Replacing sumps on Marine Power 454 MPI engines

Paulkarlsven

Paulkarlsven

New Member
Dec 29, 2010
436
Port Stephens, Australia
Boat Info
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Engines
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Hi All,

We have a big problem that we need to address before we can hope to sell our boat. A buyers mechanical inspection showed that both engines need their sumps replaced as they are leaking through corrosion.

Now I am obviously not happy but it is a case of sucking it up and getting the work done but I would like to try and get a price comparison for the sump and front and rear seals for the Marine Power 454 MPI engine, they are 1998 engines if that makes a difference.

Does anyone have any good links to engine parts that I can browse?

I have tried a google search but after looking through a myriad of websites I have yet to find one selling sumps and seals etc. Mostly they are selling complete motors.

Cheers

Mav
 
By sumps, I presume you are referring to the oil pan on the bottom of the engine. I haven't seen one that has corroded except on boats 20 years or older. The pan seals can leak at the front and back of the engine since the material can shrink with age. Sometimes the pan bolts loosen and can be snugged up to stop/slow down a leak.

If the pans are corroded, that is a big repair since the engines need to be raised to get access to the pan for removal. The only good news are the parts (pan gasket and pan) are cheap. What I am concerned with is if the true problem is the rear main seal which surrounds the rear of the crankshaft. If that is leaking as well, the engines need to be removed from the boat to get the proper access.

For replacement parts, the oil pan and gasket are standard 454 (big block chevrolet) automotive items. The rear main seal is comes in two varieties: one-piece and two pieces.

-John
 
Last edited:
PlayDate said:
By sumps, I presume you are referring to the oil pan on the bottom of the engine. I haven't seen one that has corroded except on boats 20 years or older. The pan seals can leak at the front and back of the engine since the material can shrink with age. Sometimes the pan bolts loosen and can be snugged up to stop/slow down a leak.

If the pans are corroded, that is a big repair since the engines need to be raised to get access to the pan for removal. The only good news are the parts (pan gasket and pan) are cheap. What I am concerned with is if the true problem is the rear main seal which surrounds the rear of the crankshaft. If that is leaking as well, the engines need to be removed from the boat to get the proper access.

For replacement parts, the oil pan and gasket are standard 454 (big block chevrolet) automotive items. The rear main seal is comes in two varieties: one-piece and two pieces.

-John
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply John, yes I am referring to the oil pans. Two mechanics have now identified a definite leak from corrosion on the starboard engine and both say the port engine also has a possible leak.

The mechanic that gave me the second opinion has quoted for removal of both engines and replacement of both pans and the replacement of both the front and read main seals. He has quoted me a cost of parts at $2200.00 all up the total cost for parts and labor including the haul out of the boat, removal and refitting of both engines and sea trial to be $5750.00.
 
Hey Mav,

I'm just over the ditch and have enjoyed reading rzarkas thread.... He sounds like an interesting character. I have had a fair bit of luck on eBay.com with regards to mercruiser/chev parts. It is by far the cheapest from my experience.
I was reading the " how far to your boat " thread last night and I think you take the prize!
Sorry to hear you are selling but I'm sure you'll be back one day?

Cheers Mike
 
annie said:
Hey Mav,

I'm just over the ditch and have enjoyed reading rzarkas thread.... He sounds like an interesting character. I have had a fair bit of luck on eBay.com with regards to mercruiser/chev parts. It is by far the cheapest from my experience.
I was reading the " how far to your boat " thread last night and I think you take the prize!
Sorry to hear you are selling but I'm sure you'll be back one day?

Cheers Mike
Click to expand...

Mike,

I wouldn't be so sure about that. If my first experience went as Pauls did here, I would probably need xanex just to go to a waterfront dinner with my wife!! This guy has been screwed hard by the "surveyor" POS that he used to inspect his boat and it's still haunting him as he sells. No sir, if it were me I'd probably be looking into another hobby in the future if I were him, but I hope I'm wrong. Hang in there Paul!!!!
 
