sea water in engine oil

[maddever]

I've found my engine oil very milky and a possible leak in from my water pump on a bukh 20hp auxillary. How urgent is it to get the emulsion out of the motor ? I presume I can get some flushing oil to help remove it but it is Sunday here and I need to go to work tomorrow. What damage can I expect?

 

[alan8376]

Is the actual oil milky or is it only in the area around the filler cap or dip stick tube?
If it is in the oil, then flushing it is the least of your problems! Tracking the cause is first priority!

 

[cliff]

Change the seal at the back of the raw water pump, drain the sump and refill with the cheapest diesel lub oil you can find if you cannot get flushing oil, run engine up to temperature, drain and refill with your regular lub oil. Check your oil regularily for any signs of water / emulsion. If the emulsion is only in side the rocker cover it may be just lack of use and a good hot run will clear it but if the sump oil is milky fix the leak and change the oil.
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[Piers]

I agree with cliff. If using flushing oil, do not place the engine under load and limit how long you run it for (say 10 mins at fast idle) and repeat the exercise. The last flush should be made with the cheapest oil followed by the recommended oil when it's completely free of contaminent. It is vital to get the engine 'water free' as quickly as poss. The water in the oil can do great damage and very quickly.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Agree with all that has gone before, don't forget to change the oil filtre after the final flush or change. From memory the oil seal change on a Bukh engine raw water pump is simple. If you have time today drain your oil and change it for the cheapest you can get or whatever you can get, make arangements / plans for curing the problem, are you sure its the pump and not the head gasket, then proceed as advised. If you can not get oil havn't the time today do it as soon as possible presumably its been like it is since you last checked and another week will not make any difference.

Good luck

 

[EASLOOP]

Agree with others. Mine is a DV10ME. The water pump seal has a 'tell tale' in that you can see drips of water coming from the seal while the engine is running and before there is a catastrophic failure. Sounds like you may have a duff seal. If so, it is easy to change. Parts from Bukh and call them for advice on fitting. (just to make sure you do not put the seals in backwards!!!)

 

[maddever]

Many thanks for the advice. The difficult bit is getting the emulsion out as I can't get at the sump bung - the pump that came with the motor to remove the oil works fine when the oil is warm and water free but...

 

[michael_w]

Try heating the sump up with a fan heater. I've done this to make oil changes a bit easier, when ashore and in the winter.