4.3 engine ???

[gtfireftr]

So I pulled both engines...I broke down all the accessories off both, and once I got done I just wanted to see if there was anything amiss....
Not sure if this is ok...(I don't think so)..... I put compressed air in the spark plug holes.... first 2 were not very exciting.... 3rd one (number 5 cyl) gave me
water out the exhaust port on the head.... So to be clear.... I put compressed air in the #5 plug hole and got water out of the exhaust port of the head.... Not sure how this is even possible....
Any thoughts??\
Thanks

 

[tpenfield]

Was the #5 piston at TDC or was it in a position where the valve(s) were open.

What were you trying to demonstrate/test with the compressed air?

If there was water in the cylinder and the exhaust valve were open or damaged, then you certainly would get water coming out. Air goes in, water comes out. . .

 

[gtfireftr]

Was the #5 piston at TDC or was it in a position where the valve(s) were open.

What were you trying to demonstrate/test with the compressed air?

If there was water in the cylinder and the exhaust valve were open or damaged, then you certainly would get water coming out. Air goes in, water comes out. . .

Well I am quite sure the exhaust valve was open.... (that's why the water came out of the exhaust port)...
I was just blowing the stuff out of the plug holes etc.... I agree that there was water in the cyl and that's why I got water out of the exhaust port....
My question is why was there water in the cyl....??? None of the other cyl's had this....

 

[alldodge]

Could probably use a readers digest version of what lead up to pulling motors. I remember having a leak in the boat so one of the motors was pulled. There are a few other threads, so with a short synopsis might help as we progress.

I would say there should be no water coming out of the exhaust unless the exhaust or head gasket was leaking

 

[tpenfield]

Yes, usually if the gasket between exhaust manifold and elbow leaks, then you can get water in the cylinders. Since the engines tend to tilt towards the stern of the boat, the rear cylinder(s) get the water first. On the big V8's it is usually the middle 2 cylinders because of how the exhaust manifold is designed.

 

[Bondo]

So I pulled both engines...I broke down all the accessories off both, and once I got done I just wanted to see if there was anything amiss....
Not sure if this is ok...(I don't think so)..... I put compressed air in the spark plug holes.... first 2 were not very exciting.... 3rd one (number 5 cyl) gave me
water out the exhaust port on the head.... So to be clear.... I put compressed air in the #5 plug hole and got water out of the exhaust port of the head.... Not sure how this is even possible....
Any thoughts??\

Ayuh,.... Some of the backstory sure seems appropriate here,....

Ya shoulda done the leak-down test, Before ya took the motors apart,....

If ya didn't drain the motors before pullin' 'em,...
Ya may well have spilt water outa the exhaust manifolds, 'n it flowed into #5,...
Depends on the angles the motor was jostled to comin' out to where it is now,...

 

[Rick Stephens]

Last time I popped the elbow off the top of the manifold I had neglected to drain the manifold and elbow. I poured all the water in the elbow into the exhaust. Had to pull plugs and blow all the water out by cranking. Without knowing if everything else was dry, no way to know if you got water in number 5 because it has a problem or because disassembly was sloppy.

 

[achris]

Was the water clean or rusty? Have you pulled the heads yet? (something I would have done IMMEDIATELY after finding water in the cylinder, to preserve the walls and valves).... Have the manifolds and elbows been seperated? When? How was the gasket there? So many questions, so little typing speed... :facepalm:

 

[Scott Danforth]

not sure if you drained the water prior to removing the motors, however at a minium you should be pulling the manifolds, filling the cylinder thru the spark plug hole with either ATF or oil and purging the water out of the cylinder bores

or pull the heads and do it that way.

if that is salt water and it sat more than a few hours, your going to want to pull the head anyway. fresh water you have a day or two.

 

[gtfireftr]

So the back story is this....
Had an issue with a water leak on the Port motor.... Then another issue where I got stuck because the port engine died and would not restart... I found an issue with the main power to the ignition from the alternator... I thought all was well, but then I took her out and could not get the port engine to rev over 3400 or so....
I could here popping through the carb with a load on her..... did a compression check, and all cyl's were about 160 or so.... I wasn't sure what was going on...
I pulled the plugs to check how it was burning, and noticed that the #3, and #5 were clean white... I thought I had a water issue with the engine....
I was all set with this engine... I need to pull it anyway to address the water leak into the bilge and there is no way I will put a questionable engine back in...
So I had a wrecker come to the house and I decided to repower both engines..... Going to start fresh and enjoy my boat for many years to come.....
Going with 2 remanned 4.3's... upgrading to 4 barrels, and hopefully have no issues for years to come.... New manifolds, risers, and spacers as well as new Delco Voyager ignitions.....
Did I miss anything?????
lol

 

[Bondo]

I thought all was well, but then I took her out and could not get the port engine to rev over 3400 or so....
I could here popping through the carb with a load on her.....
I pulled the plugs to check how it was burning, and noticed that the #3, and #5 were clean white... I thought I had a water issue with the engine....
Did I miss anything?????

Ayuh,.... That sounds like the fuel system ain't up to snuff,....

She was goin' Lean, causin' detonation, 'n the lack of power,....
Make Sure the boat's side of the fuel system isn't the problem,...
I'd hate to see ya smoke 2 brand new motors,....

Sounds like yer yankin' 2 perfectly good motors to install 2 new motors,....
160 psi compression is a strong long block motor,...

Did ya figure out the water leak,..??

 

[Scott Danforth]

Im with Bondo, your spending money for the sake of spending money. Fix what is wrong and go boating

 

[gtfireftr]

Seeing that I have carbs..... what part of the fuel system could be suspect.??? Pretty much a fuel line, electric pump, filter and carb??
I have not had much luck with water leak either..... very difficult to discern where that might be coming from....

 

[Scott Danforth]

Running lean could be from you anti-siphon valve in the tank.

The leak could be your bellows, could be exhaust manifold, could be the y-pipe, could be a soft transom

I would pull your current manifolds and inspect them. This includes an acetone test and oreasure test.


Look to see if you have any rust damage in the one engine. If not, put 4 barrel intakes and carbsbon your motors and get them buttoned up.

Drill some core samples into your transom to investigate that.

Inspect the y-pipr to see if a flapper dropped down and wore a hole

Read the stickies for testing the fuel system.

 

[gtfireftr]

Thanks for the advice.....
Y pipe looks good..... I think the transom is solid, but any advice as to where to drill to check for rot and such?
What does the anti siphon valve look like? Is it inside the tank, or inline with the fuel lines?
I appreciate all the comments.....

 

[Scott Danforth]

the anti-siphon valve is the 90 degree fitting at the top of the tank that screws into the fuel tank that your hose connects to.

many times it has the pickup threaded to the bottom

the DIY stickies at the top of the forum have the links to testing