Some of you might remember an article I posted early April following our discovery of the Frozen Yanmar in a friend of mine Hughes 38, winterized in Montreal. We do not have all the answers yet (where the water came from still remains a mystery) but I am happy to report the following. Last week was warm in our area and all the ice melted in the Hughes bilge where the motor is located. Following the review of all opinions received, we did the following: Cleaned the exterior of the motor, especially around the in injector area. Check the oil and found no trace of water in the oil. Remove the air filter and remove all the water accumulated in the air intake with absorbent paper. Replace filter element. Remove the fuel lines and remove the 3 injectors, cleaned and oiled. Add the equivalent of Marvel Mystery oil in each cylinder. We used an other product cause MMO could not be found here. Waited for 20 minutes. Slowly turn the crank using the alternator strap, until my friend remembered he had a crank handle for this usage. In the beginning, the crank was difficult to turn. After 10 minutes it was easy. We did all of this very carefully to save all internal components. Water/Oil was coming out of the injector holes. When we noticed that all things were turning freely, we put a rag over the injector holes turn the battery ON and I ask my friend to push the starter once with the engine stop pulled. What I did not think of when I asked my friend to do this is that the compression of the pistons is much stronger when pushed from the starter than by our manual crank turning. The rag flew off and we had droplets of oil and water on the ceiling. Not too bad, at least we knew the starter was OK. We continued to use the starter to make sure everything was working free. Cleaned everything one last time. Re-assembled the injectors and fuel lines and bleed the fuel system. We then removed the compression with the 3 levers and made the motor turn for 3 stints of 10 seconds. No problem. Put the compression levers back in place, push back the engine stop and were ready for the start. Some of you might not believe this, I am the first to be surprised, but the engine started with the first push of the starter button. We did let the motor run for about 15 seconds. Re-started and everything was running a smoothly as if nothing ever happened. Remember this engine was flooded and frozen solid for a few months… We just won a battle, not the war but at least we might have saved the motor! We will now change the oil at 0.5, 1, 5 and 10 hours to monitor everything. We might also use a test kit to have the oil tested. We will remove the starter and Alternator for complete cleaning. Both are working fine now, the alternator is charging the batteries OK. This site has been more than helpful once again. I am not a mechanic, but was able with a methodic approach to analyze answers and follow the most plausible way to go. Special thanks to RichH from Worton Creek, MD. Ken from Edmonton and all the other contributors. We now think the boat will be in the water for our summer cruise on Lake Champlain.
Frozen Yanmar follow up
- Thread starter Claude Labrecque
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Wow is that ice? When you said frozen you ment it.
Here on the west coast we think we freeze at 60F.
Here on the west coast we think we freeze at 60F.
Barbossa did it all!
Barbossa did it all like a pro! But my wife knew it from the start ! Let's all remember that there is always light at the end of the tunnel...nice days are here to stay!!! Thanks Barb!! Jack Sparrow, who'll be sailing this summer!
Barbossa did it all like a pro! But my wife knew it from the start ! Let's all remember that there is always light at the end of the tunnel...nice days are here to stay!!! Thanks Barb!! Jack Sparrow, who'll be sailing this summer!
Yeah!
Hit 60 here yesterday, was a great day for playing out in the yard. Didn't realy think there would be much, if any damage to the engine, I've dealt with a lot of frozen engines, and very few have had damage if the ice was outside of them, diesels being heavier constructed than gassers would seem to reduce that risk even more. Glad to hear it's worked out for you. As to water source, on my boat I have a few areas that seem to leak only when it's cold, on your typical day for checking leaks they don't, noticed some trails of ice when I was inspecting the last cold day we had, a few days ago when it was warm (low 50's) I couldn't get them to leak for anything no matter what angle I sprayed them from. Figure I'll rebed everything with a more flexible sealer. ken
Hit 60 here yesterday, was a great day for playing out in the yard. Didn't realy think there would be much, if any damage to the engine, I've dealt with a lot of frozen engines, and very few have had damage if the ice was outside of them, diesels being heavier constructed than gassers would seem to reduce that risk even more. Glad to hear it's worked out for you. As to water source, on my boat I have a few areas that seem to leak only when it's cold, on your typical day for checking leaks they don't, noticed some trails of ice when I was inspecting the last cold day we had, a few days ago when it was warm (low 50's) I couldn't get them to leak for anything no matter what angle I sprayed them from. Figure I'll rebed everything with a more flexible sealer. ken
Great news Claude.
