Fog your motors for storage!

[Skipper]

Local broker's story:
All powerboats, but applies to us.
A little Regal 24, Volvo inboard V8. Boat sat for a year. Owner listed it for sale. Boat started and ran for buyer. Then very next day after sale, engine wouldn't turn over. Seized.
Mechanic discovered that rusted valve stem on a cylinder with the valve open, allowing salt air in, apparently wasn't closing fast enough. At higher RPM the piston finally beat the valve to death, breaking it. Valve pieces banged around and destroyed the piston and broke the head open, dumping seawater (Raw water cooled engine) into the cylinder. Later pumped out a gallon of seawater from the pan.
Motor ruined, a day after purchase.
Another boat, a Chris Craft 38, same thing except it bent up the pushrod.
2 other boats, a Bayliner and a Carver, same issue but rusted the cylinder walls and now motors burn up oil like a drilling rig fire.
All in the last 6 months, at one broker in one harbor in California.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

What’s the nexus to fogging?

It probably doesn’t hurt to do it, especially for a gas engine, prior to layup but I’ve never seen evidence showing fogging precludes problems like these.

Were the engines you refer to all gas?

 

[sailnoproblem]

Fogging is the only way to lubricate valves in a gas motor.
For storage I fog and also pour a small amount of mystery oil down each cylinder, then crank the motor to lube the cylinder walls.
I have never had a problem. Also don't forget the fuel storage additive.

 

[Skipper]

What’s the nexus to fogging?

It probably doesn’t hurt to do it, especially for a gas engine, prior to layup but I’ve never seen evidence showing fogging precludes problems like these.

Were the engines you refer to all gas?

Yes gas. Fog your gas motors. Fog oil not to be run in a diesel.
I guess fog a generic term for prep for storage. When I was in the cold east, I'd run anti freeze through the raw water side, which pushed out the salt water from the exhaust path, replacing with AF. I'm wondering if that is a logical method that also prevents salt air from coming back in open valves.
Also I'd run the motor in the slip once or twice during winter, and re-AF.
Fogging a motor coats the valves and cylinder walls etc to try to prevent rust on surfaces exposed to air.
It was rust and pitting in the chambers with open valves that caused the stoppages in the motors mentioned.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Has anyone come across a non-combustible fogging oil for diesel engines ? Any fogging oils I have seen always add the caution "not to be used in diesel engines".

I suppose you could use it if you're wearing Kevlar underwear .

 

[uncledom]

Diesel Fuel is oil. The whole engine is swimming in oil.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

The whole engine is swimming in oil.

? ? ?

 

[Meriachee]

Really?

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Most fogging oils have a lower viscosity than does diesel. In that context, fogging a biesel is counterproductive since any diesel coating the cylinder walls, etc. would be solubilized by fogging thereby offering less protection.

I’m not sure it makes any difference long-term but most diesel mechanics I know think it’s not necessary.

 

[LeslieTroyer]

Run the motor all year no fog necessary.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Run the motor all year no fog necessary.

In November - March ?

I'll stick to skiing at that time. You're running around and sweating rather than motionless and freezing.

 

[LeslieTroyer]

All depends on where you live. I have to say the cruise this Feb was fun but chilly.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

fun but chilly.

How can you use those two words in the same sentence ?

Fun and warm, or chilly and miserable, but not the two together. Different strokes for different folks I guess.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Les' February trip was EPIC. He and John and Ward made it fun when it was snowing.
Gee, Ralph, didn't ya follow the cruise here?

 

[Meriachee]

Epic is a far better description on a number of levels!

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Gee, Ralph, didn't ya follow the cruise here?

Briefly, but my chilblains started reacting just reading it so I stopped.

 

[sail sfbay]

Before I stored my gasoline-engine ski boat in a garage in the California delta for 3 years, while overseas, I filled the gasoline tank, added a fuel stabilizer and then fogged the engine to lubricate the valves. The engine started right up after I took it out of storage.
However, when I stored my diesel-engine sailboat on the hard in Napa, California for 3 years, while overseas, I only added engine fuel stabilizer. After it was put back into the water the engine started right up. I then had the diesel fuel polished and filters replaced as a safeguard to mitigate the risk of fuel system plugging from algae.

 

[Daveinet]

Many boats use 2-strokes which continually fog themselves and everyone else around. I've never seen a rusted valve on a 2-stroke.

 

[LeslieTroyer]

Many boats use 2-strokes which continually fog themselves and everyone else around. I've never seen a rusted valve on a 2-stroke.

You’ve probably never seen a Martin engine. One of the very few 2 strokes with tappet valves

 

[Daveinet]

Can't say that I have. Of course technically most 2 strokes have reed valves.