4.3 milk maker

[Grunt_1021]

So I bought a 1997 Ebbtide 192 XL with the mercruiser 4.3. Had to replace battery but already knew that was an issue. Hooked it up with muffs. Ran okay. Had old gas from it sitting. Changed filter and replaced most of the fuel. Got it running what I thought was great. Took it to the lake to really test it out. Was okay. Some bad gas I thought was still running it out. Fully expected. After a bit of having problems getting it to plane out. Got it to plane out. Was having some problems getting high enough rpm’s to do so. Again thought it was bad gas. Eventually got it to plane out and got to about 4500 rpm’s. Maybe a little higher okay. After a minute of cruising around the lake. Started acting funny. Went back to ramp. To be closer just in case. Open the back up and find milk. Will attach pics.

Also gauges do work. It never over heated. What are my possible issues? I’m hoping not a head gasket.

Also I did check dipstick when on muffs and never saw signs of water.

 

[Scott Danforth]

how was this motor winterized? because my guess is that it froze and busted the block and heads over winter

 

[Grunt_1021]

Plugs removed water drained. And as far as I can see there are no cracks on the outside.

how was this motor winterized? because my guess is that it froze and busted the block and heads over winter

 

[Scott06]

You winterized it or seller did?

Unfortunately x 2 on not winterized and freeze cracked the block. Normally they crack in lifter valley below the heads

also possible water cross over in intake is cracked.

check exhaust manifolds for cracks as well

 

[Jmunk]

When the plugs are removed to empty the water in the block and manifolds, you must insert a screwdriver or something similar into the holes to verify they aren’t blocked by rust and holding water.

 

[Grunt_1021]

You winterized it or seller did?

Unfortunately x 2 on not winterized and freeze cracked the block. Normally they crack in lifter valley below the heads

also possible water cross over in intake is cracked.

check exhaust manifolds for cracks as well

Seller did. The valley under the intake?

And where on the manifolds should I check ? The mixture looks like it was spraying or coming from the (looking at the pulleys ) right side

 

[Grunt_1021]

how was this motor winterized? because my guess is that it froze and busted the block and heads over winter

Water drained plugs removed. And there are no visible cracks

 

[Scott Danforth]

The 4.3 will crack internally, not externally as stated by Scott in post #4

The foam was coming out of the valve cover breathers.......because your motor is now filled with water that mixed with oil

You don't state a year, however if the exhaust manifolds are the batwings, they could have failed

Time to drain the pudding, and pressurize the cooling water jacket and find the breach. Then replace as needed

 

[Grunt_1021]

The 4.3 will crack internally, not externally as stated by Scott in post #4

The foam was coming out of the valve cover breathers.......because your motor is now filled with water that mixed with oil

You don't state a year, however if the exhaust manifolds are the batwings, they could have failed

Time to drain the pudding, and pressurize the cooling water jacket and find the breach. Then replace as needed

I did. It’s 1997. When you mean drain and pressurize. Do you mean basically do an oil change then run it and watch where it is coming from ? Or ? Please elaborate

 

[Scott Danforth]

• drain the oil mix
• drain the cooling water jacket
• pressurize the cooling water jacket to 15 psi. it should hold forever unless the block is cracked
• if it doesnt hold pressure, pull the drive off and pull the motor out. get motor on the stand and tear it down.

 

[Scott06]

Seller did. The valley under the intake?

And where on the manifolds should I check ? The mixture looks like it was spraying or coming from the (looking at the pulleys ) right side

Yes the valley under intake. Attached are pics from the 4.3 that was in my boat when i bought it. PO had not winterized used it a bit and then had same milkshake coming out valve covers. I bought it as a handyman's special

You can see cracks just below the heads. You can confirm this by pressurizing the cooling system it should hold 15 psi infinitely. My exhaust manifolds were cracked as well, these cracks were on outside bottoms. they could crack on inside and leak water into combustion chambers that can milk the oil , but I doubt you would get water in through the exhaust while running.

It looks like you may have gotten hosed by seller here. This is why a water test is recommended. This isn't always 100% as it may take some heat cycles to open up the crack. Had a neighbor at the lake with more money than brains ruined both his jetski and Mastercraft on successive winters by not winterizing. With the boat a core plug was pushed out a bit, tapped it back in oil looked clean until he used it 3-4 times then had it coming out the breathers...

was there any pink antifreeze coming out the exhaust when you started it up? a lot of guys just suck RV AF through and it gets diluted with water and cracks the block. Outside chance its a head gasket but likely you will fail pressure test, remove the intake and see cracks. Maybe the intake is rotted out or cracked.

Was the intake removed at all? possible gaskets can leak too