Oil leak: 2003 GTX 4-TEC SC

[Kerrygarth]

Recently changed the oil and filter then took it for a short ride. Everything seemed fine until I put the ski under load accelerating up to 35mph at which time it sounded a constant long alarm/beep. Turning it off and back on cancelled the beep and there were no indications of any problems when restarting. Accelerated again and the beep returned and this time the oil warning light came on so I shut it off.

Returned to the nearby dock, checked the oil level and the dipstick was dry: no oil.
Loaded the ski on the trailer. Removed one of the hull drain plugs and a mixture of oil and water started pouring out. I captured all of it and it added up to about 7 quarts of oil and water mixed. It appears oil leaked around the filter but I haven’t explored the potential causes yet. I’m puzzled. Where did the water come from?

Any guidance as to what’s going on and what to look for is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Kerrygarth]

Ski is 2003 GTX 4-tec SC limited with about 160 hours on it. SC replaced last Spring and driven all summer and fall without any issues.

 

[skiasylum]

Did you run your ski on the trailer to warm up the engine oil before draining?

 

[Kerrygarth]

Yes, for a minute or two max before the initial oil change.

 

[skiasylum]

The most common way to get water in your oil is to have the flush hose running when the engine is not, how the oil water mixture got from the engine into the hull I am guessing a possible engine overheat and a improperly installed oil filter.

 

[Kerrygarth]

Yes

 

[skiasylum]

Your a premium member download a shop manual and follow the steps for a water flooded engine, or take it to a dealer.

 

[Kerrygarth]

Will do. Thanks.

Curious, how did water get into my hull? I didn’t flip it over or anything. That’s what is puzzling me.

 

[skiasylum]

I guessed it overheated and geysered out the oil filter cap or you could have left the fill cap off also. That would have been strike three.

 

[Kerrygarth]

I’m still puzzled because engine didn’t overheat and oil cap was firmly attached before and after the console started its constant beep. Only ran the ski at idling speeds with one 30-second high-speed period, which kicked off the oil light and alarm.

In any case, given the above, how does an oil leak, regardless of origin, allow water to get into the hull?

 

[skiasylum]

I’m still puzzled because engine didn’t overheat and oil cap was firmly attached before and after the console started its constant beep. Only ran the ski at idling speeds with one 30-second high-speed period, which kicked off the oil light and alarm.

In any case, given the above, how does an oil leak, regardless of origin, allow water to get into the hull?

By the earlier answer of “yes” I assumed you ran the hose on the flush port without the engine running and that’s how water gets mixed into the oil so any oil leak would also contain water

 

[Kerrygarth]

This was not an engine flushing-related event, it happened under normal operating conditions while on the water after about 15 minutes of normal at idle operation (was in a no wake zone). After leaving the no-wake zone and accelerating, the alarm went off.

I did just change the oil before this trip, which I have done numerous times before. Certainly, the new o-rings or seal on the oil filter could have been the problem which would leak oil only, right?

Given the dip stick went dry, I expected to see oil inside the hull but was very surprised to find oil mixed with lots of water.