Mercruiser Start Up/Marvel's Oil

Tunnaman88

Tunnaman88

Junior Member
bought 1986 v with a 2001 Mercruiser 4.3l... harmonic balancer broke,,, boat sat for 2 seasons.. was properly winterized I was told prior to sitting. I replaced balancer got her all back together... now I am ready for next step... Being a rookie , I tried to crank her over .. but nothing .. Starter sounded like it wanted to go , but engine didn't move. My Buddy told me I shouldn't of attempted ... that I should pull plugs and spray marvel's M Oil in each cylinder and let her sit for a week.. then take off belt.. pull plugs and then try to crank over maunually with a breaker bar to break free..... any thouhts... engine has less than 400 on her
 
When you replaced the balncer, did the engine try to rotate? If not then it is most likely seized up. Pull the plugs out of it, put a ratchet on the crank bolt, and see if it will turn. If it doesn't turn relatively easily, you are seized and should spray some petrating oil or something down into the cylinders, and let it sit for a few days, and spray it again, then see if you can get it to move.
 
... no nothing moved.. that is what scares me. I lubed it up good before putting balancer on pressed her on with the install tool.... she didn't spin. Do you think it is possible to free her? The engine wasn't seized when she sat I was Told.. what is the best what is the best way to get it in cylinders?? spray bottle??
 
I suggest you put a couple ounces of ATF in each cylinder... Let it set a day or so and then put a socket and breaker bar on the crank.... Don't force it... Just try to get it started moving.... If nothing give it another day or so.
DO NOT try to rotate it... Instead rock it back and forth....

1/4"... Then more more more.... Just a little more each time till it goes a full revolution

Once it goes a full revolution turn it by hand 4 or 5 times ....
Then put a towel over each head to stop ATF spraying out the spark plug holes and hit the starter for a second or so.... Repeat a few times and put the plugs back in.

Turn it one more time by hand, change the oil and then you are ready to start it...

Only crank a few seconds at a time and if it starts kill it within 15 seconds.... Allow to cool and repeat running a few seconds longer each time....

The idea is to polish out the rust without allowing the pistons to warm up and expand untill the bores are clean.

After a dozen run cycles change the oil again and run it till warm....

When you get it in the water treat it just like a new engine break in and change the oil after about 10 hrs run time.

If at any time you notice ticking kill the throttle.... A stuck lifter is an easy fix but it it comes apart things can get worse fast.
 
Tunnaman88 said:
... no nothing moved.. that is what scares me. I lubed it up good before putting balancer on pressed her on with the install tool.... she didn't spin. Do you think it is possible to free her? The engine wasn't seized when she sat I was Told.. what is the best what is the best way to get it in cylinders?? spray bottle??
Click to expand...
If I had a dollar for everytime somebody said something was good last time they ran it, and it ended up being bad. I felt bad for the guy my neighbor bought his boat from. He had recipts for almost $4K worth the work, and none of it was done. Part of the bill was to winterize the engines, which was not done, and one engine was actually put up with water in it. He got lucky and we got that engine freed up, and it is a good engine now. NEVER trust a seller, NEVER! Even if it is a friend, I never trust a seller anymore and always plan for the worst.
 
Wow... great advice!!!! I will start that process tonight when I get home! Great detail!!! I take it you are a pro? ATF works better than Marvels? I like the gear lube trick, I will stop by HD and grab some tubing and make it happen. I think I have $4k into the boat for trailer repairs, electronics, lightin seats and rod lockers before I knew it ran.... there is no turning back now.....
 
The bolt is the same one that holds the balancer on...
There is also a special socket you can buy that slides onto the crank instead of the balancer and allows you to USA a lot more force if needed but we are hoping lots of force won't be needed.

No I'm not professional just have a lot of years of working on old junk....

ATF is incredible stuff.... Coats well, penetrates well, and cleans well.
 
I do appreciate the help gentlemen!!! I am about to go put the tranny fluid in and let her sit for a few days.... I have ATF, Marvels... DB Blaster and Diesel on hand... all waiting their turn.. Lol.. I will keep you posted..

I been buyin junk my whole life too!!! It is more exciting !! LOl
 
Went to go remove plug and it seemed pretty rusted/stuck so I ended up sprayin all the plugs w db blaster and will try and remove in a couple days
 
went to go pulled the plugs last night and they seemed pretty rusted in , so I soaked with DB Blaster and will try tomorrow. There seamed to be rust comin from exhaust manifold gasket which doesn't seem right? any thoughts
 

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Looks normal? The engine itself looks brand new... minor flaking on the underside... there was a nest of mices in the boat so they chewed things here and there... I read one article about a mouse getting inside the engine through the exhaust and causing rust from its urine to seize the engine... ever hear of that??

So the exhaust manifold looks ok?? I was about to order new gaskets..

I ordered that socket that you guys had the link to summit racing.. I hope it was the right one...1/2"?

I will take some more pix and post...

between electronics , rod lockers , lights new custom seat and complete trailer rebuild.. I am 6 months $4500k into this and there is no turning back... this motha effer is going to run one way or the other !!!....
 
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