water in the oil

[lake winni 2000]

i have a 1980-1990 sea star it have the 4.3l in it its a 120hp stern drive and i was out on the water yesterday and the engine started making a ticking sound and so i stop and it seemed like the boat was over heating so i checked the engine oil and it was milky so i am wondering what that ticking sound would be from

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Not enough to go on,.....

If it was overheated, it coulda been the pistons hangin' up,.....
What did the heat gauge say,..??
Was the motor blisterin' Hot to touch,..??

1980, to 1990 was a long time to be buildin' a boat,....
'n the 4.3l is 175 hp to slightly over 200 hp,....
The 120 hp is an I-4 motor, 2.5l,.....

 

[wshekar]

I imagine it was the lifters ticking not getting oil in the top end. Need to figure out why there is water in the oil...cracked block?

 

[tpenfield]

i have a 1980-1990 sea star it have the 4.3l in it its a 120hp stern drive and i was out on the water yesterday and the engine started making a ticking sound and so i stop and it seemed like the boat was over heating so i checked the engine oil and it was milky so i am wondering what that ticking sound would be from

Welcome to iBoats . . .

Winni as in Winnipesaukee?

Ticking sound . . . possibilities are:
1) a bomb !!!
2) valve lifters flattening out from all that water in the oil. who puts water in their oil anyway

As for the water in the oil, did someone forget to winterize the engine last Fall