Outboard Oil Analysis - High Sodium

A

ATPNW

Member
Hi All,

We've had our 2006 Cape Cruiser 23 with twin 2005 Honda BF50's for around a year now. Fished hard this summer and recently went through the end of year maintenance. I sampled motor oil from each outboard and sent it in to Blackstone Laboratories to have it analyzed. The motors have about 500 hours a piece on them now. The starboard motor came back with a high sodium reading, indicating coolant (pretty sure there is no coolant) / salt water contamination. I am hoping you all can provide some guidance on where i should start poking around regarding my issue. When I purchased the boat, both motors had a lot of salt build up in the water jackets which I was able to clear up with Rydlyme. Is my only culprit the head gasket? Ive never pulled apart a motor, but have done plenty of fluid changes, spark plugs and brakes on vehicles. So id consider myself more in the novice/intermediate range of mechanics.

Thanks,
 
ATPNW":3g7pmb34 said:
Hi All,

We've had our 2006 Cape Cruiser 23 with twin 2005 Honda BF50's for around a year now. Fished hard this summer and recently went through the end of year maintenance. I sampled motor oil from each outboard and sent it in to Blackstone Laboratories to have it analyzed. The motors have about 500 hours a piece on them now. The starboard motor came back with a high sodium reading, indicating coolant (pretty sure there is no coolant) / salt water contamination. I am hoping you all can provide some guidance on where i should start poking around regarding my issue. When I purchased the boat, both motors had a lot of salt build up in the water jackets which I was able to clear up with Rydlyme. Is my only culprit the head gasket? Ive never pulled apart a motor, but have done plenty of fluid changes, spark plugs and brakes on vehicles. So id consider myself more in the novice/intermediate range of mechanics.

Thanks,
Click to expand...

There is no coolant - you are right. How about change the washer on the oil plug? I'm not joking. Also....change your oil more often. Anyway....the the washer costs about nothing and more frequent oil changes are pretty close. I wouldn't get out of shape because of a lab result depending how crazy it was, but I'd do those simple things and monitor closely. The washer is actually something that should get changed out after each oil change and can cause your lab results.
 
jkidd":c2jd8sg4 said:
I think I would do a compression test and a leak down test to check the top end.
Click to expand...

Not a bad idea on any new to you engine - probably better to do it before it's a new to you engine. But with no reported oil consumption or no goofy drivability issues, it's hard to imagine anything too serious will come up on a compression test - but maybe. It could very well be a head gasket, or as simple as the drain plug washer leaking. A leak down test usually does provide a good compass heading - more meaningful than a compression test usually. With that said, Honda 50s are nearly bomb proof....I am hoping the problem is the 20 cent washer.
 
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