Need help please look at pictures
 

I took the boat out yesterday to find both flame arrestors and breathers were caked full of that milky white stuff the motors seem to run perfect though. The compression on one motor idle is a 2 or 5 pounds of pressure after running for a long time after I put it up on plane it goes up. I just looked at the oil on both dipsticks and the oil looks perfect. I also just changed the oil and filters in the boat before the run I put the new mobil 1 15w-50 and mercury racing filters. The motors are 1996 450hp's mercs. Please anybody call me if you have any ideas or post them I hope I didn't nuke both motors!!!!
Jason 1-608-449-4992

Re: Need help please look at pictures
 

Since the oil on your dipsticks is NOT milkshaked you should be in great shape. What you are seeing is condensate. You probably should install a vented breather cap system to eliminate the condensate build up.

Re: Need help please look at pictures
 

I have a vent breather on every valve cover it was worse than the picture shows believe me!! This is a picture when i run my finger on the inside of the valve cover

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Sorry wrong picture this is it!!!!!!

Re: Need help please look at pictures
 

Need To Get The Oil Hotter , To Big Of A Cooler Will Cause That.but It Should Not Cause That Big Of A Problem.

Re: Need help please look at pictures
 

do you run a thermostat or crossover?

Re: Need help please look at pictures
 

Thermostat it calls for a 143 and thats whats in them. I was running between 140 and 150 oil coolers at 200 to 230 This problem only started a week ago and thats when I tried that new 15w-50 mobil one

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Oil thermostat keeps the oil at 200-230 degrees. Burns off the condesation above 212 degrees.

Re: Need help please look at pictures
 

Pulled all four breathers off and cleaned them they were plum full of that goop. What is so weird to me is that it's both motors at the same time doing the same thing!!! Also drained oil and replace with just 20w-50 oil and cheap fram filter and runs fine oil pressure is better than mobil 1 no water on dipsticks still goop from valve covers and breathers!!! :eek: What do you guys think????

Re: Need help please look at pictures
 

might have taken in some water through your pipes... same thing happened to me last week... flushed it out and its fine now... stecz

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It's toast. Sell it and buy an outboard cat. :D

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My pipes are above the swim platform it would be hard to get water in the motor!

Re: Need help please look at pictures
 

I agree with the other guys that from your pictures it looks to be a condensation build-up. I am running some oil thermostats (KE Thermofilters) and I would still get the same kind of condensation build-up in my engines on the upper end like yours, but not quite as severe as yours though. I once found it caked on the underside of my intake manifold when I removed it once. At the time I was using Valvoline straight 40w racing oil. A lot of times this will happen during long idling periods when the engines aren't building enough heat for the oil to burn off the condesation----even with the oil thermostats I had/have. However, I since I have added the 160* water thermostats I think it has helped greatly during the long idling periods. Also, I now try to idle out with as high of an idle RPM that I can get away with to keep the oil as warm as I possibly can.
At first (a few years ago) I didn't run a water thermostat because the water pressure was way too high so, I ran without them at first until we got the water pressure problem resolved. I am now using a 160* water thermostat, and my oil thermostats are at 212*. My oil coolers I think are pretty large. For the most part I do my boating in the cooler waters of Lake Michigan and surrounding areas---so I don't know if the water thermostats are helping the condesation problem at idle much though. I may even try using a 180* water thermostat. Just so that you know, this year I will be using Castrol 20w-50 oil.

Re: Need help please look at pictures
 

kaama I put 20w 50 in today just to see and build up is still there, but the oil pressure is alot better.How do I get this chit out of there??

Re: Need help please look at pictures
 

If you don't have any water leaks then It seems as though your oil temperature is too cool. You should do what you can to get it up past 212 but less than 230 to boil off this condensation.

Roby

Re: Need help please look at pictures
 

As said in prior messages. Itscondensation. You need to look at your tailpipes and manifolds. Your grtting water in the engine from somewhere. Even look at your cylinder heads. What year are your engines? Remeber, when you get moisture in the valve cover and breather it is from your exhaust or tail pipes usually and if you get moisture in the oil and dipstick tube its usually something worse.

John

Re: Need help please look at pictures
 

By the way, it may help to know that I am running a completely dry exhaust system and the Castrol 20w-50 I will be using is a conventional (non-synthetic) type.

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Anybody have a set of 450 hp's motors they want to sell or a set of 500hp's carb they want to sell??

Re: Need help please look at pictures
 

When you change the oil and filter are the oil fine ? If it is you have a condensation problem if it is milky you have a water leak.

Cigaretteman

Re: Need help please look at pictures
 

Hopefully it's the oil. You already changed it, so run the motors for a while and see if the goo is still there. It should be gone. It just needs a little time to redissolve and evaporate.

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I had the same problem, it is condensation. Key evidence is that the oil is ok when you check it.

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Install a pcv valve system and your problem will evaporate in a trip or two. For now, leave the fill caps and breathers off during the week layup to let evaporation work its magic inside the engine. Also, if you made any idle adjustments to the carbs (lowered it) turn it back up to make sure this is not reversion. I would guess that is the cause myself, but pcv should do the erradicate the issue. At least it has for me in the past.

BT :cool:

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Mark, Correct. And the HP 450s didn't have them, if memory serves me, because we had a handful of problems exactly like this with those motors.

Re: Need help please look at pictures
 

Many things can lead to moisture in your oil. Gasket, headers,poor exhaust valves and temps. Typically condensation will form on the top of you valve covers and intakes. It typically happens more often in areas were the outside temps are cooler. Next time you run the boat get the motors up to operating temp for a period of time and see if the moisture starts to burn off. If your oil temp doesn't reach boiling point it will not remove much condensation. Most open breather motors will make condensation so I wouldn't worry to much about it. If it really bothers you K.E products offers an in-line thermostat that works well.

Re: Need help please look at pictures
 

Whatever you decide to do, run an oil filter like mobile 1 so it doesn't clog with moisture from the oil. Lose the fram they are crap.

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OMG!!! Condensation......In the valve covers!!!!!! I think you should sell the whole thing to me!!!! :D I could use 7 more feet!!! Especially if it's an AT!!!!!!! :evilb: :evilb: ;)

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I did change the oil and filters ran it for over 20 minutes and oil got up to temp so did water shut it down checked the oil on the dip sticks they both looked like brand new not one drop of water. I'll change this oil now and put the mobil 1 m1-302 filters and new oil it again just to make sure.

Hey I just might sell it we want to go alittle bigger say a 38 :D :D

Re: Need help please look at pictures
 

You can´t really check the oil on the dip stick since the oil in the dipsticktube stays in the tube ! Unscrew the filter and check it there that will show you what the oil is like.

Cigaretteman

Re: Need help please look at pictures
 

During my milkshake adventures the oil on the dipstick always looked fine. I got used to cracking the filter to let some seap out so I could check it there. Cigman is right on.

BT :cool:

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The above are correct, there is no oil circulation in the dip stick tube

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The weird thing is both motors same time!!! I pulled the oil filters off they look fine I'm just going to run it.