Return to the home page...

Go Back   Moyer Marine Atomic 4 Community - Home of the Afourians > Discussion Topics > Troubleshooting

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1   IP: 172.58.157.214
Old 07-06-2021, 09:35 AM
Airshac Airshac is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11
Thanks: 6
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Milky oil. :(

So in a car I’d say well the head gasket is the primary suspect. Can I assume the same with this engine? I read on another thread about the gasket replacement and it doesn’t sound too hard, I am a mechanic by trade. Anything I should be aware of particularly with this engine?
I’ll keep researching on my own, just looking for advice from anyone with experience.
Thanks!
Edited to add, yes I did overhear the engine . Sometimes my own stupidity surprises me. The engine ran with out water. I checked the water pump afterwards and the impellers were still in good shape. I didn’t have the seacocks open and ran for about 45 minutes.
Attached Images
 

Last edited by Airshac; 07-06-2021 at 09:58 AM. Reason: Additional info
Reply With Quote
  #2   IP: 104.174.83.118
Old 07-06-2021, 10:08 AM
ndutton's Avatar
ndutton ndutton is offline
Afourian MVP
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Torrance, CA
Posts: 9,619
Thanks: 198
Thanked 2,208 Times in 1,425 Posts
I'd start with two tests before taking things apart, a compression test and a water jacket pressure test. The combination of the two tests may (not guaranteed) give an indication of where the incursion happened. If it was indeed the head gasket the compression test should indicate it. If it was the water jacket, water pump or manifold the compression test will be good and the water jacket pressure test will fail. In the meantime, squirt some oil into the spark plug holes and turn the engine over regularly, even daily if you can. Wherever the water came from it can wreak havoc if things rust up and the repair will become much bigger.

Once this is behind us, do you have a plan so the oversight never happens again?
__________________
Neil
1977 Catalina 30
San Pedro, California
prior boats 1987 Westsail 32, 1970 Catalina 22
Had my hands in a few others

Last edited by ndutton; 07-06-2021 at 10:24 AM.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to ndutton For This Useful Post:
TimBSmith (07-08-2021)
  #3   IP: 165.225.20.156
Old 07-06-2021, 11:45 AM
Surcouf's Avatar
Surcouf Surcouf is offline
Afourian MVP, Professor Emeritus
 
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 361
Thanks: 328
Thanked 163 Times in 123 Posts
so if cars had their exhausts mixing exhaust gases and cooling water... we would see milky oil more often

Milky oil could also be a sign from water back flowing to the engine due to wrong exhaust lift design, extended cranking without closing the water inlet valve etc..

As mentioned above, pressure testing of the cooling water circuit (manifold + head) will rule out the gasket, and should be done first.
good luck
__________________
Surcouf
A nostalgic PO - Previously "Almost There" - Catalina 27 (1979)
Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Surcouf For This Useful Post:
Sam (07-06-2021)
  #4   IP: 108.79.1.46
Old 07-06-2021, 05:23 PM
jbsoukup's Avatar
jbsoukup jbsoukup is offline
Afourian MVP
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: chicago
Posts: 148
Thanks: 0
Thanked 12 Times in 9 Posts
make sure your anti-siphon loop is functional.
__________________
john
'77 catalina 30 #783
the only way to be sure is to make sure
Reply With Quote
  #5   IP: 198.254.213.37
Old 07-08-2021, 07:58 AM
Trinity Trinity is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 1
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Milky Oil

