1996 90hp ocean pro, water in cylinder?

[captlee]

17' proline with a '96 evinrude 90 hp ocean pro. Had my boat out today in 2-3' seas. While making a turn into a big wave I took one on the engine cover. The boat bogged and started to run rough, it would shake violently at 2800 rpms. I brought in to the dock at around 2600, it idled a little rough. Inside the cover had a only a little water towards the back below where the air intakes on the case are. Coils and wires were dry.

When I got home I pulled the plugs, the #4 plug seemed water fouled, had grey/white residue on it like a blown head gasket. Did a compression check, right around 130 on all 4. Cleaned up the plug, ran motor for 10 mins on the muffs around 1800 rpm, plug looked fine, idled better than at the dock. Started motor with #4 plug out, no water coming from cylinder. Could seawater have backed up through the exhaust and flooded the cylinder when it got swamped? Any advice or help would be appreciated, thanks

 

[ebry710]

Re: 1996 90hp ocean pro, water in cylinder?

17' proline with a '96 evinrude 90 hp ocean pro. Had my boat out today in 2-3' seas. While making a turn into a big wave I took one on the engine cover. The boat bogged and started to run rough, it would shake violently at 2800 rpms. I brought in to the dock at around 2600, it idled a little rough. Inside the cover had a only a little water towards the back below where the air intakes on the case are. Coils and wires were dry.

When I got home I pulled the plugs, the #4 plug seemed water fouled, had grey/white residue on it like a blown head gasket. Did a compression check, right around 130 on all 4. Cleaned up the plug, ran motor for 10 mins on the muffs around 1800 rpm, plug looked fine, idled better than at the dock. Started motor with #4 plug out, no water coming from cylinder. Could seawater have backed up through the exhaust and flooded the cylinder when it got swamped? Any advice or help would be appreciated, thanks

Logically I would say no for three reasons.
1) Exhaust is a one way path
2) All cylinders would be effected
3) Even if a single blast made it into the cylinder, it would exit on the next complete stroke and be displaced with fuel. The fuel would eventually remove the water from the cylinder.

Story: I tried to start my motor on my Whaler when I first got it. I didn't know that half my 40 gallon tanks was full of water. Obviously I pumped a little bit of water into my cylinder. I shot marvel oil into my cylinders, drain my tank, filled it with fresh gas, put a water/fuel separator inline and added stabilizer. Fired it up. All was good. You ran you motor to the dock. Any water would have been displaced if your carburetors were working fine.

 

[captlee]

Re: 1996 90hp ocean pro, water in cylinder?

I dont think #4 was firing until I got home and cleaned the plug. If the compression is good then the head gasket is good? If the head gasket is good how did this plug get water fouled? If it was water it the fuel wouldnt all the cylinders look similar? If I get a chance Ill try to run the boat tomorrow and see what happens. Anyone else have any ideas what could be going on?

 

[ebry710]

Re: 1996 90hp ocean pro, water in cylinder?

I dont think #4 was firing until I got home and cleaned the plug. If the compression is good then the head gasket is good? If the head gasket is good how did this plug get water fouled? If it was water it the fuel wouldnt all the cylinders look similar? If I get a chance Ill try to run the boat tomorrow and see what happens. Anyone else have any ideas what could be going on?

That is what I would think. All cylinders should be effected.

Oh, but the way, it isn't the firing that would clear the cylinder, it would be the fuel stream. Each time the cylinder draws in the fuel mixture the water would be exited. It shouldn't take any time for the water to be taken out if it was a one time event.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 1996 90hp ocean pro, water in cylinder?

Captlee, You might look up the head gasket for that motor. On my '98 Johnny, the head gasket is an oring around the combustion chamber. There are many water passages in the block and head. These are sealed with some silicone caulk, around each passage. I do not know if it is possible, but could some of those leak water into a single cylinder, if it is not firing?

 

[mikesea]

Re: 1996 90hp ocean pro, water in cylinder?

I wondering if you may have filled up you cowling a good bit with water,.causing the bottom carb(s) to suck a drink.By time you got in the water drained.I did that to an old seadrive engine.They had a bad design.I have heard of water going up the exhust,but when the eng wasnt running.Sounds like one of those ,take it for a run deals ,see what happens.

 

[captlee]

Re: 1996 90hp ocean pro, water in cylinder?

Captlee, You might look up the head gasket for that motor. On my '98 Johnny, the head gasket is an oring around the combustion chamber. There are many water passages in the block and head. These are sealed with some silicone caulk, around each passage. I do not know if it is possible, but could some of those leak water into a single cylinder, if it is not firing?

Chris, I see what you mean about the passages, if that were leaking wouldnt the compression be low? Wouldnt it also leak in the cylinder while it was on the muffs?

I wondering if you may have filled up you cowling a good bit with water,.causing the bottom carb(s) to suck a drink.By time you got in the water drained.I did that to an old seadrive engine.They had a bad design.I have heard of water going up the exhust,but when the eng wasnt running.Sounds like one of those ,take it for a run deals ,see what happens.

Mike, that would make sense but I saw no sign of water being up that high. I guess it could have dried up. Did your motor fire up and run OK after you cleaned up the plug or did you have to rebuild the carbs? Mine fired up and ran ok when I got it home. I didnt see how much water hit the engine, but my friend who saw it said it was "alot" and he sort of looked like this.... .

I didnt get a chance to run it today but that sounds like my next step. If it happens again I may have to pull the heads, which I really dont want to do unless absolutely necessary. Ill report back after the next time out. Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 1996 90hp ocean pro, water in cylinder?

Captlee, I am guessing that water from a water passage could get past the head gasket oring and into the cylinder, and the motor could still show good compression. I do not now if it is possible.

The other poster could be on to something. You might put a hose into the lower cowl and see if it would fill up or self drain. I was washing the block the other day, and mine filled up pretty good. Maybe the waves put some water int he cowling and it splashed into the carb intake?

 

[dingbat]

Re: 1996 90hp ocean pro, water in cylinder?

Chris, I see what you mean about the passages, if that were leaking wouldnt the compression be low? Wouldnt it also leak in the cylinder while it was on the muffs?

I had water in my #6. The only indication of the problem was a white burp every once and a while. The compression was down a few points from the others but nothing that jumped out at you.

Turned out to be a leak in the head gasket between the cooling passage and the cylinder

 

[captlee]

Re: 1996 90hp ocean pro, water in cylinder?

Thanks Chris Ill check the drains

Thanks DB, the next sign of water i guess the heads come off

I also found a leaking fuel primer solenoid and a loose recirculating line which was leaking fuel and broke off in my hand as I was looking at it. I doubt this was the cause of my problem but its just one more thing to fix That is the line going to #4 clyinder though.