HELP Water in engine cylinders

[Guest]

Foolishly I used a mains water supply directly into the seawater intake to run the 3cyl diesel in my yacht; I needed to heat the oil before changing it. Forgot to switch off the water when I stopped the engine and only realised after the oil change when I went back down the ladder, and saw water trickling out of the exhaust. I think I may have filled the entire exhaust and then back up the manifold into the cylinders.
Had to leave the boat to come home so I've not done anything such as try to start the engine. What do I do to determine if there is water in the cylinders and was do I do if there is???

 

[DepSol]

DO NOT TRY TO START IT. Get water out somehow then a light spray of T9.

Need to clear out engine oil once motor running.

Dom

I am boating again ;-)

 

[tr7v8]

As Dom says DON'T TRY STARTING IT!

Remove the injectors, I assume it's not a Volvo where you need special tools.
Dip oil if oil is milky then water is in the sump and youl'll need an oil change before you start it.
Turn engine over by hand with a rag over the injector holes, then spin with starter.
Squirt light engine oil WD40, B9 or whatever is oily down each injector hole & spin over again, now replace injectors and turn by hand with a spanner or whatever, then try starting it. Once started and assuming no funny noises then run until throughly warm.


Jim
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[snowleopard]

is it a yanmar?

if so you could use the valve lifters then crank by hand. in any case i advise getting the water out of the cylinders asap as it can damage valves and injector nozzles if left

 

[Guest]

Thank you both for your advice. I thought I would have to take the head off but if it is possible to expel any water via the injector ports then that seems easier. The engine is a Bukh.
Would I be correct in thinking that if the oil is not milky and I could turn the engine over by hand with the decompression lever engaged then there is probably no water in the cylinders and it would be ok to start it up??

 

[tr7v8]

Yes if it has decompressors then, decompress it turn it over, then back to start position decomp deactivated and turn by hand, if it turns like this then you should be OK.

If this is unclear ring me I've PM'd my no.

Jim
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[scottie]

check and consider changing the impeller and seals in the water pump as the water has got past the impeller to reach the exhaust

 

[Guest]

I drove my car through a flood without knowing the air intake was only 250mm above the road. (Peugeot 406) The engine was stopped by the water. All I did was remove the air intake, disconnect the turbo and take out the injectors. turning over the engine then cleared the cylinders. I then drove out of the flood using the starter. After refitting the injectors the engine started and blew out the turbo. Once the turbo was refitted the motor ran well for another 50,000Km. If I had some WD40 I would have sprayed a little of this into each of the cylinders. I have worked on a number of Bukt engines and they are some of the most robust units I have ever seen. I dont think you should have any more problems. Remember life is a learning experience. I now check where the air goes into my engine, before I attempt to drive through floods! ALLAN

 

[Guest]

Good News! Went down this morning and was able to turn engine over with hand crank, but could hear water sloshing around somewhere, so concluded engine was not hydraulically locked. Decompressed and turned over by hand and then with starter which expelled water into exhaust. Oil was clear but level was up so I reckon water had been in cylinders but leaked down into sump.
Got engine started, hurrah, and, sucking water out of a BUCKET, ran for a couple of minures ; all ok on all 3 cylinders. Oil now very ensulified so pumped out - difficult because oil was very cold after a bit of frost last night and changed the oil. Will run and change oil again tomorrow.

Many many thanks to all of you who replied and gave me the confidence to proceed with caution.

 

[Johnjo]

Remember many years ago had a boat with a 2.2 b.m.c. in it,kept it on a
tidal berth,was'nt self draining or anything like that, use to go down to it every so often to let the rain and water from the leaks it had out through a
bung fitted in the bottom,only on this occasion got chatting and forgot to
replace it,awful sight just to see the top of the cabin roof above water when
the tide came in! remember leaving the water in the engine till the startermotor had been washed in some kind of solvent which displaces water and
dried in the oven on a low heat with the door ajar,was told to leave water in the engine to stop it from oxidising internally until ready to start,drained the
engine of water by taking plug out of the sump also the gearbox,removed the injectors turned it over by hand ,then spun it on the starter which I shorted across as all the ignition was knackered stuck some flushing oil in the pots
spun it over again to blow it out ,topped up the sump with flushing oil,
replaced and bled the injectors,turned it over on the starter again with the fuel off,starter struggled because of the higher compression at first,
fuel back on,started straight away,ran it for a few minutes then drained flushing oil replaced with good stuff,engine was still going strong when i
sold the boat 3-4 years later, probably done it all wrong,but was young and broke then,now older, still broke,
mike