White Sludge 4.3 OMC 1988

[KrisHall]

Hi Guys.<br /><br />Im in need of help and advise. I bought a 21ft Glasstream Regatta Cuddy last Spring down in Florida. It needed alot of cosmetic work but the engine and drive ran like a swiss watch.<br /><br />I put it in the water twice while I was down in Florida and discovered a couple other minor problems (fuel tank leak and corroded starter leads). I fixed those problems with a new tank, floor, and leads. From that point on the boat (assuming it was fixed and ready to go whenever i was) has not been in the water.<br /><br />This last summer I brought it up to my other place in Arkansas and I have run it occasionally to keep the batteries up.<br /><br />Yesterday (for the same reason) I went out and hooked up the water and fired her up...The engine runs like it always has (no missing or indication of any problem of any kind). However When I went back to the engine compartment to switch the battery selector to "both" to charge both batteries I noticed something HORRIFING!!!<br /><br />This 4.3 liter OMC is puking white sludge out the valve cover vents up the intake breather hoses!!!<br /><br />I shut the engine off and disconnected the breather hoses off the valve cover vents, let it sit a while (with water still running to the drive) Then started it back up...The Valve Cover vents then first regergitated pure water for a short while and then came the white sludge.<br /><br />I shut the engine off and quite frankly do not know what to do...As a pretty good auto mechanic (not MARINE) My first guess would be a blown head gasket from the Florida Gulf which Im fairly certain the boat has seen alot of...<br /><br />But I also know there are things on this system involving the cooling system that I have never dealt with before and the engine shows NO indication (other than the sludge) of anything wrong with it...It runs fine which does not make sense.<br /><br />The engine will still fire up and run fine but I am scared to death to do so because (from automotive know) I know what can happen to the main bearings, rod bearings, pistons and cylinder walls.<br /><br />Anyone know where I can get a overhaul book on this engine in case I have to pul the heads so I will be able to effectivley run the valves on re-installation???<br /><br />One question that might be asked of me is did I winterize the boat for cold weather...I know nothing about marine applications and have no clue as to what it means to "Winterize"...So the answer would be no.<br /><br />We have had terenchal rains here in Arkansas but I see no way that much water could have gotten into the engine.

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: White Sludge 4.3 OMC 1988

Kris,I have no idea how cold it gets in Arkansas,but if below freezing you may have substantial cracks in the block,heads,and manifolds.Certainly not good.<br /><br />On the otherhand,if not that cold,and torrential rains filled the bilge above the crankshaft,water entered thru the crank seals.They are one way seals,and keep oil in,not water out.<br /><br />DHP

 

[Bondo]

Re: White Sludge 4.3 OMC 1988

Has the boat Seen Any temps Below 30*s ?????<br /><br />Before you do Anything,<br /> Change The OIL ........<br /><br />With the short history you've provided,<br />I'd pull the Intake,+ See if it's leaking into the Lifter Valley............<br /><br />Your 4.3l is Just a SBC......<br />Same Rules apply as for Any SBChevy......<br /><br />A Factory Shop Manual is going to be Tuff to find, considering that OMC is Out of Business.......<br />You might search ebay......<br /><br />Or,<br />At the top of the page you're reading Right Now, has a link at the top of the page, "Manuals",<br />Click on it for Aftermarket Manuals......

 

[Lou C]

Re: White Sludge 4.3 OMC 1988

As others said if it got below 30 degrees you could have freeze damage, if not the manifold/riser assembly could have rusted out internally and allowed water in the engine. You can still get the OE OMC manuals from a Johnson/Evinrude dealer, they are very good and worth looking for.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: White Sludge 4.3 OMC 1988

hello<br /> first check the engine oil color.<br /> if its fine then odds are you have a themostat problem. if the engine is just run 10 min on the flusher it will tend to condensate water in the valve cover area.then as the blowby forces the moisture out it becomes white goo.so before condeming the engine test the oil color and then run it at 2/3 throttle with a medium load for a minimum of 30 min. this is the spec that merc,volvo and crusader use to define a warmed up engine. no amount of idle on the fluser will produce that spec. you must fully heat the iron and move air through the system. most marine engines do not use a PCV system but just collect most the blowby at the flame arrestor. similar to the down draft venting of years past. some of the dinosaures on the board may remember that system.so if the engine oil remains clear and not milky you may not have a water leak just a poor engine temp.

 

[KrisHall]

Re: White Sludge 4.3 OMC 1988

It's blowing white sludge out both valve covers and water is on the dip stick too.<br /><br />In the texarkana (where the boat is located) area it has dipped below freezing on several occasions (down in the 20's)

 

[Bondo]

Re: White Sludge 4.3 OMC 1988

You Need a New Block...........<br />And, Probably New Manifolds as well.........

 

[KrisHall]

Re: White Sludge 4.3 OMC 1988

As for the idea of the bilge building up and water getting into the crank case... I keep the drain plug out of the boat (Not the engine if there is one). Only time the plug goes in is when it's headed for water.

 

[Don S]

Re: White Sludge 4.3 OMC 1988

Are the valve covers clear full of the sludge, as in you can't even see the rockers?<br />What is the oil level on the dipstick.<br />20° is low enough to freeze and break blocks and manifolds if full of fresh water.<br /><br />Better yet, ya got a picture?????

