Ran into a potential problem with the boat sale. The buyer's surveyor
discovered that the oil pans on the engines were in bad shape and need to be
replaced. I never noticed (although I never really personally inspected
them having owned the boat for less than a year) and the surveyor I had
when I bought it missed them completely.

But, it looks like it will work out. I had lowered the price of the boat
significantly in the interest of a sale this spring and the buyer realizes
that. We've agreed to split the cost of installing new oil pans on the
engines.

But, for those with older inboards ... it's worth a check. (my boat is a
1996) The OEM engines typically have painted sheet metal oil pans and the
environment they are in (low in the bilges) make 'em prone to rusting out,
especially if the bilge collects rain water as it does on my boat.

The last thing you want is to have one let go and then have your bilge pump
deposit all the oil in the water surrounding your boat. Can you spell
"EPA" and "Fine"?

Eisboch

Eisboch wrote:

Ran into a potential problem with the boat sale. The buyer's surveyor
discovered that the oil pans on the engines were in bad shape and need
to be replaced. I never noticed (although I never really personally
inspected them having owned the boat for less than a year) and the
surveyor I had when I bought it missed them completely.

But, it looks like it will work out. I had lowered the price of the
boat significantly in the interest of a sale this spring and the buyer
realizes that. We've agreed to split the cost of installing new oil
pans on the engines.

But, for those with older inboards ... it's worth a check. (my boat is
a 1996) The OEM engines typically have painted sheet metal oil pans and
the environment they are in (low in the bilges) make 'em prone to
rusting out, especially if the bilge collects rain water as it does on
my boat.

The last thing you want is to have one let go and then have your bilge
pump deposit all the oil in the water surrounding your boat. Can you
spell "EPA" and "Fine"?

Eisboch

Who surveyed your boat, Stevie Wonder? Your share should be 500-1000.
See if you can get your surveyor to split the cost with you.

Eisboch wrote:

Ran into a potential problem with the boat sale. The buyer's surveyor
discovered that the oil pans on the engines were in bad shape and need
to be replaced. I never noticed (although I never really personally
inspected them having owned the boat for less than a year) and the
surveyor I had when I bought it missed them completely.

But, it looks like it will work out. I had lowered the price of the
boat significantly in the interest of a sale this spring and the buyer
realizes that. We've agreed to split the cost of installing new oil
pans on the engines.

But, for those with older inboards ... it's worth a check. (my boat is
a 1996) The OEM engines typically have painted sheet metal oil pans and
the environment they are in (low in the bilges) make 'em prone to
rusting out, especially if the bilge collects rain water as it does on
my boat.

The last thing you want is to have one let go and then have your bilge
pump deposit all the oil in the water surrounding your boat. Can you
spell "EPA" and "Fine"?

Eisboch

Who surveyed your boat, Stevie Wonder? Your share should be 500-1000.
See if you can get your surveyor to split the cost with you.

Eisboch wrote:

Ran into a potential problem with the boat sale. The buyer's surveyor
discovered that the oil pans on the engines were in bad shape and need
to be replaced. I never noticed (although I never really personally
inspected them having owned the boat for less than a year) and the
surveyor I had when I bought it missed them completely.

Just for my own further education, how did he determine they were not
longer fit for service? Has the boat seen salt water? I have only ever
had to replace one oil pan in 33 years working on boats (and it was
cracked) so this is very interesting to me.



--
Regards,
Dave Brown
Brown's Marina Ltd
http://brownsmarina.com/

"Tim" wrote in message
...
On Apr 15, 7:11 pm, Dave Brown wrote:
Eisboch wrote:
Ran into a potential problem with the boat sale. The buyer's surveyor
discovered that the oil pans on the engines were in bad shape and need
to be replaced. I never noticed (although I never really personally
inspected them having owned the boat for less than a year) and the
surveyor I had when I bought it missed them completely.

Just for my own further education, how did he determine they were not
longer fit for service? Has the boat seen salt water? I have only ever
had to replace one oil pan in 33 years working on boats (and it was
cracked) so this is very interesting to me.

--
Regards,
Dave Brown
Brown's Marina Ltd
http://brownsmarina.com/

Dave, I was wondering abou that myself. I've never known of anybody
having an oil pan rust though like what Richard is describing.
besides, if it was THAT bad, then the bildge would already be filed
with oil, I would think.

I'm wondering if the gasket[s] or main seals are leaking instead?

I boat both salt and fresh. Eisboch's is a sal****er boat. When I pulled
the engine to replace it, the pan was close to rusting through. Lots of the
head bolts on outside of the valve cover were partly rusted away on the
heads. I had scraped the pan of flaking paint and rust at least 2 years
before and treated the metal and painted.

Tim wrote:
On Apr 15, 7:11 pm, Dave Brown wrote:
Eisboch wrote:
Ran into a potential problem with the boat sale. The buyer's surveyor
discovered that the oil pans on the engines were in bad shape and need
to be replaced. I never noticed (although I never really personally
inspected them having owned the boat for less than a year) and the
surveyor I had when I bought it missed them completely.
Just for my own further education, how did he determine they were not
longer fit for service? Has the boat seen salt water? I have only ever
had to replace one oil pan in 33 years working on boats (and it was
cracked) so this is very interesting to me.

