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Our A4 is not starting. This is the story:
It started with the engine dying a few months ago on the way to the starting line for a race. When we got back to the slip and checked it out, we found that we had seawater in the oil. The grey goo had foamed up and spilled out of the crankcase breather into the spark arrestor and then into the carburetor, which killed the motor.
A couple of days later, we tried to remove the grey goo (water and oil mixture). It was too thick for our oil change pump. With research on the Moyer Marine community forum, we figured out how to thin the nasty grey goo and were successful at removing it, after which we replaced the oil twice. We also found out the most likely water access to the crankcase was the seawater pump. We removed the pump and sure enough the weep holes were blocked. We ordered a new pump. We also tested the compression, which was good.
After we installed the seawater pump, we tried to start the engine – we got it going but just barely. We couldn’t get the engine to throttle up – the carburetor must be full of the grey goo. We removed the carburetor. We had a new carburetor (we had a second) and attached it, but couldn’t get the engine to turn over anymore. We also discovered an exhaust leak, which we removed and rebuilt the exhaust system. We also destroyed the starter trying to start the engine – it was a very old starter. We bought a new one from Moyer. We also decided to rebuild both of our carburetors.
We were very excited to attach our new rebuilt carburetors (we tried both) and tried to start the engine. We had a new seawater pump, starter, spark plugs, exhaust and carb, but It still will not start! We had good spark at each cylinder – everything was correct, but no go! So, we checked the compression again – bingo! No compression in cylinder 2, 3, or 4 – Ok in 1. We are now thinking the valves are stuck open in those three cylinders! With all the seawater and goo in the system, we think they may have gotten stuck between all the time it took to buy the parts, rebuild the carburetors, and the COVID-19 mess. It’s been a three plus month ordeal.
The engine was rebuilt with Moyer's help and parts about 11 years ago by us and has run fantastic all this time.
Our question is: What do we do now?
Thank you,
Sincerely,
Warren Casey and Ed Burnett
It started with the engine dying a few months ago on the way to the starting line for a race. When we got back to the slip and checked it out, we found that we had seawater in the oil. The grey goo had foamed up and spilled out of the crankcase breather into the spark arrestor and then into the carburetor, which killed the motor.
A couple of days later, we tried to remove the grey goo (water and oil mixture). It was too thick for our oil change pump. With research on the Moyer Marine community forum, we figured out how to thin the nasty grey goo and were successful at removing it, after which we replaced the oil twice. We also found out the most likely water access to the crankcase was the seawater pump. We removed the pump and sure enough the weep holes were blocked. We ordered a new pump. We also tested the compression, which was good.
After we installed the seawater pump, we tried to start the engine – we got it going but just barely. We couldn’t get the engine to throttle up – the carburetor must be full of the grey goo. We removed the carburetor. We had a new carburetor (we had a second) and attached it, but couldn’t get the engine to turn over anymore. We also discovered an exhaust leak, which we removed and rebuilt the exhaust system. We also destroyed the starter trying to start the engine – it was a very old starter. We bought a new one from Moyer. We also decided to rebuild both of our carburetors.
We were very excited to attach our new rebuilt carburetors (we tried both) and tried to start the engine. We had a new seawater pump, starter, spark plugs, exhaust and carb, but It still will not start! We had good spark at each cylinder – everything was correct, but no go! So, we checked the compression again – bingo! No compression in cylinder 2, 3, or 4 – Ok in 1. We are now thinking the valves are stuck open in those three cylinders! With all the seawater and goo in the system, we think they may have gotten stuck between all the time it took to buy the parts, rebuild the carburetors, and the COVID-19 mess. It’s been a three plus month ordeal.
The engine was rebuilt with Moyer's help and parts about 11 years ago by us and has run fantastic all this time.
Our question is: What do we do now?
1. Should we first remove the valve cover and then the head to see if we can get the valves un-stuck?
2. Will using penetrating oil or MMO loosen the valves?
3. Can we unstick the valves from behind the valve cover or is it better from the top under the head?
4. Or is there another problem we can't think of?
2. Will using penetrating oil or MMO loosen the valves?
3. Can we unstick the valves from behind the valve cover or is it better from the top under the head?
4. Or is there another problem we can't think of?
Thank you,
Sincerely,
Warren Casey and Ed Burnett
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