Anti-freeze dripping from Exhaust bellows!

[Labman55]

Background;
I recently bought a mid 70's "Zeta" 24' Alaskan Cuddy.
It had a 5.0/Alpha from the factory, but it was supposedly updated in the late 90's to another newer model.
Motor = OL326949, Sterndrive = OL402252, Transmission (Inboard) = OL511969.

The Problem;
I hauled this home from Vancouver Island, 17 hour drive, it wasn't run when I picked it up, because it has a leaking metal fuel tank mounted in the floor just in front of the engine and there was gas fumes and even raw gas too close to the motor to risk turning it over!

When it was sitting in my driveway, I noticed that in the trailering position, the exhaust bellows had pulled away from the inboard side, (bellows was attached to leg).
After sitting in the hot sun, with the motor cover off, I also noticed a slow, but steady drip of Antifreeze from the exhaust tube/port.
When I checked the "San Juan" heat exchanger it was low/out of anti-freeze!

Question;
How would the antifreeze get into the exhaust and then drip out the port?
The riser's seem to be on a much higher plane than the exchanger!
Would pressure testing the riser/manifold help indicate the problem?

A compression test showed 195-200lbs for all 8 cylinders!

Regards;
Mark

 

[Don S]

Re: Anti-freeze dripping from Exhaust bellows!

How would the antifreeze get into the exhaust and then drip out the port?

Could be as simple as it being winterized with antifreeze to prevent freeze damage, and it hasn't been run sense.

Or it could be the heat exchanger has a leak in it.

 

[Labman55]

Re: Anti-freeze dripping from Exhaust bellows!

Thank-you for your quick reply.
I would have loved it if it was just from winterizing, but it was in the ocean all it's life and never got winterized.
How hard is it to source a new exchanger, are they still in production?

Mark in North Central Alberta, Canada (not alot of marine supply near here)

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Anti-freeze dripping from Exhaust bellows!

See if both ports are / were dripping anifreeze. Will help a lot.

 

[Labman55]

Re: Anti-freeze dripping from Exhaust bellows!

Both ports?
All I can see is where it is dripping out of the one short nipple that the bellows attaches to.

 

[ngoodart]

Re: Anti-freeze dripping from Exhaust bellows!

May want to post a pic, it'll help the pros out with your problem

 

[Labman55]

Re: Anti-freeze dripping from Exhaust bellows!

I would, but that would require being drug into the 21st centurey, screaming and kicking!
I just got this computer last year, and had to get a cell phone too!
I still have and use a 35 mm Single reflex camera, although I do like the idea of those "Go-Pros".
I like the old stuff, less complicated and not as expensive to replace! LOL

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Anti-freeze dripping from Exhaust bellows!

my first guess is the gasket between the riser and manifold has a leak. your going to have to pull the risers and look.

if that is not it, your heat exchanger could have a core breach.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Anti-freeze dripping from Exhaust bellows!

my first guess is the gasket between the riser and manifold has a leak. your going to have to pull the risers and look.

if that is not it, your heat exchanger could have a core breach.

Ayuh,.... I would think a core breach would lead to diluted antifreeze, 'n a riser gasket would lead to Low/ lost antifreeze,..??

 

[Labman55]

Re: Anti-freeze dripping from Exhaust bellows!

Well, here's hoping that it's NOT the exchanger!
I got a quote from one of the main Marine Dealers in Edmonton. $850.00 to replace the heads, labour included, $1695.00.....just for the San Juan!!!!

The antifreeze didn't appear to be diluted, when it was dripping out the back.
I thought the heads may have been cracked, or maybe a head gasket, but the compression test pretty much ruled that out.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Anti-freeze dripping from Exhaust bellows!

The antifreeze didn't appear to be diluted, when it was dripping out the back.

Ayuh,.... it's Green water,... You'd Test what's in the tank, with an Antifreeze Tester...

 

[Labman55]

Re: Anti-freeze dripping from Exhaust bellows!

