please help me with my OMC 230

[coff52008]

I recently bought a 1980 BeachCraft with a omc 230 with a 305 V8 and a Stern Drive 800. I took it to the lake and within the first 5 minutes of running it I had watery oil coming threw my valve cover breather tubes and water was spraying in from some where out of the side of my motor. I put it back on the trailer and the compertment underneath my motor was completely filled with light brown watery oil. The motor ran perfectly fine. No backfiring or bad idle. I have been reading some forums and see alot of peaple saying its either a bad head or exhaust gaskets. What do you think and how sure are you? I dont want to take it to a mechanic and I am praying that it is not a cracked block. PLEASE HELP.

 

[danond]

Re: please help me with my OMC 230

It's more likely you have a cracked block.

Water won't enter the engine while it's running from the exhaust gaskets, and if it's running well, it's probably not a head gasket. You can confirm it's not a head gasket with a compression test.

When an engine fills with water while it's running, there's a 90%+ chance it's a cracked block. You can pressure test the cooling system to start the diagnosis.

Always lake test before you buy.

 

[coff52008]

Re: please help me with my OMC 230

Ok so if its a cracked block, what kind of repairs can i do? How much would it cost to replace? Is it worth replacing? Thanks for your input.

 

[rs2k]

Re: please help me with my OMC 230

If you have a cracked block then you need a new block. That means you need a new or rebuilt motor. You cannot rebuild the one you have if the block is cracked.

For a 350 you're looking at around $1200 - $2000 plus install. I would not put a 305 back in the boat. They cost the same and are less powerful.


Is your boat worth putting that kind of money into? If your out drive is in good working order you could probably part it out for around $1500. It might be better to put that money into another boat.

One of my motors had water getting into the oil because of a bad exhaust riser gasket, but it ran bad and hydro locked. I've only seen cracked blocks cause what you are describing. If you pull off the intake I bet you'll find a big crack in the valley.

 

[coff52008]

Re: please help me with my OMC 230

could it possibly be a cracked head and not the block? i didnt see anything that looked like a crack on the side of the motor. Ive been reading around and see where alot of peaople have water in there oil and they say it is from the exhaust gasket that is leaking into the motor. Are they on to something? by taking the head off can i see if there is a crack on the block or head?

 

[rs2k]

Re: please help me with my OMC 230

Either way you need to pull the heads and have a look. SBCs like to crack in the valley. If it is cracked you shouldn't have any trouble seeing it with the intake manifold off. I doubt it's the exhaust riser gasket, but you might get lucky, I did.

I guess it's possible that you have a bad intake manifold gasket. That can leak water into the oil, but that doesn't explain this comment:

...water was spraying in from some where out of the side of my motor.

That is exactly what you would expect from a cracked block.

None of your symptoms match a cracked head.


How did the engine sound and run? An engine with a cracked block can run very well when not spewing water everywhere while an engine with a cracked head or blown head gasket usually doesn't run good at all.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: please help me with my OMC 230

You say you also had water spraying outside the motor. That should be easy enough to locate without removing anything but the motor cover,

However as disheartening as it is, methinks the writing is on the wall. Exactly how long have you had the boat? You say you bought it recently? Any chance of any recourse with the seller?

 

[rs2k]

Re: please help me with my OMC 230

If the crack is only in the valley and on the side then you can always try repairing the block with JB weld, but be prepared to get stranded if the repair gives out.

 

[rs2k]

Re: please help me with my OMC 230

Here's another thread that talks about repairing blocks with JB Weld.


http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?p=1667715