infinityron
Contributing Member
This will probably be viewed as dumb question because I am experienced boater (50 years) and diy engine mechanic but.......I'm considering the purchase of an older Tiara with twin 7.4 fwc engines. Coolant looks clean and full in the heat exchangers, oil is not milky and looks ok visually. I pulled samples for testing at SOS and starboard came back positive for glycol. My experience tells me theres only one way for glycol to get into oil on a fwc engine, and that is through head gasket (or a cracked block). Sea trialed this boat and it performed well. No smoke or steam to speak of. Cruised at 3000 rpms and achieved a little over 4000 when opened up. Temps stayed under 160 and verified with ir.
I called a trusted mechanic and asked his advice. I want the boat but that glycol result is causing me concern. His feedback was that in his experience, that glycol could have been introduced by some previous event and no amount of oil changes gets rid of every trace. He advised proceeding if I love the boat and good deal.
But I value opinions here.
I called a trusted mechanic and asked his advice. I want the boat but that glycol result is causing me concern. His feedback was that in his experience, that glycol could have been introduced by some previous event and no amount of oil changes gets rid of every trace. He advised proceeding if I love the boat and good deal.
But I value opinions here.