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Milky oil in valve cover

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flyboat

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Recently purchased a 96 Maxum 2000 SRL w/ a Mercruiser 5.7 Alpha 1. Boat had been winterized prior to purchase test run and then again after purchasing. When we test drove the boat for an hour the boat ran perfect, mechanic had changed the oil on the first winterizing in October. Did not have the oil changed when we winterized it again the beginning of December. Could not bring the boat home right away due to trailer tire issues and finally was able to bring it home this weekend. Put muffs on and ran the engine for a bit, sounds great and everything seemed to be working excellent. Checked the oil at the dipstick and it looks clean. Checked inside the valve covers and the oil looks like a cappucino! Took the valve cover off on one side and their is a milky looking residue in the top in addition to the cappucino around each valve. FWIW, the boat has been kept in the mountains of VA where it is much cooler, we are on the coast(in VA) and don't know if bringing the boat back here caused condensation build up?? Same mechanic did both winterizations and never said jack about water in the oil. Have maintenance records on the boat and in 08 the heads were ground and rebuilt, along with a few other minor things for a total bill of $2400. Boat has just a tad over 400 hours on it and was mainly a one week a year play thing. Am going to attach pictures of both the valve cover and the valves, any suggestions?
 

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Docksidemarineservices said:
Looks like condensation. Is the engine getting up to operating temp?
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The engine is running just under 150, we've only run it here with the muffs on. Plan to do a little cosmetic clean up and then hit the water in January for striper fishing and to get some practice driving time in before the summer. We are able to keep the boat in our garage(somewhat heated) so we hadn't planned to winterize it again.
 
flyboat said:
The engine is running just under 150, we've only run it here with the muffs on. Plan to do a little cosmetic clean up and then hit the water in January for striper fishing and to get some practice driving time in before the summer. We are able to keep the boat in our garage(somewhat heated) so we hadn't planned to winterize it again.
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As others have stated, looks like your problem is just condensation in the valve covers. Running up to temp on the muffs and shutting down after a few minutes will do exactly what you are seeing, especially at just 150 deg, on some engines. Engine isn't getting hot enough to "burn off" the moisture, but getting just warm enough to make the moisture and oil to mix. As long as you don't have it on the bottom of the dipstick, you should be fine (sometimes the mud will appear on the top of the dipstick too).

Even if in a garage during the winter, I would be sure to drain all the water out, in case the temp drops below freezing, which it can and does do in VA, and there is a problem where you lose your "somewhat" heating in the garage for any period of time.
 
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I'm not necessarily buying the condensation thing. I'd look further if I were you.


flyboat said:
We are able to keep the boat in our garage(somewhat heated) so we hadn't planned to winterize it again.
Click to expand...

04fxdwgi said:
Even if in a garage during the winter, I would be sure to drain all the water out, in case the temp drops below freezing, which it can and does do in VA, and there is a problem where you lose your "somewhat" heating in the garage for any period of time.
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Ditto!

All it takes is a power outage and some time with no heat.
Of the people who have experienced this, they're now at the boat trying to drain sea water out that is now somewhat slushy from crystallizing. That does not drain very well.
 
Ayuh,.... Ditto the Condensation,... No problem, just run it Hard, 'n it'll build heat, 'n that stuff will be Gone...

Also,... Ditto the learn how to Drain it...

It's Easy, 'n Quick, once ya learn how to do it,...
Right at the ramp, goin' on the wagon is the Best time, in the winter....
 
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