Water in engine

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Rhapsode

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I have just got back to my boat after three months away. I started my engine checks and found six inches or so of water in the engine as measured by the dipstick. On further inspection it is clear that the water was put in via the oil filling cap.

At the moment I'm waiting for the marina owner to turn up to show him what one of his boys has done - almost certainly thinking he was topping up the cooling water.

As far as I know the engine has not been started and I suspect that the water has been there for three months.

How bad is this likely to be?

The engine has done about 300 hours and is a Volvo Penta D2-55F

Awaiting your thoughts with some trepidation!
 
As long as it hasn't got into the cylinders it should be fine. I'd get the water out as soon as possible, the issue is how you dry it out completely. A funnel in the dipstick hole and a hairdryer might work, don't use a hot air gun it's too hot. Does the sump have a drain? Unless anybody else has a better idea?
 
Why would anyone top up the cooling water? Did you ask for a service? Is it fresh or salt water?

I don't agree with KellysEye; if it was in the sump it's likely to have wetted the crankshaft bearings (though with all the oil about, It may not have caused any damage).

You'll have to drain out the oil, then put loads of flushing oil through, and turn the engine over many, many times, without starting it. Then there's still no guarantee you'll get it all out. Good luck.
 
I can pump the water out as though I'm doing an oil change but it is clear that it the oil has emulsified from the oil filler cap downwards. The top casing will have to come off but after that I'm out of my depth.
 
that's pretty shocking.
I'd be banking that all the water is sitting at the bottom of the sump.
Drain the sump, wait, fill oil, wait and redrain?
(Good luck with your conversation).
 
Hopefully this is fresh water put in by accident as you suspect and not salt water!

yes empty it out. There is drain plug on the opposite corner of the sump to the oil drain tube. I believe. It may be worth also removing that.

Allow a good while for it to drain fully.

Take the top cover off and mop up any pools of water if you wish. but I dont think there will be any

I doubt if drying out with a hair drier will be effective so refill it with cheap engine oil. Run it until warmed up well. Drain again. Change the oil filter and refill with the correct oil and if all looks good after a short run take it for a good long but gentle run.

If one flush does not seem to clear the water you may need to repeat it.

Finally I think I might cahnge the oil and filter again for good measure. Oil and Filters are cheap compared to major engine rebuilds

Not turbo charged is it?
 
Last edited:
Rhapsode said:
Thanks Elton - silly question but how do I turn over the engine without it starting?
Click to expand...
I don't know that engine, but if it has valve lifters, lift the valves, and you should be able to turn the engine over quite easilly with a ratchet socket wrench on the flywheel nut. Actually, if it has valve lifters, you can probably turn it over safely with the starter motor, but a wrench will be slower and safer. If it hasn't got valve lifters, I don't know :o
 
but it is clear that it the oil has emulsified from the oil filler cap downwards.
Click to expand...

That suggests that the engine may have been run. If it had not the water would simply have drained down to the sump and all be sitting under the oil.

StuJacksons advice might be the better way to go.
 
Thanks everyone,

I imagine it is fresh water.

To answer the main question - we had a couple of wavey days crossing to Brazil and water got into the engine compartment. This resulted in some corrosion on the starter motor / solenoid cables. When I attempted to remove them for cleaning I found them 'welded' to the solenoid so I asked the marina for a mechanic to do the job. The 'mechanic' duly came but broke the solenoid whilst he was attempting to do it. I then discovered that he was mainly a carpenter and general handy man for the marina.

I was booked on a flight home the next day so the the marina owner said he would supply and fit a new solenoid for me. This he did and sent me nice pics to prove it.

That's all I know for certain. It may be that the marina, to make amends, thought they would check over the rest of the engine. Or it may be that the handyman took it upon himself to play at mechanic. I don't suppose I shall ever know.

The next part of the problem is that I have very little time. A close relative has advanced cancer and I'm flying out tonight to be with her for her last days / weeks. Clearly this has to take priority over an engine. Since it has probably been three months since the water was put in I don't suppose that a few more weeks will make much difference if I can't get all done today. I don't really want to start until the boss has seen the state of the engine.

I should at least be able to drain the engine ifd I can find the plug.

