Exhaust Baffles?

[dpsuggs]

This is a great site and just using the search function, I believe I have solved a water in cylinder issue I'm having. There is one question I have though, just to be positive.
Engine is a Volvo Penta 4.3 GL with SX drive. It is in a 2001 Monterey 190 LS. I know the boat model is typically irrelevant except that the service guy says those "cheaper" boats don't always use baffles or flappers in the exhaust to prevent water from backwashing into the engine. So that's my question...Can anyone tell me if Monterey used baffles in 2001?

If anyone cares for the rest of the story, the boat has been hard to start. After running it over Memorial weekend I decided a day later to check the plugs among other things. I found moisture on basically every spark plug and a few ounces of water ran out of two cylinders. No water in the oil. From researching here, all signs point to the manifold riser area as a source for corrosion and leakage. The boat runs fine after it starts. Water seems to accumulate when it sits.

The guy at the service desk basically sounds like he doesn't know what the heck he is going on. From reading on this site, it appears that this problem is fairly common. He went from telling me it needed a new engine, to saying my "cheaper" boat was backwashing the exhaust. If this problem is really that common, the risers should have been the first place they looked.
BTW...they did perform a compression test and he said all cylinders had 150 or greater. "Greater" being the ones that probably had water in them.

 

[Don S]

Re: Exhaust Baffles?

They were known as Flapper Valves by Volvo and were discontinued by Volvo in 99. Had nothing to do with the make of the boat, If it was powered by Volvo after 99, it didn't have the flappers. Period, end of story. Doesn't matter who built the boat.
Here is the bulletin

Now, why you have water could be how the boat is loaded, or operated. Heavy stern load could put the exhaust below water line if boat is not running. Dieseling can cause water injestion.

 

[dpsuggs]

Re: Exhaust Baffles?

Thanks Don.
I questioned that with the service guy. He said those "cheaper" boat mfg's ordered the engines without the flapper to save $90.

The engine has not been dieseling or backfiring and it has only been loaded with two adults and a two year old plus life jackets. It hasn't been anywhere near overloaded. The problem has to be leaking risers as it runs fine when you get it to crank.

 

[Don S]

Re: Exhaust Baffles?

He said those "cheaper" boat mfg's ordered the engines without the flapper to save $90

LOL, never heard that one before Guess they go by the old saying .....

If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with BS

 

[JustJason]

Re: Exhaust Baffles?

i havent heard that one before
I digg it though!

 

[dpsuggs]

Re: Exhaust Baffles?

You would think that a service guy who works at a dealer who only sell boats that come with Volvo Penta engines would know that they haven't come with flappers since 99. It's sad that I had to relay that to him.

Anyone know of a reputable and knowledgeable shop in the Huntsville, AL area?

 

[njlarry]

Re: Exhaust Baffles?

sounds like a "cheaper service guy", we all run into them then run the other way.

 

[dpsuggs]

Re: Exhaust Baffles?

The service guy just called back and said it "may" have a cracked intake, but they won't know until they take it off. I asked how an air intake would let water into the cylinders because typically there is not water in an air intake. He said the 4.3 has a "valley" of water running through the intake. I doubt this, but I'm a marine engine newb, so maybe you guys can clarify.

They still have not even looked at the exhaust risers as I requested. I told them to stop working on it and I would come pick it up.

 

[Don S]

Re: Exhaust Baffles?

Yes, there is water in the intake, think about where the thermostat housing is. BUT, the only water that would leak would go into the oil, not the cylinders.

 

[dpsuggs]

Re: Exhaust Baffles?

Your right Don. I was having a brain cramp over here. He kept saying "valley" and I was picturing the area below the intake in my head. Like a valley pan. Duh.

If the water passage were cracked and leaking into an air intake port then couldn't it get water into the head and cylinder. But then the engine wouldn't run at all and the intake would be full of water also. I should be able to look down the carb and check, right?

 

[Don S]

Re: Exhaust Baffles?

If the water passage were cracked and leaking into an air intake port then couldn't it get water into the head and cylinder.

To be honest, I don't think the water passage is that close to an intake passage. If it were, there would be an awful lot of blown engines that hydrolock under power, and that doesn't happen.

 

[dpsuggs]

Re: Exhaust Baffles?

I picked the boat up friday and took it home and looked it over myself. I pulled the plugs and sprayed WD40 up into the cylinders then bumped the engine over to disperse any water. Number 4 and 6 shot a significant amount of water out. I couldn't see the other side very well.
I pulled the risers off and the gaskets both appeared to be good. No obvious cracks were present in the risers or either manifold. There was water in the low spot of the manifold where the exhaust would be coming from #4. It appeared damp in there overall, while the port side appeared dry and chalky like carbon in an exhaust should look. I shot some more WD40 in the cylinders and left the spark plugs out hoping it would help dry it out.
I'm about to leave town for a week, so I took it to another shop that I was referred to. I figured it was best to get it some attention rather than letting it sit there unitl I got back.

 

[dpsuggs]

Re: Exhaust Baffles?

The saga continues. The mechanic called a few weeks ago and says that he can't find any cracks in the exhaust risers. So he pulled the intake manifold and voila. There was a definitive crack that he says was half arse repaired. So the first repair facility did make a semi accurate diagnosis even though they appeared to be taking shots in the dark. I guess I owe them an apology. Second is that the guy I bought it from did not disclose any major repairs and said "the boat has been regularly serviced and is in tip top condition." He was the only other owner of the boat.
The mechanic ordered a new manifold and replaced it. He ran the boat down the river and said everything was running fine, but that the starter was having issues and making an awful noise. It was likely damaged from trying to start while hydrolocked. I authorized him to replace the starter.
Fast forward another week...He put the new starter on today and did a final once over. He found water in the oil once again. So evidently the manifold crack wasn't the only crack. It is still getting water in the cylinders and leaking past the rings into the oil pan when it sits. Any thoughts?
I'm stuck and don't know what to do. I'm throwing good money after bad at this point. I'm going to try to call the seller tonight, even though I expect to get nowhere with him.
The mechanic says it will likely need a new engine to the tune of $6500 plus what I have already racked up (totalling half of what I paid for the boat). He has maintained good contact with me through every step, so I have to commend him on that.
This is very disheartening for a first time boat owner. It only reinforces what I heard; that the two best days in a boaters life are when he buys a boat and when he sells it.