Lifter Noise

Rod R-You've used this kerosene procedure before? And it didn't cause any problems?

No doubt kerosene would clean everything, but it has almost lubricating properties (I'm familiar with this because I work in the diesel engine industry and some countries would like to burn kerosene rather than diesel). I would think that your main, rod, and cam bearings would be toast in no time, along with the lifters and cam lobes.

Well, you said all replies appreciated, so here's my $0.02, it's worth what it costs.

I have run into noisey lifters more than a few times on cars and trucks I have bought... I never used this method on a boat, but it would work the same.

1. First of all, drain the old oil and remove the filter. Buy a cheap filter for this procedure.
2. Put the cheap filter on and fill the crankcase with approximately one gallon of kerosene. You can buy engine flush if you want to, but it is basically kerosene and it comes in one quart cans only....

Anyway, you should have a new filter and one gallon of kerosene in your engine now (some people use diesel fuel.. I have not). If your engine carries more than 5 quarts of oil you need more kerosene.

3. Start the engine, and IDLE ONLY. IDLE ONLY, I cannot stress this enough.... nothing over 1200 rpm's, less is better. Let the engine idle for two, or three, or four minutes...   Make sure you have the boat in the water or a water sourced hooked to the engine. Let it idle for a few minutes. If it makes any noise that makes you uncomfortable, kill the engine, immediately. But, it should idle quietly. Once it has idled for say five minutes maximum, kill the engine and let it sit for 15 mimutes.

4. Re-start the engine and let it idle for a couple of minutes. Kill the engine and drain the kerosene. This is a mess. Your engine is pretty clean at this point. Fill it with good oil, I like Mobile 1, and a new filter and start it up. Hopefully the engine is quiet at this point. If not, you could repeat the process, but if you let it get that dirty it was probably damaged and repeating will not likely help. I would change the oil pretty soon as you can't estimate the residual kerosene in the engine. If your boat is like mine and draining the oil removes less that you'd like, then drain and refill a second time. Oil is cheap.

Hope this helps, but if it didn't it only cost you $0.02, materials not included, it was worth a try.

Rod R