Milky oil

[carlbenson5]

Hey,
I'm in the early stages of buying another boat, been looking at a sea ray 230da with a 4.3 mercruiser vortec engine.
Now the guys advertised it as non runner, hasn't got a clue about boats or the mechanics and basically hasn't got the time to sort it. It's offered at £5000 without a trailer.
I went to look at it today with the intention of doing a compression test, all six cylinders read in at 140 psi give or take.
However when I dipped the oil it was like a lightish brown/cream colour.
My first thoughts are that he hasn't winterised it and the blocks cracked.
Has anybody got any other thoughts on this or any other causes of water in the sump?
Does any body know what it's likely to cost worst case?
Thanks guys

[Capn Jack]

Head gasket maybe!

Which year is it?

Unless its very cheap I would leave it alone, you could be in for a repower. The contaminents would have started to eat away at the internal parts and undoubtedly be starting some sort of corrosion in there.

Having said all that, if it's cheap enough you could afford to repower it. How long do you think it's been like it?

[dpb101]

I had the same engine succumb to frost, it split the block on the inside of the V underneath the inlet manifold.
I bought a long block and did the work myself. About £1500 at the time but it was about 15 years ago!!!
It would certainly be an option if the price was right.

[carlbenson5]

Thanks for the replies guys.
The boats a 1994 but the engines 2001.
I'm pretty sure it's got to be something serious due to the oil being quite consistent in colour, it wasn't dark brown with bits of creamy white it was all very light in colour, well mixed with water.
It's really difficult to call really beacause I can't find any Sea Ray 230 da on the Internet, so not really sure what it's worth running (apart from USA and they seem to go for around $13000 but they are immaculate and usually alot cheaper over there)
Desisions decisions

[dpb101]

The 230 da is a nice boat, good one would probably be 10 to 15K now. Found a couple of adds here and in france for £13,500.

[carlbenson5]

Sounds like it may be worth doing then if I get it at the right price! The guy wants £5000 for the boat and £2000 for the trailer. He isn't aware that the engine may need a recon so I might offer him £5000 for the lot, see how I go.
We'll see....

[Capn Jack]

You can get a new 4.3 bobtail engine, thats without the sterdrive, from Keypart for approx £6k plus a bit of fitting so for £11K odd you've got yourself a very nice boat.

Only other question I would ask would be that its already been re-engined....why? It's not uncommon in a 16yrs old boat but I would still ask.

Inerestingly the 230 Sundancer 1994 came with a 5.0l as standard and the 4.3 wasn't an option.

Look here

Sea Ray Sundancer 230 Specs

[carlbenson5]

Ok, so let's say the engine is goosed, for a repower it's going to cost £3000. Is there anything stopping me buying a chevy/gmc engine, whipping all the bits I need off the mercruiser (which I believe is a gmc engine) I've found one that's in a car in Glasgow, he wants £500 plus delivery. It's done 50k and comes with 3 months warranty.
Cheers

[carlbenson5]

Inerestingly the 230 Sundancer 1994 came with a 5.0l as standard and the 4.3 wasn't an option.

I must admit I did see that myself and wonder why, is there much difference in power between a 1994 5.0l and a 4.3 vortec engine?

[Gazjen]

Vortec engines began being used in marine applications in 1996 and made 190 hp they had a reworked head and are a different bolt patten to the older ones they made around 170hp. I believe the 5.0 made around 210-220hp in 1994, Obviously they made quite a bit more torque than the 4.3 though.

Cost me about £1000 to rebuild my 4.3 brought the bits from the states mostly, had a local engine centre rebore the block and lap the valves. but rebuilt it myself

Car engines are slightly different to marine. Marine engines have a different cam, stainless head gaskets, brass core plugs amongst other things I can't remember right now.

I brought my boat with a seized engine and a knackered trailer I would say in my experience if the boat is really good and its just the engine that requires attention then go for it, if everything requires work it could quickly become a money pit! I know this as mine did. Still had fun and enjoyed the process though