P
 
elton said:
I don't know that engine, but if it has valve lifters, lift the valves,


If it hasn't got valve lifters, I don't know :o
Click to expand...


See anything that looks like valve lifters?

23168.jpg
 
SHORT TERM

Check to see if the engine is seized. DO NOT TURN IT OVER ON THE STARTER! Put a spanner on the crankshaft nut or try and move it with the fan belt. Any movement is good.

If it moves.

Change the oil, the filter will be OK. Start and run the engine for an hour or more. You need to get the engine hot and evaporate off any residual water. Watch the guages but I would expect if anything is wrong it will turn up in the first few seconds. Change the oil again and the filter this time.

If it does not move then I would have it stripped. No heroics to see if you could free it off.

LONG TERM

This is more difficult. Even if it starts and runs normally it is more than possible that some corrosion damage has occured. The only way to find out would be a total engine strip. But this in itself raises the potential for damage to mating surfaces that have run in/settled down through numerous heat cycles. I know as an engineer I always viewed with some suspicion any engine that showed evidence of a rebuild REGARDLESS of the reason.

How would such damage manifest itself? Maybe just cosmetic damage to something that is never seen and did not reduce the life of the engine. Maybe something that caused it to fail early but 5 years down the line. It is not predictable.

In an ideal world you want to get a new engine fitted but this is unlikely to happen unless the old one is seized up solid.

The above assumes that the marina accepts responsibility and is willing to make good. It is likely that their insurance company will take over negotiations.

I suspect that at best the insurance company may offer a small payment to cover the possibility of long term damage and require you to sign a waiver. They should certainly cover the two oil changes plus the filter.

One thing in your favour is that it is a low run time engine so betterment is not a significant factor. Some years ago I was involved in an arbitration which involved a damaged engine that had covered many many miles. The insurance company required the owner to pay 75% of the costs involved on the basis that with the new engine the vehicle had been returned to him in a 'better' state.
 
As expected the marina (Pier Salvador) denies responsibility.

I shall ask my insurer (Pantaenius) if it is covered.
 
VicS said:
See anything that looks like valve lifters?

23168.jpg
Click to expand...

Unfortunately not. I Googled around and found articles that implied it doesn't have them. But another page mentioned a "decompression device", without giving much more info. But I don't see anything looking like any kind of a decompression device in that diagrom.
 
Rhapsode said:
I have just got back to my boat after three months away. I started my engine checks and found six inches or so of water in the engine as measured by the dipstick. On further inspection it is clear that the water was put in via the oil filling cap.

At the moment I'm waiting for the marina owner to turn up to show him what one of his boys has done - almost certainly thinking he was topping up the cooling water.

As far as I know the engine has not been started and I suspect that the water has been there for three months.

How bad is this likely to be?

The engine has done about 300 hours and is a Volvo Penta D2-55F

Awaiting your thoughts with some trepidation!
Click to expand...
All sorts of well meaning advice, I have been a maintenance man all my life, diesels a speciality. This is what I would do, drain the sump from the sump plug shown in other posts, change oil filter, if their is water in their, the engine has been run! if not it hasnt. If the yard topped up what it thought was the header tank it will be fesh water, tast it to see if it is! If it is fresh it will say with some certainty that a dumbo has topped it up. if not then it is due to your previous rouch passage.
Anyway, drain, change the filter, fill with cheap oil, start it, dont fanny around turning it over. Run it till its hot, change the oil a filter again and see how you go.
Report back whether it tasted salty or not.
Stu
 
The oil and water have emulsified - no free water to taste.

I have taken a tape to the oil level dipper - it's ten inches above the bottom of the dipstick. I'll have to remove the oil /water mix before I can remove the filter (I suppose?).
Trying to source suitable containers to collect the mix at the moment.

In the meantime I'm pumping out as per #14 on Vic's diagram
 
Rhapsode said:
As expected the marina (Pier Salvador) denies responsibility.

I shall ask my insurer (Pantaenius) if it is covered.
Click to expand...

sorry for your your troubles.

if insurance route is under consideration - it may be worthwhile conatcting Volvo.
Perhaphs they could send you an offical looking checklist, for recommended works to be carried out.
 
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