Closed Cooled System - Possible Leak?

[CaptRonn]

The water and sodium your oil samples showed could be from condensation.

 

[Ray Gallagher]

I just had oil samples done on a boat I had under contract. Water and sodium showed up in them. Oil was not milky.

Before you possibly put more antifreeze in the river/creek your slipped in, and spend more $$$ for antifreeze, I suggest using fresh water to see if it will fill up on a cold engine, and stay filled up. If it does, drain/flush it then fill it up with antifreeze.

That's actually a great idea... although if I prove myself to be an idiot then it's going to be a pretty expensive refill lol

 

[mrsrobinson]

The water and sodium your oil samples showed could be from condensation.

Agreed, this was not a deal breaker for me, other things were. I was going to get a second oil sample after running the engines if I was going to move forward with the purchase.

 

[Ray Gallagher]

Well I got my answer. Apparently my uncle drained the tank at the end of the season last year while doing a compression test and didn't tell me. I was able to get it full after all... just took a lot of filling. Now let's hope it stays full haha

 

[Randy Coleman]

Hi All.
We are in the process of purchasing a 2005 340DA with Merc 8.1's and Vdrives.
Survey was as good as can be expected.
The Mechanical survey has me baffled.
Compression checks were all 185psi across the board on both engines however, the oil sample results show sodium in the Starboard engine.
It is in the yellow range and showing 89.
Mechanic says it's not a head gasket as it would certainly be in the red so most likely an exchanger or just old oil from prior to the manifold replacement in 2019.
The boat has only been used about 40 hrs in the past 2 years.
Current owner can't say when the last oil change was done and the maintenance records I have do not indicate an oil change ever and they go back to 2018.

Not sure if this is a deal breaker or not.
Of course the broker, spending my money, says its an easy fix. I'm not so sure.

Any thoughts from experience with this issue?

 

[CaptRonn]

I don’t see it as a big issue.

 

[Pirate Lady]

CO cant say when oil change last? Either he never did one or demented. That said, its not a deal breaker, but hows the oil look? Full? Golden?
I wouldnt believe a GD thing The Snake says.
Its good the exhaust parts were done. Cant say i ever seen a motor ruined by overdue oil change, but sure seen enough ruined by neglected manifolds, risers.

 

[Randy Coleman]

I posted the results of the oil sample in the newbie forum but I’ll post here as well.
Not overly concerned but just need to make sure it’s not a surprise going forward.