white pastey substance on bottom 2 pistons?

[t_gilla]

There is a white pastey substance on the two bottom pistons only. It is a Johnson 140 hp V4 outboard engine. Took it out 2 days ago and ran fine, next day took it out and wouldn't go over 10 mph. Once home found out had broken spark plug wire on bottom left cylinder, bottom right cylinder spark plug was rusted on contact post. Cleaned spark plugs and wires, took boat back out again and it ran somewhat better, got back home and took out the bottom spark plugs and that is when I found this white pastey stuff. It sat for 2yrs uncovered with fuel in tank, one mechanic said could be water in the fuel because would be unlikely to blow two seperate head gaskets at the same time. The other mechanic said the head gaskets were probably blown. Could anyone help with this problem, I don't know much about boat motors and I need some help fixing it. Don't have the extra money to have a mechanic look at it, but if I know what it is then I could fix it myself because I work on cars. This boat means a lot to me since it was my fathers and he enjoyed it very much when he was alive. Thanks in advance

 

[noelm]

Re: white pastey substance on bottom 2 pistons?

OK, first off, that white pastey stuff is more than likely water, so we need to find out where it is coming from, it would be pretty unusual to get that amount of water through the carbs, but possible, so you need to drain the carby bowls as a first step, if any water comes out, then a full carby rebuild and a fuel tank clean is in order, if none comes out, then it is getting in from the water jackets somehow, head gasket? maybe. do the easy checks first as I have described.

 

[t_gilla]

Re: white pastey substance on bottom 2 pistons?

Carb is clean,put new plugs and wires and cleaned the fuel tank, put it in the tub let it run for about 20 minutes, took off the plugs and they were clean, put them back in and ran it for another 20 min, pulled the plugs and the water was back, then ran a compression check on all 4 and all come out right at sixty on the dot. My compression tester is crap so i'm pretty sure that the reading is off but the good thing was that all the pressure was exactly the same. The problem now is that the water is back and i have no idea how it got there. One mechanic told me that most likly its not the head gasket since its in both heads another said something about a water jacket. I have no idea if you do please let me know. I don't even know if water runs through the heads. scared to tear it apart until i know how it works. Thanks
If anyone else know please let me know

 

[noelm]

Re: white pastey substance on bottom 2 pistons?

except for the possibility of breaking bolts, there is nothing scarey about removing the heads on that motor, the water does indeed run through the heads as well as around the cylinders, so you need to find out how it is getting in, and do not leave the motor sitting around with water in it. Are you positive there is now water in the fuel tank/system?

 

[t_gilla]

Re: white pastey substance on bottom 2 pistons?

i went and filled up a 5 gallon gas can and drew gas straight from there. I just didn't want to pull the head intil i knew what it was causing the promblem so i didn't get any more moister in then i had too and cause any more problems then there already are. just waiting to get the most likely cause of the promblem then try to fix it.

 

[F_R]

Re: white pastey substance on bottom 2 pistons?

More than likely coming from the exhaust area and squirting into the ports. What year is the motor? If you have any idea of saving that motor, you MUST locate that leak. It is doing irrepairable damage as the water finds it's way into the crankcase and destroys all the roller bearings--may already be too late.

Remove both cylinder heads and the exhaust cover (between the cylinder "V") The leak will be in one of those places. Like I said, most likely the exhaust

 

[ezeke]

Re: white pastey substance on bottom 2 pistons?

One way that water in the lower cylinders causes problems is from storing the motor tilted up, so that the engine cannot possibly drain normally. I just picked up a V4 block from the welder today where trapped water had cracked the block when it froze.

As recommended, take the cylinder heads off so that you can inspect your cylinders.

There is no question that a water separating fuel filter is a necessity; you need to dump them as a matter of routine.

 

[t_gilla]

Re: white pastey substance on bottom 2 pistons?

1981 140 Alright first thing in the morning i will remove the heads. the exaust between the the v, i'm not sure exactly what that is. Do i remove the part with the two tubes running to the heads mounted at very bottom, or is the somthing in the tub (not sure what you call it) that has the tube that streams water out of the bottom of cover?

 

[ezeke]

Re: white pastey substance on bottom 2 pistons?

The exhaust cover is the large bubbleback part with too many screws that is located between the two banks of cylinders . When the gaskets fail the water can flow back into cylinders through the exhaust ports.

Check the parts catalog for your cylinder and crankcase here: http://shop.evinrude.com/

 

[t_gilla]

Re: white pastey substance on bottom 2 pistons?

ok, got it . Thanks for all the help. I got more information talking to you then the three mechanics i talked to. When i get everything ready to go back on , where would i find all the torque spec for the heads and exaust? Thanks again

 

[ezeke]

Re: white pastey substance on bottom 2 pistons?

The best way would be to have your own factory service manual: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Evin...10106112814QQptZMotorsQ5fManualsQ5fLiterature

 

[t_gilla]

Re: white pastey substance on bottom 2 pistons?

got the heads and exaust gasket off today. There is grease and water comming from the lower end backing back up throught the exaust and into the heads. soo it looks to be the exsaust gasket. Right? I hope anyway.
Thanks