Water leak from crack in engine - engine runs well

[jcrist99]

I have an 84 OMC 5.7L I/O that has a crack in it. Bear with me as I'm not very knowledgeable about engines but if you face the engine from inside the boat (facing aft), the crack is in the bottom right side of the engine (black area under spark plugs). The engine runs well - other than water is seeping out of the crack as it runs. I'm assuming I need to have it welded and/or replaced - I'm not handy enough to do it myself so I'm looking to take it in to a repair shop and wanted to have some idea of the bill I'm going to be looking at - can anyone give me some idea of the repair options and costs? Let me know if you need any more info.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Water leak from crack in engine - engine runs well

IF,..... IF that's the Only freeze damage,.........<br /><br />A Good Prep Job,+ Epoxy is about the Best Fix there is,........<br />Short of a New Block Replacement.........<br /><br /><br />Welcome to the forums here at iboats......

 

[jcrist99]

Re: Water leak from crack in engine - engine runs well

Can you recommend an epoxy? What do you mean by a prep job (if it's not too detailed)? The boat is fairly old and has all original equipment - if I can get it running without much $$$, I will. Otherwise, I'm looking at buying a new one . . .

 

[Bsturkie]

Re: Water leak from crack in engine - engine runs well

I have used JB Weld on applications such as this. I'm not sure how much you may need, but make sure to grind the edges of the block to insure proper adhesion. You can pick it up at any major automotive parts place for under $15.

 

[jcrist99]

Re: Water leak from crack in engine - engine runs well

Thanks for your help! I'm not sure how I would grind the edges of the block - it's really just a hairline crack. Even with a fine file I don't think I'd get anywhere . . .

 

[Captianloud]

Re: Water leak from crack in engine - engine runs well

The surface of the metal must be clean for epoxy to bond to it, no piant no rust, no dirt, no grease, no oil, just bare fresh iron. A dremel tool with a sanding disk would work well to remove paint. Brake-clean or other non residue solvent would removed the grease, oil, dirt that would be left. This wont be easy to reach, but a poor prep job will leave you with a leaky epoxy patch.<br />If you have never epoxied any sort of metal with success perhaps you should take it to someone who can help you. <br />I'm with Bondo, you probably got more damage than what you see. When last did you check your oil? and what color is it?

 

[michael-lagrange]

Re: Water leak from crack in engine - engine runs well

JBweld

 

[Bondo]

Re: Water leak from crack in engine - engine runs well

Nobody Said it was going to be Easy,........<br /><br />You Might have to Pull the Exhaust Manifold to Get At the Repair Area...........<br /><br />That's Still Easier than Swapping the Whole Block...........<br /><br />Unless it's Done Right,......... Why do it at All............

 

[jcrist99]

Re: Water leak from crack in engine - engine runs well

I've only run the engine for no more than 5 minutes since I found the leak but I'll check the oil and post a reply.

 

[jcrist99]

Re: Water leak from crack in engine - engine runs well

I checked the oil and it's a dark brown (like a dark chocolate bar). It hasn't been changed since last year (I only had the boat out last season a half dozen times) so I think it's just dirty. Water in the oil would make it lighter, right?<br /><br />After I patch the casing with JB Weld (assuming I can get a good weld), I will run it for a little while and check again.<br /><br />Thanks again for the help!

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: Water leak from crack in engine - engine runs well

chocolate oil?<br />I think you might have a problem.<br />I would run it up hot before i bothered patching anything on the outside. A bit of water running into the bilge ain't gonna bother anything.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Water leak from crack in engine - engine runs well

Good Luck,.........<br /><br />Is there a way to Start it,+ Run it,.??...<br /><br />At This Point,.......<br /><br />Before you go thru the Epoxy thing,.....<br />Run the motor,......<br />IF it's Cracked Into the Oil Cavity,......<br />It's Done,......... You Need a New Block........<br /><br />IF it Doesn't change the color of the Oil in an Hour or so,........<br />Go ahead,+ Have it Epoxied Right...........

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Water leak from crack in engine - engine runs well

He stated crack under the spark plug..could that be a crack in the head and not the block?<br />Jeff,is it below the headgasket or lip of the block?