I too have milky oil. I'm not great with computers and can't figure out how to begin a new post so if it is okay I jumped in on this post as I have similar issues with my oil. I spoke on the phone with Ken at Moyer Marine for probably 30 minutes about what to do. Based on the info I gave him he suggested I do repeated oil changes. ( I believe this was primarily because the oil level wasb't really increasing on the dipstick other than the very first time before the first oil change when it was actually 3X higher on the dipstick above the full line.)
Ken said it could take up to 10 oil changes to get the water residue out of the engine. I have now done 10 consecutive oil changes, and still have greyish milky oil. I have also taken the sea water pump off twice to inspect, replaced the impeller (which was actually in good shape) and pressure tested the pump with a bicycle pump and gauge. I also pressure tested the exhaust system at 20 lbs (albeit while the engine was cold). I isolated just the exhaust manifold for one pressure test and for the second I plugged the water intake hose and connected the air pump to the hose leading from the exhaust manifold. In all cases the closed system held at 20 lbs. I'm just wondering if anyone has suggestions on what I can do next to get to the bottom of the water in my oil? Would it be okay to try "K seal" in the exhaust system to try and plug any holes that might be in the exhaust manifold by building a closed system with hoses from the water inlet and outlet and a 5 gallon pail of water and "K seal" to be flushed through the exhaust system?
Thank you as I'm both new to this forum and a new sailboater with a 1971 CnC Corvette with a 30 hp atomic four.
Reply With Quote
  #6   IP: 174.109.127.188
Old 07-08-2021, 08:08 AM
Airshac Airshac is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11
Thanks: 6
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by ndutton View Post
I'd start with two tests before taking things apart, a compression test and a water jacket pressure test. The combination of the two tests may (not guaranteed) give an indication of where the incursion happened. If it was indeed the head gasket the compression test should indicate it. If it was the water jacket, water pump or manifold the compression test will be good and the water jacket pressure test will fail. In the meantime, squirt some oil into the spark plug holes and turn the engine over regularly, even daily if you can. Wherever the water came from it can wreak havoc if things rust up and the repair will become much bigger.

Once this is behind us, do you have a plan so the oversight never happens again?
Thanks for the input, I’ll do those checks before moving further. As far as never happening again, yeah this won’t happen again! I learned my lesson the hard way.
Reply With Quote
  #7   IP: 104.174.83.118
Old 07-08-2021, 09:20 AM
ndutton's Avatar
ndutton ndutton is offline
Afourian MVP
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Torrance, CA
Posts: 9,619
Thanks: 198
Thanked 2,208 Times in 1,425 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Airshac View Post
Thanks for the input, I’ll do those checks before moving further. As far as never happening again, yeah this won’t happen again! I learned my lesson the hard way.
Moyer Marine offers a basic oil pressure and temperature alarm system (would have alerted you much earlier as the temperature rose beyond the trip point) that can be enhanced by their raw water flow sensor (would have alerted you immediately). Some forum members prefer to hang their ignition key on the raw water intake thru-hull valve handle when the boat is not in use as a reminder.
__________________
Neil
1977 Catalina 30
San Pedro, California
prior boats 1987 Westsail 32, 1970 Catalina 22
Had my hands in a few others
Reply With Quote
  #8   IP: 174.109.127.188
Old 07-09-2021, 10:52 AM
Airshac Airshac is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11
Thanks: 6
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Surcouf View Post

Milky oil could also be a sign from water back flowing to the engine due to wrong exhaust lift design, extended cranking without closing the water inlet valve etc..

As mentioned above, pressure testing of the cooling water circuit (manifold + head) will rule out the gasket, and should be done first.
good luck
I'm going to go with extended cranking with water inlets open.
After the overheating incident I did a compression check and all cylinders were fine there. I checked the oil for signs of head gasket damage and didn't see any signs of water contamination.

When i did find the milky oil was after the engine had sat for about a week and was a little hard to start. I didn't have my trusty can of starter fluid so I spent about 20 minutes cranking, letting it sit, cranking again, fiddling with the choke, etc till it finally fired up.

When I get back to the boat I'll do the pressure tests, change the oil and and start the engine with the water valves closed (sop from here on) and see how the oil looks afterwards.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
milky oil daveofds Overhaul 11 07-14-2018 08:51 PM
milky oil Pyth75 Troubleshooting 4 05-26-2014 01:33 AM
Milky oil; process of elimination Hymodyne Cooling System 22 05-30-2013 06:57 AM
Milky Oil manfredhilker Troubleshooting 6 08-18-2008 03:04 PM
Milky exaust discharge sailnut1 Cooling System 0 05-27-2007 11:25 AM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:20 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.


Universal® is a registered trademark of Westerbeke Corporation

Copyright © 2004-2024 Moyer Marine Inc.

All Rights Reserved