Simple question for you guys in the know, my latest boat has arrived via container and it has been packed sideways for about 2 months. The packing gurus did NOT drain the fluids from the engine. Surprisingly looks very clean and the only significant leak is engine oil.

Engine is a 496HO. Boat has been on it's port side and oil has drained out through the port side exhaust. Put my finger up the pipe and there's oil sitting in the tip and it had dripped out onto the transom, down the side and all through the container. Exhausts are standard Merc with captains call.

Where has the oil travelled and can I just let the boat sit for a day to drain back into the sump or has oil gone through the wrong places to get out the exhaust? I'll be having it serviced anyway but want to know if there could be more complex issues.

RR

it is sitting on top of the pistons. remove plugs and crank by hand to pump it out. what about gas? or did that have to be empty for shipping. porta potty or holding tank? boat new or used?

Thank you.
Used boat, fuel drained, potti empty. All other fluids seem to have stayed in their rightful places except a little weeping from the trim tab pump. They really should have drained the oil but doesn't sound like a huge issue so I'm happy.

What would happen if I just start her up tomorrow without pulling the plugs? Would she burn off the oil easily or just foul the plugs?

RR

If there is too much oil in the cylinders, you can bend a rod..if you just want to "fire it up" crank the engine at least one complete revolution by hand or at least a breaker bar to make sure the piston doesn't hydraulic lock from oil.

Your best bet is to pull the plugs and spin it over with the starter a few times and see what squirts out of the plug holes.

If nothing is coming out of the holes, install your plugs, check the oil level and try starting it.

Ken

Pull the plugs, not worth the risk.

Why was is on it's side, it was straight in the container?

Nope, too wide for a container but a 40' hi-cube container has the largest door opening of all containers, but it's the height, not the width. Height of opening is 8'5" and 3/4 so lie the container on one side, put the boat in and secure it then right the container. (Pic attached)

Thanks for the good replies, looks like the plugs are coming out before I start her up!

RR

Oil seeped through the rings and has puddled in the exhaust manifold on the cylinders that had open exhaust valves. The other cylinders may be full. Right the boat and pull the plugs and turn it over by hand. After that use the starter. Even doing this there will be a lot of blue smoke when you get it going for probably ten minutes or more as the exhaust is water cooled and oil won't burn out as quickly as a car would.

As mentioned, check oil level a few times.

What angle was the boat at? picture?

BTW it's likely going to be messy, lay some old towels on either side of the motor