Advice. New Boat Serviced - Oil Cap Left Off - Water In Motor

[meade95]

So, Last year I purchased an Bass Tracker 175x*

 

This past month I took it to be serviced (regular motor maintenance) I took it to place where I purchased boat from.  They did engine service and upgraded my trolling motor.

 

I've since used the boat running hard twice. I noticed after first trip to water at end of the day while idling to pull out and small slick of  "lube" type film across the water. I chalked it up to looking like it was lube from where they had greased the motor and lift section as I could not see it off the motor itself anywhere.

 

Took it out again yesterday. Notice the same lubish type film on water and also noticed during end of the day some darkish water (coffee color) at back of my boat from where water had come in after a quick stop (lake water).

 

Long story short this morning I popped the motor hood and low and behold they did not put the oil screw cap back on the motor.  What is the likely damage here? This boat has been run hard twice basically with an low oil and water mixture within it....

 

I've called them and let them know. They have told me serevice will be in touch (it hasn't yet).  Also I plan to tow boat back to them in morning. 

[J Francho]

Well, it will sound alarms and go into limp mode if you run out of oil, but are you saying there's water in there too? That's not good.

[BrownBear]

If it didn't break on you while you had it out on the water or overheated, etc, you should be in the clear. The shop should flush the motor with some fresh oil, then top you off. A good shop should show you some major things to check on your motor before taking it out, i.e. the oil cap is on. If they don't, find the service manual online download and read it. I have saved myself countless maintenance fails just by reading the service manuals before using the equipment. Best of luck to ya!

[meade95]

Yep. Note to self once you pay for engine service go over it yourself.

 

It never overheated to point of shutting down or showing overt signs of overheating.  Very likely some water is in with oil.

[Way2slow]

As long as there was oil in the tank, I doubt you did anything but make a big mess to clean up. The low/no oli alarm should have sounded if it got low enough to damage motor.

I think I would have a word with that dealer though. Let him know if you expected that kind of service, most any shade tree in the county could do that kind of work a Hellava lot cheaper. You thought you were getting professional service, and of course if you had damaged the engine, he would swear they didn't do it.

[AQUA VELVA]

It's a sad fact of our times.Read your owners manual and learn to do as much of your maintenance as you can. Out on the water is no place to discover problems. Always check your boat after having any work done on it before heading out.

[ww2farmer]

Is this a 4 stroke motor?

[meade95]

Is this a 4 stroke motor?

 

Yes, 60  FourStroke

[tnriverluver]

Document everything and if the motor fails soon from an oil related issue it should be on the dealer to correct his mistake.

[ww2farmer]

Yes, 60  FourStroke

Change the oil + filter yourself, it's pretty simple. To help clean any water out of the crankcase, add a little seafoam to the oil (follow the instructions on the can), run it, than change than change the oil and filter again. Keep an eye on it. I doubt enough water got in to hurt anything, and you caught it in time. I'd certainly let  that service dept. look at it to let them know they screwed up, but I wouldn't let them touch it again.

[daiwaguy]

I would do what WW2 stated. Seafoam has great water reduction properties.

[Comfortably Numb]

Check the oil and see if it is milky colored. (that means water got in)