You have me cheering like a kid. Good work too. And if you don't find moisture inside the engine you should be good to go. After warming, look under the oil filler cap. Water would show up there. If not there, the engine is ready for normal service. But don't wait to service the alternator. I would fog it with WD40 right away while running. Starters are more rugged but worth checking. It sounds like the dollar damage is low. We're rooting for you. And I'm still thinking that the boat was vandalized. How else can rainwater get into your boat? Now on my Hunter a hurricane was the answer.
You have me cheering like a kid. Good work too. And if you don't find moisture inside the engine you should be good to go. After warming, look under the oil filler cap. Water would show up there. If not there, the engine is ready for normal service. But don't wait to service the alternator. I would fog it with WD40 right away while running. Starters are more rugged but worth checking. It sounds like the dollar damage is low. We're rooting for you. And I'm still thinking that the boat was vandalized. How else can rainwater get into your boat? Now on my Hunter a hurricane was the answer.
amazing!!!
Change the oil a few times to get all the waqter out of the engine. Good work and good luck.
Change the oil a few times to get all the waqter out of the engine. Good work and good luck.
Boat damage?
This is a great story with a good ending. Am curious to know if the boat itself suffered any damange from the ice expanding in the bilge? Also assume you have a plan afoot to find and repair the source of water getting in there in the first place -- and that you'll be visiting your boat on the hard more frequently next winter. Keep us posted on this great story! Glad it ended well.
This is a great story with a good ending. Am curious to know if the boat itself suffered any damange from the ice expanding in the bilge? Also assume you have a plan afoot to find and repair the source of water getting in there in the first place -- and that you'll be visiting your boat on the hard more frequently next winter. Keep us posted on this great story! Glad it ended well.
yanmar on ice
Claude, Im happy for your good luck ! Don't forget to change the transmisson oil several times also.
Claude, Im happy for your good luck ! Don't forget to change the transmisson oil several times also.
Alt and starter motor should be OK.
Claude, The water in the alt and starter is no different than rain or puddles are to a car. If both worked on your first start up then leave them alone unless there is another reason for opening them up such as replacing the brushes. Neat ending to a wild story. Ray
Claude, The water in the alt and starter is no different than rain or puddles are to a car. If both worked on your first start up then leave them alone unless there is another reason for opening them up such as replacing the brushes. Neat ending to a wild story. Ray
Good News, Claude
What is important now is that you get that engine HOT so that it 'cooks' out all the internal moisture - leave the oil fill plug off so that the engine can 'breathe' out the moisture. Be sure to run the engine AT NO LOAD for a while (transmission in neutral) and rapidly go from high rpm to idle rpm so that the piston rings begin to re-polish and re-seat. You may also want to open the valve cover plate and spray in some penetrating oil to be sure that you cover the valve stems to prevent rusting of the valve stems. That the engine turns over, starts and runs is truely good news.
What is important now is that you get that engine HOT so that it 'cooks' out all the internal moisture - leave the oil fill plug off so that the engine can 'breathe' out the moisture. Be sure to run the engine AT NO LOAD for a while (transmission in neutral) and rapidly go from high rpm to idle rpm so that the piston rings begin to re-polish and re-seat. You may also want to open the valve cover plate and spray in some penetrating oil to be sure that you cover the valve stems to prevent rusting of the valve stems. That the engine turns over, starts and runs is truely good news.
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