First off, sorry for the long post.
I took my '91 Reinell with 4.3 OMC HO engine out for the first time yesterday on the Columbia River. I de-winterized it before hand and ran it on the muffs for about 15 min. to check for problems of which there seemed to be none. I launched and ran for about 30 min. without any problems; running smooth and normal temperature. Then while running about 3800 rpms the engine gave a "pop" sound and kind of had a momentary miss. I quickly back it down to 2500 and it gave anouther pop. I then looked at the temp. gauge and it was pegged. I shut it down and let it idle for a short time (less than a minute), but the temp didn't go down, so I shut it off. Steam billowed out of the doghouse and it gave anouther "pop". I figured I had better at least let it cool down, so we spent about 30 minutes trying to paddle it out of the shipping channel (the current is pretty fierce there and barges do not attempt to avoid small craft). I checked the hoses and they were all tight and whole. I then tried the starter, but it just clunked without turning over. I knew then it was bad.
I'll leave out the parts where we had to paddle through Cascade Locks and were only saved from being carried way downstream by a big eddy that swirled us within reach of the shore and the launching ramp.
I checked the oil and it was at the full mark and not milky. I pulled the drains and all water flowed from the manifolds and the block. Then I pulled the plugs and, you guessed it, water in # 3&5 and 2&4. I turned the starter and pumped out all the water that would come out.
So I have had several beers and am trying to think where I go from here. Is it both head gaskets? Manifolds? Did the impeller let go and cause the overheat that caused the other promlems (although I changed it last August)?
I really don't want to take it to a mechanic and pay for him to just tell me ithe engine is toast. I am able to replace head gaskets myself. Or heads, or manifolds, if that's what it takes, but if it is totally shot, I don't want to waste my time and money. Especially on the OMC.
So, could anybody give me some advise about what you think may have happened and what steps I should take first? If it is totally shot, would it be worthwhile in the long run to convert it to a system that is still it business?
thanks, and sorry again about the long post
I took my '91 Reinell with 4.3 OMC HO engine out for the first time yesterday on the Columbia River. I de-winterized it before hand and ran it on the muffs for about 15 min. to check for problems of which there seemed to be none. I launched and ran for about 30 min. without any problems; running smooth and normal temperature. Then while running about 3800 rpms the engine gave a "pop" sound and kind of had a momentary miss. I quickly back it down to 2500 and it gave anouther pop. I then looked at the temp. gauge and it was pegged. I shut it down and let it idle for a short time (less than a minute), but the temp didn't go down, so I shut it off. Steam billowed out of the doghouse and it gave anouther "pop". I figured I had better at least let it cool down, so we spent about 30 minutes trying to paddle it out of the shipping channel (the current is pretty fierce there and barges do not attempt to avoid small craft). I checked the hoses and they were all tight and whole. I then tried the starter, but it just clunked without turning over. I knew then it was bad.
I'll leave out the parts where we had to paddle through Cascade Locks and were only saved from being carried way downstream by a big eddy that swirled us within reach of the shore and the launching ramp.
I checked the oil and it was at the full mark and not milky. I pulled the drains and all water flowed from the manifolds and the block. Then I pulled the plugs and, you guessed it, water in # 3&5 and 2&4. I turned the starter and pumped out all the water that would come out.
So I have had several beers and am trying to think where I go from here. Is it both head gaskets? Manifolds? Did the impeller let go and cause the overheat that caused the other promlems (although I changed it last August)?
I really don't want to take it to a mechanic and pay for him to just tell me ithe engine is toast. I am able to replace head gaskets myself. Or heads, or manifolds, if that's what it takes, but if it is totally shot, I don't want to waste my time and money. Especially on the OMC.
So, could anybody give me some advise about what you think may have happened and what steps I should take first? If it is totally shot, would it be worthwhile in the long run to convert it to a system that is still it business?
thanks, and sorry again about the long post