--
Regards,
Dave Brown
Brown's Marina Ltd
http://brownsmarina.com/

Dave, I was wondering abou that myself. I've never known of anybody
having an oil pan rust though like what Richard is describing.
besides, if it was THAT bad, then the bildge would already be filed
with oil, I would think.

I'm wondering if the gasket[s] or main seals are leaking instead?

Salt water takes it's toll. This is not uncommon to have a pan rusted
out. He's lucky to have caught it before it leaked. The corners of the
sump and near the drain plug are usually the problem areas because they
are the lowest and wettest parts of the pan.

On Apr 15, 10:01*pm, jim78565 wrote:
Tim wrote:
On Apr 15, 7:11 pm, Dave Brown wrote:
Eisboch wrote:
Ran into a potential problem with the boat sale. *The buyer's surveyor
discovered that the oil pans on the engines were in bad shape and need
to be replaced. * I never noticed *(although I never really personally
inspected them having owned the boat for less than a year) *and the
surveyor I had when I bought it missed them completely.
Just for my own further education, how did he determine they were not
longer fit for service? Has the boat seen salt water? I have only ever
had to replace one oil pan in 33 years working on boats (and it was
cracked) so this is very interesting to me.

--
Regards,
* * * Dave Brown
* * * Brown's Marina Ltd
* * *http://brownsmarina.com/

Dave, I was wondering abou that myself. I've never known of anybody
having an oil pan rust though like what Richard is describing.
besides, if it was THAT bad, then the bildge would already be filed
with oil, I would think.

I'm wondering if the gasket[s] *or main seals are leaking instead?

Salt water takes it's toll. This is not uncommon to have a pan rusted
out. He's lucky to have caught it before it leaked. The corners of the
sump and near the drain plug are usually the problem areas because they
are the lowest and wettest parts of the pan.

Thanks guys. I'm not blinded to the fact that it can't happen,but i
suppose thats from leading a sheltered life of fresh-water trailer
boating.....

?;^ )

"Dave Brown" wrote in message
...
Eisboch wrote:

Ran into a potential problem with the boat sale. The buyer's surveyor
discovered that the oil pans on the engines were in bad shape and need to
be replaced. I never noticed (although I never really personally
inspected them having owned the boat for less than a year) and the
surveyor I had when I bought it missed them completely.

Just for my own further education, how did he determine they were not
longer fit for service? Has the boat seen salt water? I have only ever had
to replace one oil pan in 33 years working on boats (and it was cracked)
so this is very interesting to me.





Dave, I don't know the answer other than what was reported to me over the
telephone.
The buyer's surveyor claims that one of the engines appears to have a
fiberglass patch on it's oil pan and claims that the other engine pan
appears to have a tiny leak in it.

Both comments surprised me because, although I never personally inspected
them with a mirror or anything, I never had any oil in the bilge or noticed
the "patch". As I mentioned, when I bought the boat last May, the surveyor
I hired did not notice it either. That doesn't mean it wasn't there, he
just didn't notice.

Your comments are of interest because in the past I have heard the same
thing, meaning the oil pans typically don't rust out normally. I *have*
heard that if the pan is damaged, or the paint is scratched badly during an
engine hauling event (for whatever reason) that the pan can rust
prematurely.

I'll find out more in the next couple of days and report back the findings.

Eisboch

"Dave Brown" wrote in message
...


Just for my own further education, how did he determine they were not
longer fit for service? Has the boat seen salt water? I have only ever had
to replace one oil pan in 33 years working on boats (and it was cracked)
so this is very interesting to me.


Forgot to mention:

Yes, the boat has been used in salt water. I've not noticed any major
amount of leakage into the bilge through the rudder or drive shafts however.
It does get some fresh water due to heavy rain, but not a gigantic amount.

Eisboch

"jim78565" wrote in message
...

Tim wrote:

Dave, I was wondering abou that myself. I've never known of anybody
having an oil pan rust though like what Richard is describing.
besides, if it was THAT bad, then the bildge would already be filed
with oil, I would think.

I'm wondering if the gasket[s] or main seals are leaking instead?


Salt water takes it's toll. This is not uncommon to have a pan rusted out.
He's lucky to have caught it before it leaked. The corners of the sump and
near the drain plug are usually the problem areas because they are the
lowest and wettest parts of the pan.



I've heard the same thing and have been told that you need to be
particularly careful not to scratch the paint on the pans with wrenches or
when pulling the engine for any repairs. As you know, I've had a bunch of
older boats in the past, but this is the first time I've had to deal with
this issue. I *do* know that replacement marine oil pans are available in
aluminum specifically made to avoid rusting.

Remember the old Century with the rotted out engine plug that was ****ing
water out the side of the engine? For those people not familiar with this
story, it wasn't a "freeze" plug. It was a heavy, threaded plug in the side
wall of the raw water cooled (GM) 350 engine that rotted away over time.
I noticed it after starting the engine and saw a healthy stream of water
coming out of the side of the engine.

I've had older cars that got pinhole leaks in the gas tank, but never in the
oil pan (that I know of).

Eisboch