How to clean out emulsified oil sludge after taking on water?

[Dave Little]

Ok,
During a ride about a week ago I was transiting a small lake and the water got deep real fast and I swamped my SX. Engine was running just up off of idle when it took on water. I was surprised as hell when the machine floated after I got off. Anyway, I had no tools on me to pull the plug with so I just cranked it for a while taking short breaks here and there until it fired off. Lots of water vapor out the muffler and crazy idle. I know I should have drained the oil right then, but I was more interested in making it out of the woods than the engine. Anyway, when I finally got home and had a chance to drain the oil, it was a white milky mess. Well, looked more like melted coffee icecream. Enigne had about 45 minutes of easy run time after the water boarding.

I changed the oil filter, put in GN4 and let it run for about 7 minutes and drained the oil. Did this two more times except with Walmart 10w30 and some engine flush and other time with a little Marvel added since that is what I had on-hand, and I did not want to stat pissing through my GN4. Oil looks pretty decent now when it drains out, but I have this cream colored milky sludge build up in the inside of the engine that cycling new oil through the engine does not seem to address. Any tips on getting this sludge out, or will I have to pull the covers, give them a ride in the parts washer and use brake kleen on the rest of the engine and do two more oil flushes?

Engine seems to run fine, holds an idle but definitely has extra little noises that where not there before getting swamped. I'm not worried, I've got 3 more '86 engines and an '87 if it comes to it but would prefer to get this one back to where it was.

Any advice on this guys?

Yes, I changed the diff oil just because, showed very little water, btw

[Name Brand]

I've had this happen many times to my '85 SX before I snorkeled it and raised all the vents to the top of the air box. Check the link under the picture in my signature to see what I did. I have no water intrusion problems now.
Use some Sea Foam to remove water from gear cases. Instructions are on the bottle. During the oil change, remove the filter from the right side engine case. Remove the spark plug wire from the plug and use the electric start for just half a second to turn the engine. You will get more contaminated oil to push out the hard line that runs from the cylinder head. It will come out the where the filter would sit. I just used a disposable rag to catch it.
I've filled my engine with water (some of it very silty; think liquid sandpaper) probably ten times. Hence my need for a snorkel. I once smacked the bottom of the left side engine case on a rock. Popped a hole in it and lost all engine oil. I didn't realize it had happened for probably thirty minutes and was nearly out of oil. I've been lucky and my engine still runs great. Do make sure to put together at least a small toolkit; plug wrench, flathead and #2 Phillips screwdrivers, 10, 12, 14 and 17 mm wrenches.
When an engine is hydro'd or suspected do not start it. The first step is shut off the fuel, pull the spark plug, lean the machine over to pour water out the engine and also exhaust. Then kick until no water comes out. Then reassemble and try to start. Don't rev it up, just let it come back to a steady idle until it operates normally again. Because water doesn't compress, if you try to run the engine without properly removing the water from the cylinder it will damage valves or rings.
These wheelers will take a lot of abuse if they get good maintenance. It's good cause I love playing in water with mine!

[Dave Little]

Thanks for the advice NB, I appreciate it. Last night I popped the cases off to have a look and it wasn't that bad. Just the oil filter cavity and the starter gear cavity were filled with the sh*t so I assumed the rest of the engine was likely in the same shape. It could have been, I'll never know for sure but suspect my repeated engine flushes had some effect.


I'll most certainly ride with tools and an extra plug next time, shame on me, it's been just under a year since I rode last. Went through your entire SX thread, that's pretty sweet with all the mods you've done, and the trailside fix to get home. I'll button this up later this morning with new gaskets and call it good. Thanks.

[dougspcs]

Sounds like you've done what you should..since water isn't a very good lubricant the key is to get it out of the engine ASAP.

Whether your 45 mins light run did any harm will show over time, most likely in the form of blue smoke and burning oil.

To go crazy with flushing products now is pointless, the little bit of milky you are seeing is of course emulsified water.

A bit of running at operating temp will boil off the water. You may see steam during this time from the vent tube.

Ride on!

[beets442]

Great advice,just keep changing the oil as frequently as possible. Sitting is not good either,any time you can warm that engine helps evaporate.

[Gearheadtom]

I have noticed that moisture in the engine will collect in where the starter gears are in the form of that water oil sludge mix. I think it's because that area is a little cooler so the water vapor condenses. Same thing as when you notice the same water sluge mix inside the oil fill cap on a car motor. Makes things look way worse than it is.

[TheRealFatShady]

I've always used diesel or kerosene, but add it and only run it for a few minutes til it warms up, then drain the oil and add new oil + filter.

Before you do this, wait for someone else to chip on on this. It's kind of redneck I guess, but I've done it many times.

ATF also works.

[Dave Little]

Thanks for the responses guys, it is appreciated. I wrapped it up today, added some Wal-Mart 10w30 started and ran at idle until hot , drained hot and then added GN4, I'd say it's done until the top end upgrade. New gaskets, shellac on the case side- grease on the engine side. live & learn.

Dave

[TecateDan]

U should come make the next nh ride !!! Looking like the 27th if around