so I am in panic mode. I am very curious to see where you land with this since I may have the same issue. Thanks

Jeremy

 

[henry1357]

Re: milky oil/gunge in rocker/valve covers v6 4.3 mercruiser 1998

Hi everyone

Put fresh oil and filter in this morning and went out on the boat, all seems well, engine sounds great (ticking noise has gone).

All temps and pressures are fine, power fine and most importantly no sign of water in oil.

Will check again tomorrow and hopefully still ok.

Thanks for everyone's advise it's very much appreciated

Please post the results. I just bought a used bought with a 97 5.7 mercury in it. We took two very short test drives and stupid me never checked the oil. It started and ran great and there was zero noise. Got it home and found oil milky on the stick and inside the valve covers. This is my first boat so I am in panic mode. I am very curious to see where you land with this since I may have the same issue. Thanks

Jeremy

 

[needsmoreboat]

Re: milky oil/gunge in rocker/valve covers v6 4.3 mercruiser 1998

Hi everyone

Put fresh oil and filter in this morning and went out on the boat, all seems well, engine sounds great (ticking noise has gone).

All temps and pressures are fine, power fine and most importantly no sign of water in oil.

Will check again tomorrow and hopefully still ok.

Thanks for everyone's advise it's very much appreciated

Thank you for the update. I am completing all of that same work tonight and I am praying this is nothing major.

 

[henry1357]

Re: milky oil/gunge in rocker/valve covers v6 4.3 mercruiser 1998

I believe that the case with my boat was that it has had so little use by the previous owner, he had it serviced and winterised professionally every year but obviously didn't run it enough to get the oil up to temp and burn off any moisture

Hope your problem is nothing serious
Regards
Henry

 

[henry1357]

Re: milky oil/gunge in rocker/valve covers v6 4.3 mercruiser 1998

Hi everyone

Thought I had solved my problem but oil is back in valve covers, still none on dipstick.



Have only changed oil and filter once since first discovery of the gunge , do you think another oil change will sort It or am I clutching at straws.

Engine is running sweet with loads of power, temp and oil pressure is 175 and 40 lb

Any advise will be much appreciated

Regards
H

 

[Bondo]

Re: milky oil/gunge in rocker/valve covers v6 4.3 mercruiser 1998

Hi everyone

Thought I had solved my problem but oil is back in valve covers, still none on dipstick.



Have only changed oil and filter once since first discovery of the gunge , do you think another oil change will sort It or am I clutching at straws.

Engine is running sweet with loads of power, temp and oil pressure is 175 and 40 lb

Any advise will be much appreciated

Regards
H

Ayuh,.... I think ya gotta run it Longer, 'n Harder to steam off the condensation in the valve covers, 'n quit worrin', 'bout nothin'....

 

[henry1357]

Re: milky oil/gunge in rocker/valve covers v6 4.3 mercruiser 1998

Hi that's what I was hoping, but a guy in the boatyard has put doubt in my mind by saying ther is definitely something wrong.

Have only run at wot for a mine or two at a time the rest of the time was cruising at 3000 revs.

How long should I run the engine at wot to see if it burns off.

Also Starboard exhaust riser is getting hotter than port side, I'd this common

Thanks

Henry

 

[Git-R-Wet]

Re: milky oil/gunge in rocker/valve covers v6 4.3 mercruiser 1998

Ayuh,.... I think ya gotta run it Longer, 'n Harder to steam off the condensation in the valve covers, 'n quit worrin', 'bout nothin'....

Ok so i have a 1997 4.3 with the same issue but with it i was told by a shop that there is 0 compression in number 6. Was just going along all the sudden the motor started to knock and lost most power. any ideas of what might have happened?

 

[Don S]

Re: milky oil/gunge in rocker/valve covers v6 4.3 mercruiser 1998

You need to start a thread of your own, this thread belongs to henry1357.