 

[Bondo]

Re: White Sludge 4.3 OMC 1988

Kind of a moot point Now,<br />But, wander up to the Engine FAQ at the top of the forums...........<br />There's a Winterizing thread There.........

 

[KrisHall]

Re: White Sludge 4.3 OMC 1988

Ok guys, someone up in the thread asked for pictures so I have set up a simple webpage with two picture links of the carnage.<br /><br />Slower connections be patient because I have not edited them for size.<br /><br /> http://home.alltel.net/swtnlnly1/

 

[newport dave]

Re: White Sludge 4.3 OMC 1988

..very disturbing..<br /><br />Dave

 

[Don S]

Re: White Sludge 4.3 OMC 1988

Thanks Kris, I asked for the pictures. That's way past condensation/moisture. Do you have that milkshake all the way up the dipstick also?

 

[KrisHall]

Re: White Sludge 4.3 OMC 1988

Don, on the dipstick both natural color oil can be seen on it in places...and milk (along with water droplets) in others.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: White Sludge 4.3 OMC 1988

In my opinion, before you do anything else, drain the oil pan completely and refill with the proper fresh oil (change the filter also). Remove the spark plugs, and turn the motor over, to get any water out of the cylinders. Then I would check the oil cooler like rodbolt said, because that requires no unbolting of parts.<br />That being said, I don't think condensation is your problem. <br />After that checks out, and if you have just as much milkshake as before draining the oil, I'd check the exhaust mainfolds. Since you are not used to boats, please note, they have "water jackets" in them. If they crack or rust away, it's internally, and you can't see it. But this does allow water to leak into the cylinders.<br />But since you mention overfull on oil and gunk on the dipstick, maybe, just maybe, somehow it got water in just the oil pan, and draining it is all you need. Good luck

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: White Sludge 4.3 OMC 1988

Try running your hand along the bottoms of the exhaust manifolds.That's where they usually crack. This could be critical,as I don't think manifolds will be avaiable from OMC/Bombardier ever. The good news is that OSCO is working on making some.Manifolds might be the least of the damage,but a new engine needs good manifolds.<br /><br />DHP

 

[Bondo]

Re: White Sludge 4.3 OMC 1988

I Hate to be the 1 Raining on your parade All the time,<br />But, After seeing your photos, I Still Think,<br />

You Need a New Block...........<br />And, Probably New Manifolds as well.........

Only, Now I Know you Need Manifolds...........<br />Your photos show the Water/Oil Very Well.....<br /><br />Using the Magnifier in my xp, I Think I can see 3 places where the Manifolds are Cracked........<br />In photo 1, Just above the "4", Directly above the speck of White, There's a small circle looking Black Line....... Just above the "3", but Below the White speck, there's Another little Black Line........<br />On photo 2, Down in the lower right corner, there's Another little circular Black Line........<br /><br />What those little Black Lines are Is,<br />The little water-jacket Support Posts, cast inside the manifold...... When it Froze, the water jacket pushed away from the manifold,+ Popped the posts free of the Outer jacket.........<br />I Hope that makes sense... Cause I know what I mean........... <br /><br />You're also going to find Massive Cracks along the top of the Block, where the head bolts down... Just below the exhaust manifolds.......<br />Probably between the coreplugs along the sides of the block too.........<br />After you pull the Intake, You'll see Big Cracks along the length of the block, just above the lifter bores.. This is Where the water went to the Oil.........<br /><br />I think you'll be Wasting your Time,+ Money trying to change the oil,+ Hopeing for the Best............<br />You need to Pull the motor,+ Tear it down........<br />Hopefully, There'll be at least Some Salvage.............<br /><br />I'm Sorry..........

 

[allen.st]

Re: White Sludge 4.3 OMC 1988

Kris I am with TilliamWe, change the oil and filter, maybe several times. I to had mine hooked to the hose and turned it on full. It was several minutes until I started it and when I shut it down I left the hose hooked up and running for a bit. I think what it did was back up the water through the exhause valves, It took 4 oil and filter changes with short warm up inbetween to mix it. No problems since, at least with water in the oil "LOL"

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: White Sludge 4.3 OMC 1988

Scuba,in your case,did the motor 'run on' when you shut it down?That might do it.<br /><br />I think Kris's problems are deeper.<br /><br />DHP

 

[Lou C]

Re: White Sludge 4.3 OMC 1988

BTW if you do need those OMC one piece manifolds, I got a spare set recently from www.dougrussell.com <br />I changed my OE ones last spring, but in the salt they don't last that long.<br />I was also looking around on GLM's website, and I see that they are plannning to release an after market set of these in March of 05, so you may want to wait and see what their price will be.<br />And...those look like the first set of OE manifolds, since only the original set came with the 4.3 sticker on the side, if it was a Florida (salt) boat, they should have been replaced years ago..<br />When I changed mine (original, 16 years old) the boat had been used in salt for about 4 seasons, in fresh before that,and as far as I could tell they were still good. Didn't want to take a chance so I changed them then.