Advice please! Example of why u should get your boat winterized!

[KDFW]

Im pretty sure the engine is trashed.. How do i check and see if its trashed.. I dont seem to have any water in the oil but with the manifolds cracked like they are should i have water in the block? I cant seem to find any cracks in the block.. Any advice would be nice..

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[KDFW]

Re: Advice please! Example of why u should get your boat winterized!

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Advice please! Example of why u should get your boat winterized!

Advice? Move to Florida and you won't have to worry about such things.

Actually, from what I understand, go ahead and hook up some water to the outdrive, (muffs), start it and run it for awhile, then check the oil and see if any water is in the oil (milkshake). That seems to be the usual advice from most.

 

[KDFW]

Re: Advice please! Example of why u should get your boat winterized!

I ran the boat on muffs and other than water shooting out of the cracks in the manifold it ran fine.. Didnt overheat and no water was in the oil..

 

[thrasher]

Re: Advice please! Example of why u should get your boat winterized!

The manifolds are supplied water by a seperate hose (not from the cylinder head) so you may get lucky and just have a cracked manifold!! Also because the manifolds stick out into free space, the water in them does freeze sooner than the water in the engine block..
Manifolds are a cheap repair! Well much cheaper than replacing the block!!
As you say you ran the engine and didn't see any water in the oil, I suggest you go and buy a lottary ticket, as it seems to be your lucky day!! You can get the manifold welded up, but I would personally recomend you change it for a new one.. Far less likely to go wrong than a repaired manifold..

Gary

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Advice please! Example of why u should get your boat winterized!

Consider yourself VERY lucky if only the manifolds cracked. Don't have them welded,Replace them!!

 

[KDFW]

Re: Advice please! Example of why u should get your boat winterized!

well how long should i run the engine on muffs to see if there is water in block? Is checking the oil the only way to see if water is in the block.. Other than pulling the motor of course.. Can i pull a spark plug and crank and see if water spits out where spark plug goes.. That might sound stupid.. but im just confused as to how water couldnt be in block..

 

[Don S]

Re: Advice please! Example of why u should get your boat winterized!

Instead of waiting for water to get into the oil, you can block off the hoses going to the manifolds and risers, then adapt an air pump to the hose that goes from the transom shield to the thermostat housing and pressureize the block with about 15 psi. It it pressurizes your block is fine.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Advice please! Example of why u should get your boat winterized!

When someone mentions "water in the block" they can mean two things. There should be water in the cooling passages in the engine -- that's normal. In your case, the manifold also has water in it and if the internal passage was also cracked, water gets into the exhaust passage and finds its way into the cylinder heads and combustion chambers where water is not supposed to be. Once there, it can also get past the rings and into the oil pan. Hence - "water in the block" can also be applied only this time its a really bad thing. The only way to check for water in the pan is to pull the dip stick and check. If you see milk shake on the stick instead of nice clean oil you have a problem. A cracked block (a crack in the water jacket) can also cause water to settle in the oil pan. If there was water in the combustion chamber you would not have been able to start the engine since water doesn't compress and therefore would lock the engine.

 

[thrasher]

Re: Advice please! Example of why u should get your boat winterized!

Unless its a huge water leak (and it clearly isn't as your engine runs) you will not see water coming into the cylinders, so removing the spark plugs and looking into the plug hole will not work!!
As Don says, the best way is to pressurise the cooling system and see if it leaks (looses pressure) but that is actually a difficult thing to do on a marine engine because the risers/cooling system vents into the exhaust system. I would suggest replacing the manifold and then use the boat a bit and just keep checking the oil (by looking at the dipstick). If after a couple of hours of use you don't see any white foam on the dipstick you can consider the engine good. If you do find a milky substance on the dipstick, then you need to come back to the trailor quickly and consider removing the engine to find the leak.. This way takes longer than Don's suggestion but is easier to do!!

Gary

 

[KDFW]

Re: Advice please! Example of why u should get your boat winterized!

Thanks for all the advice I think I found something bad.. But the boat starts right up and runs fine.. Ran for about 15 min with no problems but i did find this..

I think thats a crack in the block. So does that mean I shouldnt try all the other things everyone suggested? Thanks again for all the help..

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Advice please! Example of why u should get your boat winterized!

Looks like a cracked block to me! Just under where the head meets the block correct? I think you did not get lucky...bummer

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Advice please! Example of why u should get your boat winterized!

If that is a crack in the block in the waterjacket..... I have seen them welded up. It takes a knowledgable person who has dealt with cast iron welding but it can be done. The water pressure is not as great as you think and the weld only has to hold back maybe 15-18 psi.... we are not talking about a great deal of force.

As long as you do not have water and oil mixing it may be worth a try.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Advice please! Example of why u should get your boat winterized!

thrasher - it is not difficult to pressure test a marine engine. just disconnect and block off the hoses that feed the manifolds, or hook them together. Apply pressure to the intake on the circulating pump, watch for leak down.

 

[thrasher]

Re: Advice please! Example of why u should get your boat winterized!

Thanks Shabah,

I didn't think of that, I was trying to work out how to block the output of the risers!! It's much more sensible to just block the hoses feeding the manifold. Thanks for the advise.

Gary

 

[KDFW]

Re: Advice please! Example of why u should get your boat winterized!

Well its the only crack i've found.. I have someone who can weld cast iron.. I sure can't.. Should i run the boat on muffs anymore? I still dont have milky oil.. Oil looks fine.. Should i do compression test? What is a leak down test? if thats what its called.. What steps should i take now? sorry for all the questions and again thanks alot? I have found another motor for 2500.. the exact same one but a few years newer.. Not sure what to do..

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Advice please! Example of why u should get your boat winterized!

Good Luck !! I just had mine welded today , the welder has 28 YR Business ,welded mine with brass , holding pretty good (with muffs) but he did tell me if I had any probs. bring it back he'll fix it no charge. cost $65.oo

 

[njlarry]

Re: Advice please! Example of why u should get your boat winterized!

Can the engine cooling system be pressure tested by connecting a hose between the two outflows from the thermostat housing thus blocking them off from the exhaust and somehow adding pressure to the thermostat housing water intake from the raw water pump?