Paul:

I feel your pain, but I have to ask.....didn't you see oil in your bilge before the survey was done that would have hinted that you had an oil leak?
 
osd9 said:
Paul:

I feel your pain, but I have to ask.....didn't you see oil in your bilge before the survey was done that would have hinted that you had an oil leak?
Click to expand...

Too be honest no I did not see copious amounts of oil in the bilge, I do check for this and it is a reason I did not buy another vessel some years ago due to copious amounts of oil in the bilge. The leaks that have been detected on the starbooard engine are "minor" according to the mechanics report and neither can say for certain if there is a leak on the port engine.

My problem is that I am now 3000 kms away from the boat so I am not able to just pop down to it and take a look for myself. The engine room on my boat is a bit of a hell hole to work in, I know that from experience. Both engines run fine, no overheating issues and all pots have good pressures. They both start immediately the key is turned. I had the risers replaced due to both engines producing steam from the exhausts and both engines had 100 hour services done on them with all filters and plugs replaced.
 
tdschafer said:
Mike,

I wouldn't be so sure about that. If my first experience went as Pauls did here, I would probably need xanex just to go to a waterfront dinner with my wife!! This guy has been screwed hard by the "surveyor" POS that he used to inspect his boat and it's still haunting him as he sells. No sir, if it were me I'd probably be looking into another hobby in the future if I were him, but I hope I'm wrong. Hang in there Paul!!!!
Click to expand...

We will most likely get another boat but it will be a lot smaller and most likely be outboard driven. Something under 20' that can tow the kids and can handle a bit of fishing etc.

Not sure what it is like in the USA but here in Australia the National Parks & Wildlife Service have slowly but surely been locking away vast areas of coastline as marine parks. This means no fishing allowed what it also means is that there are situations where you have to transit marine parks to get to fishing areas but you can be fined for bringing your catch back through a marine park if you have rigged rods etc onboard.

They are certainly taking a lot of the fun out of owning a boat here.
 
It's much the same here in regards to fishing law... You have to supply photographic or GPS evidence of where you caught your fish.
We are only allowed 1 days fish on board in the fridge + the days catch. You just about need to eat them while they're flapping to not get busted!
Busted = seizure of your boat, truck and trailer which you'll have to bid for (with the rest of NZ) if you ever want to see it again. Pays to not get busted. Our fisheries officers have more power than the police!
Well I feel better for that rant.
Good luck selling... Maybe your next boat will be a Sea ray/ 4 stroke outboard combo?
 
Paulkarlsven said:
Thanks for the reply John, yes I am referring to the oil pans. Two mechanics have now identified a definite leak from corrosion on the starboard engine and both say the port engine also has a possible leak.

The mechanic that gave me the second opinion has quoted for removal of both engines and replacement of both pans and the replacement of both the front and read main seals. He has quoted me a cost of parts at $2200.00 all up the total cost for parts and labor including the haul out of the boat, removal and refitting of both engines and sea trial to be $5750.00.
Click to expand...

Mav,

I would knock $6K off the selling price if you have a buyer lined up (you mentioned this was discovered via a Buyer's survey) and sell the boat. I really have a hard time believing that an oil pan has corroded to the point it is leaking oil. I can believe a rear main seal is leaking and oil is leaking around the pan but not through it.

I would love to see a digital picture of the corrosion.

-John
 
PlayDate said:
Mav,

I would knock $6K off the selling price if you have a buyer lined up (you mentioned this was discovered via a Buyer's survey) and sell the boat. I really have a hard time believing that an oil pan has corroded to the point it is leaking oil. I can believe a rear main seal is leaking and oil is leaking around the pan but not through it.

I would love to see a digital picture of the corrosion.

-John
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info John, unfortunately due to the cramped conditions in the engine room they have not been able to totally identify the source of the leak. Nobody has taken any photos under the engine, I am guessing it is just too tight to get into. I think the quote is taking the main seals as probably culprits which is why they have quoted the replacement of both front and rear main seals too.
 
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