Water In Oil

[lutzinmn]

I was on Lake Superior the other day with my wife and noticed water on cuddy floor. It turned out the plug fell out and the boat was taking on water. The bilge pump was pumping but could not keep up. Anyways, I made it to a near by dock. I opened up the engine compartment to find a huge milky brown oil all over. I pulled the dipstick and the level was half way up the dip stick. I pumped out the oil and water from dip stick tube and then I was able to get to the drain plug underneath and I pulled that also. I let that drain overnight. Now I am not sure how to finish cleaning up the motor inside. Do I now add new oil and run motor to warm it up and drain again or what. Any of you know what steps I should be doing. I have not turned over the engine since yet. As far as I know the engine is still fine. I have a 1986 21 1/2 foot Thompson with a 230hp Mercruiser. Also the alternator is located towards lower part of engine and was under water. I assume this is salvagable with cleaning it out?
Not the way I wanted to remember my last ride of the season.

I would appreciate any help. Thanks.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Water In Oil

Why did you have water in the oil? shouldn't you figure that out first?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Water In Oil

It turned out the plug fell out and the boat was taking on water.

Which plug?

 

[lutzinmn]

Re: Water In Oil

The plug that goes in the transom drain hole. yes I have to find out how all the water got in there. That will be tough because almost half the engine was under. I am assuming I have a bad gasket somewhere.

 

[lutzinmn]

Re: Water In Oil

View attachment 116983

Attached is a picture of engine after I drained most of the compartment.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Water In Oil

The plug that goes in the transom drain hole. yes I have to find out how all the water got in there. That will be tough because almost half the engine was under. I am assuming I have a bad gasket somewhere.

Possibly.....water can get in pretty easily sometimes..... drain all the oil out of the engine and refill with clean oil and run it hard enough to get it fully up to temp.

Some indicate that you can dump in a little bit (cup or two) of diesel or kerosene to further dilute the oil or you could use 5W-30 for the "flush" oil to further emulsify the water in the oil so you can pump it all out.

Once you get the amount of water down to a low level the rest of it will evaporate out. You may have to change the oil a few times to get to that point.


Um, get yourself a BIGGER bilge pump too!!! forgetting the transom drain plug has sunk many a boat!!

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Water In Oil

Your alternator & possibly your starter are going to need to be redone or replaced. I got my starter wet once, it didn't quit right away but eventually it let me know it was done.

 

[lutzinmn]

Re: Water In Oil

Thanks for the help. I will start flushing tomorrow. I thought I would try adding seafoam to the oil to help with flush. The starter and alternator I will have to take apart and clean and hopefully that will keep anything from corroding.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Water In Oil

A cup of diesel is good advice. Marvel Mystery Oil will also work. Just keep draining and changing until it's all gone. I can be a long process but then so is a complete overhaul.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Water In Oil

Just about any solvent will probably work. SeaFoam, MMO, and other snake oils are just a mixture of Stoddard Solvent + mineral oil.

I wouldn't go out of my way to buy any of that stuff. If you have it you could use it to dilute your oil a little instead of killing weeds with it or starting your wood stove....

You could even use a little gasoline.....Gasoline has a history of oil dilution in aircraft engines that were operated in the norther tier. The pilot would pull a knob in the cockpit just before shutdown in very cold temps that would "dump" gasoline into the oil.

Here's an example:

Oil Dilution (Optional Equipment), If your airplane is equipped with an oil dilution system, and very low temperatures are
expected, dilute the oil before stopping the engine. Determine the dilution time required for the anticipated temperature
from the Oil Dilution Table. With the engine operating at 1,000 rpm, hold down the oil dilution switch button the necessary
time. Fuel will flow into the oil pump at the rate of I quart every 60 seconds. If more than one minute of dilution (one quart
of fuel) appears necessary to dilute the oil for the anticipated temperature, check the oil level before starting to dilute.
With a full sump, only one quart may be added without risk of overflow and its attendant fire hazard. To make room for
the additional fuel some oil must be drained before dilution. The table indicates the amount of oil to drain for various
dilution times. The total volume of fuel and oil must not exceed 9 quarts.

I am not sure I would want to do this in a boat with enclosed engine compartment. The gasoline could produce a vapor that could be ignitable in the compartment. If you did it on the trailer with the engine cover open and had plenty of ventilation it might be ok.

It'll probably be MUCH better if you use diesel, kerosene or one of the snake oils.....

