A4 after water intrusion!

[Pgnorthatlantic]

Hi, hoping that someone out there could help me out.
My bildge took on water through keel (thats repair is underway)
My float switch failed and marina had to pump out boat (catalina 30)
Water probably came midway up engine block.
Water was full of oil, water has been drained and cabin sole cleaned.
Now I assume I have to take some things apart on engine, clean and change fluids.
Could anyone provide a checklist of things to go through?
Thank you!
Pete

I feel like a mosquito in a nudist colony...I dont know where to begin!?
~Denesh DaSouza

[Dave Neptune]

Denesh: a lot depends on how hi the water came up on the engine.

First drain the oil and do not turn the engine!!! If the water did not get to the "manifold" the cylinders and valves should be OK. AGAIUN DO NOT TURN YET!!!!

If the starter was submerged get it rebuilt~don't bother messing with it!

Can give more info but need to know what was submerged.

If the carb was submerged remove and place in a bucket of soapy water until ready to completely clean. This will help with oxidation deposits and salt deposits until they are removed via a tear down.

Just give an idea of the water line on the block or even post a photo.

This is no biggie if you get after it right away~save the motor first.

Dave Neptune

[Peter]

Pete,

This situation occurred with my engine - over a winter! It must have sat full of water for quite some time.

Drained oil - refilled oil - started engine - ran it for a solid 20 minutes.
Drained oil - refilled oil - started engine - ran it for a solid 20 minutes.
Drained oil - refilled oil - started engine - ran it for a solid 20 minutes.

By the third time the oil stopped turning milky white and I left it at that for a while. Monitored the oil pretty carefully and changed it somewhat sooner than I otherwise might have.

Mechanic who assisted me seemed deathly afraid of the engine getting "flash rust" so we did the initial drain-refill-run as quickly as possible.

Hope that helps,

Peter

PS - Dave knows a heck of a lot more about these beasties than I do - heed his advice.

[Pgnorthatlantic]

Thank you guys so much,
I will get some pics when I get down to boat,
But first thing I will do is drain oil and refil.
Not sure how to get it drained, should I get one of those fluid pumps?
The PO has this hose assembmy on board not sure what he used it for
But I will take a pic.
In meantime I will search forums for oil change procedures

A thousand thanks for helping me get the ball rolling!!!

[Dave Neptune]

Denesh, the most common way of draining is to "suck" it out through the dipstick.

In your case since the engine has not run or spun with the water you can just suck the water out from under it and use the remaining oil for the first "start". The oil will float on top of the water just fine. I have done this more than a few times.

When you are ready to start the beastie, with the remaining oil add a couple of table spoons of dish soap as it will help the oil to emulsify the water making it easier to remove.

Dave Neptune

[Dave Neptune]

Part II, keep track of how much water you get out from under the oil too.

Dave Neptune

[Pgnorthatlantic]

Dave can I keep you posted as I progress?
First thing I need to do is get fluid extractor.
Will the kind from autozone work any good?
Got laid off this week, so im trying not to have to spend $100 on the west marine pump, but I will surely in the future.
Better Days will come!

Thank you!
And thanks to you also Peter!

[Pgnorthatlantic]

(I was planning to buy a pump anyway to change the front diff fluid on my jeep)

[sastanley]

Any kind of fluid extractor will work. On a gas engine boat, IMO, the manual type are preferred to avoid spark/ignition problems related to using a battery. The West marine one is pricey but you can find cheaper ones on the Internet. West Marine does not make anything themselves, they source and upcharge. I think most of the WM extractors are Mityvac, which you can also get on Amazon.
One of these 'bicycle pump on steroids' style extractor pumps will pay for itself over and over again once you invest in it (I realize $$ is tight), but as you noted you can use it for your Jeep, etc.

[Pgnorthatlantic]

Mityvac.
Thanks Shawn!

[Pgnorthatlantic]

I would hate to order online and wait for shipping,
do any local stores carry these pumps?

[Brent W]

to remove oil

for changing the oil, I got the "multi use transfer pump" from Harbor Freight

https://www.harborfreight.com/multi-use-transfer-pump-66418.html

It has a small black extension hose that fits down the dipstick hole. I stuck a piece of stainless wire about 8 inches up the tube and used that to keep it straight to reach the bottom.

While you have the carburetor off, install the MMI oil change kit! I just did and it was easy!

Sorry about your misfortune!

[JOHN COOKSON]

. I stuck a piece of stainless wire about 8 inches up the tube and used that to keep it straight to reach the bottom.

I know the drill.
I took a section of aluminum tubing that I had laying around and cut an X across the bottom to improve flow attached the hose to the pump to the other end. This way I know that I'm as deep down into the trany as I can get.

TRUE GRIT

[joe_db]

West Marine has the extractors. Amazon ships pretty fast too
You need to get this done ASAP! When a friends Pearson 30 sank, the boat was salvaged in a couple of days and it was not even an hour between the boat surfacing and the A4 being run. No harm at all to the engine.

The oil and water do separate too. I had a powerboat with a water leak that would gain about half a gallon of water in a few days in the engine. We used to put a dish under the engine, loosen the oil drain, and pure water would come out. When oil started coming out we tightened the plug and started her up.

[Pgnorthatlantic]

for changing the oil, I got the "multi use transfer pump" from Harbor Freight

https://www.harborfreight.com/multi-use-transfer-pump-66418.html

It has a small black extension hose that fits down the dipstick hole. I stuck a piece of stainless wire about 8 inches up the tube and used that to keep it straight to reach the bottom.

While you have the carburetor off, install the MMI oil change kit! I just did and it was easy!

Sorry about your misfortune!

Thank you!! I was getting just beginning to get familiar with my A4 when all this occurred. I think I may have the oil change kit, I will look.
I will take some pics.
Thanks a mil !