 

[Captianloud]

Re: Water leak from crack in engine - engine runs well

Enough water mixed with oil will looks like milk. The more water you add the lighter it becomes. <br /><br />Good point Gary. Is this hairline crack the head gasket????? <br /><br />Make sure your bilge pump works and run it in the drink (river, lake, ocean) for a little. Run it. See what happens. <br /><br />You see Jeff, the damage everyone here is talking about presumably occured from water (engine coolant) left in the block to freeze.<br /><br />Did you, or someone else drain the engine block of water prior to winter? If water was left in the block to freeze, it usually cracks the engine block. This is what we are all referring to. You stated there is a crack below the spark plugs. If its caused by freezing water its very possible there is also a crack leaking water into the inside of engine as the engine runs. That is the purpose of runnning it to check the oil. If the oil color remains constant after 30 min to an hour, its safe to say no water is leaking inside the engine. You may have gotten lucky. If the engine oil changes color progressively to a lighter color, you are leaking water into the engine. And as Bondo stated the engine block is toast. Monitor the oil color as it runs. Do this before attempting to JB Weld the block. <br />Can you post a pic of the "crack".

 

[jcrist99]

Re: Water leak from crack in engine - engine runs well

Yes, I'm certain the damage is from water freezing in the engine block - the boat was still in dock when we had the first hard freeze last year and I think the damage occurred then. <br /><br />I'll take a picture tonight but the crack is a semi-circle on the bottom right side of the engine (as you face the aft of the boat) that's about 4 inches below the spark plugs (and the bolts that attach the top half of the engine to the bottom).<br /><br />I ran the engine last night and the amount of water leaking out of the engine increased as I ran it - it's now more than an hairline crack and I have a steady flow of water from the engine into the boat. Under these conditions, I'm hesitant to take it on the water - can I run it on a hose for 30 minutes and then check the oil?<br /><br />I'm guessing that if I have a crack that's leaking water into the oil, I'm going to need to replace the engine?

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Water leak from crack in engine - engine runs well

Yes, you will get the same effect from running on the muffs, & you will see a rise on the level of the dipstick as well as a change in oil color....<br /> & yes, if it is cracked internally, it is toast & will need to be replaced, possibly the risers & exhaust manifolds as well.....<br />Run the engine for an hour on the muffs & post back.....JK

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: Water leak from crack in engine - engine runs well

If you have an external crack flowing THAT much water...you might want to replace the block anyways...sounds like one that could spread..

 

[jlshields]

Re: Water leak from crack in engine - engine runs well

If water's not getting in the oil, let the hairline crack alone and it will probably rust shut.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Water leak from crack in engine - engine runs well

I ran the engine last night and the amount of water leaking out of the engine increased as I ran it - it's now more than an hairline crack and I have a steady flow of water from the engine into the boat. Under these conditions, I'm hesitant to take it on the water - can I run it on a hose for 30 minutes and then check the oil?<br /><br />I'm guessing that if I have a crack that's leaking water into the oil, I'm going to need to replace the engine?

Ayuh,....... That's Fine,..... Let it Leak.....<br />Run it on the Muffs for 1/2 hour to an hour,+ Keep a Close watch on the Oil.......<br />If the Oil Changes Color to Milky,.. Or the Oil Level Rises,.......<br /><br />You'll be Needing Atleast a New Block,....... A Crate Engine Might be a Better way to go though......<br /><br />This way you're not doing Unnecessary repairs.....<br /><br />If the Oil Level is Unchanged,+ it's Not turning Milky,......<br />Then have somebody do a Good Epoxy Repair on the Outside of the Block........

 

[jcrist99]

Re: Water leak from crack in engine - engine runs well

OK, I've been running the engine for half an hour - the good news is that the oil is staying the same color and level. The bad news is it's leaking like crazy now. It's squirting water out between the top and bottom of the engine (is that a gasket?) and it still has water leaking from the hairline crack. See the pictures. I will run for another half hour and make sure the oil doesn't go milky . . . <br /><br />OK, I can't figure how to attach a picture ???