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Water In Oil

If you want to flush the motor before new oil.... drain it, fill it to the tippy top (just under the carb) with diesel. Let it sit for a bit, crank with starter in 20 second intervals, waiting 2 min in between as to not fry the starter. Drain, fill with cheap oil of your chioce, run to operating temp....drain... repeat with your normal oil of choice. Run to normal interval

It?s hard on the bearings to run it on diluted oil. Just my opinion. This is the method of a friend who has a specialty boat shop. He has used it many times with much success.
Good luck!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Water In Oil

If you want to flush the motor before new oil.... drain it, fill it to the tippy top (just under the carb) with diesel. Let it sit for a bit, crank with starter in 20 second intervals, waiting 2 min in between as to not fry the starter. Drain, fill with cheap oil of your chioce, run to operating temp....drain... repeat with your normal oil of choice. Run to normal interval

It?s hard on the bearings to run it on diluted oil. Just my opinion. This is the method of a friend who has a specialty boat shop. He has used it many times with much success.
Good luck!

Ayuh,... If the base is Full to the tippy top with diesel,...
What do ya thinks gonna happen when the pistons come Down into all that diesel,..??

That's a really poor idea.....

The way to flush the base is, Change the oil, 'n fire it up, then run it to operating temps,'n let the water steam off, outa the oil...

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Water In Oil

If you want to flush the motor before new oil.... drain it, fill it to the tippy top (just under the carb) with diesel.

That would be MUCH harder on the bearings than just diluting the oil because you would effectively "wash" the oil out of the bearings and oil system and replace it with diesel (which has little or no lubricity by comparison)

Then when you cranked up the engine it would be like starting it with NO oil in the bearings.....that could possibly cause a seized bearing and ensuing mayhem!

And let me also add that while I offered that example of oil dilution, and many here have advocated using diesel, kerosene, MMO and other snake oils to dilute the oil, the best (and safest) way to remove water in the oil is to change the oil, run it, drain it and refill with oil.

If you want diluted oil use a lighter weight oil! (but use OIL!)

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Water In Oil

Ayuh,... If the base is Full to the tippy top with diesel,...
What do ya thinks gonna happen when the pistons come Down into all that diesel,..??

That's a really poor idea.....

The way to flush the base is, Change the oil, 'n fire it up, then run it to operating temps,'n let the water steam off, outa the oil...

Bond-o you are right it would just go "Click" with fluid on the top and bottom of the piston. I was typing faster than I was thinking.

Just the other day this Guy explained how he was doing this to a 250,000.00 twin engine boat that was 70% submerged for 3 days. He drained all the oil and water, filled to the top with diesel.
They have been sitting 3 weeks waiting for the bank and insurance to decide on repairs. He briefly told me about having done this several times. Thinking now I know he pulls plugs out, maybe manifolds off, fuel injection or carb removed. He did say Diesel shoots everywhere. He must also pull the drain plug and let most of it run out. I should have thought it thru a bit more... I got caught up in thinking about running a motor with diluted oil. My point is NOT to start a motor with diluted and or water contaminated oil.
Cranking over with a starter has very little force on the bearings. Actually running, even at idle, does.
As a side note the boat will prob total out. Over 100,000.00 In parts with out any labor. 496 merc. Electronic parts are crazy expensive.

 

[lutzinmn]

Re: Water In Oil

I completed 2 oil changes this evening. Engine seems to run okay. Oil is still a little milky but is getting better. I had to do the same with the power steering pump. I have the steering pump cleaned after 2 changes. Tomorrow I will be changing the oil a couple of more times.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Water In Oil

I completed 2 oil changes this evening. Engine seems to run okay. Oil is still a little milky but is getting better. I had to do the same with the power steering pump. I have the steering pump cleaned after 2 changes. Tomorrow I will be changing the oil a couple of more times.

Once you get it to the point where it's only a "little milky" take the boat out and run it at a cruise speed for a half hour or so.

Get it good and hot.

You'll evaporate the rest of the water out fairly quickly.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Water In Oil

Another $20.00 oil change is better on your internal parts than running long enough to burn off the water. Im sure opinions will vary! I cant believe folks would run oil that is a "little milky"

 

[Bondo]

Re: Water In Oil

Another $20.00 oil change is better on your internal parts than running long enough to burn off the water. Im sure opinions will vary! I cant believe folks would run oil that is a "little milky"

Ayuh,.... Do you change the oil every time you see snot in the valve cover, or do ya run it, 'n steam it off,..??

A couple of tablespoons of water will milk up several quarts of oil....

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Water In Oil

A little foam in the valve cover or under the cap from condinsation No

If i pull the dipstick and oil looks "a little milky" heck yes
Rod bearings will take a beating, long before water burns off.

Heck its a boat, something else will prob do it in before the internal parts wearing out, go for it! :facepalm:

 

[lutzinmn]

Re: Water In Oil

I did another oil change today. Looks really good now. I hope to take it out tomorrow and run it.