Ayuh,.... it's Green water,... You'd Test what's in the tank, with an Antifreeze Tester...

Would have, but it was all gone. Seems to be dripping out the exhaust. LOL

 

[Don S]

Re: Anti-freeze dripping from Exhaust bellows!

Anti freeze can do a lot of things, but one of them is not leaking UP. I think what Bond-o was asking is if you are sure it was antifreeze and not just green water.

Drain the cooling system and pressure check it with a radiator tester. It should hold 15 psi of air with no problem.

PS: Forums are a 21'st century way of saving on boat repairs, and pictures are part of the forums. So take off the training wheels and have at it. I can say that, I'm almost 66.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Anti-freeze dripping from Exhaust bellows!

I'm almost 66.

Ayuh,... in case I forget,... Happy Birthday, ya ole fart,.....

 

[Don S]

Re: Anti-freeze dripping from Exhaust bellows!

Watch it now, that's over 2 months away. and this 21st century stuff is kind of cool, except for the .............. never mind. Meanwhile, back at the topic at hand.

 

[Labman55]

Re: Anti-freeze dripping from Exhaust bellows!

Anti freeze can do a lot of things, but one of them is not leaking UP. I think what Bond-o was asking is if you are sure it was antifreeze and not just green water.

Drain the cooling system and pressure check it with a radiator tester. It should hold 15 psi of air with no problem.

PS: Forums are a 21'st century way of saving on boat repairs, and pictures are part of the forums. So take off the training wheels and have at it. I can say that, I'm almost 66.

Yes, it was antifreeze, as an OLD school mech., I tasted it, just like we were taught!
And you aren't that much older than me, so they must have taught you how to do a taste/smell/feel test on fluids, I assume you were/are a mech., from the many interesting and informative posts you have submitted.

As far as a picture goes, all it would show, is the short nipple that the bellows generally is attached to with a hose clamp.
Yes, as I posted originally, it seems odd that the risers are higher than the lowest level in the exchanger, so how would it flow up?
As it is a totally closed cooling system, and the cooling fluid (antifreeze) seems to also cool the exhaust manifolds, it would have to be the gasket between the riser and that joint where it is bolted to the manifold, correct?

I could get a spare rad cap and install an air valve I suppose, but what will that show, I already explained that the exchanger was empty, and that the antifreeze is making it's way out the exhaust nipple, where the bellows appears to attach.

 

[81 Checkmate]

Re: Anti-freeze dripping from Exhaust bellows!

Thought i would chime in- only after reading all the post.

I know nothing about closed cooling systems and have never been around one... The way i understand how it works, is the motor has antifreeze in it and the manifolds and risers are cooled by raw water. Might not be corect and corect me if im wrong!

As you described..... Antifreeze leaking from the exhaust bellows.... means you are getting antifreeze in your exhaust pasage. Or its just bright green raw water...

So if you were to pressure test the cooling system with air or plain ol water like Don said it would either hold pressure or leak it....if you have no antifreeze left then it would leak air/water.... thus you should hear/see where it is leaking.

Im thinking just like a car motor.

Im just saying.. and i might be way off base here,but its what i would do to diaganose the problem.



Good luck and hope you get the problem solved!

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Anti-freeze dripping from Exhaust bellows!

if someone quoted you $1695 for a San Juan heat exchanger, I will sell them to you for $1000. the whole kit is only $800-$1000 (depending on engine)

 

[Labman55]

Re: Anti-freeze dripping from Exhaust bellows!

if someone quoted you $1695 for a San Juan heat exchanger, I will sell them to you for $1000. the whole kit is only $800-$1000 (depending on engine)

Thanks for the offer Scott, it's a newer 5.0, I haven't been able to hammer down the exact year from the #s that I originally posted.
I have taken the time to search the San Juan,Boatersland and a couple of REALLY expensive online Marine shops. Even San Juan wants over $1000.00 bucks for it, thats before taxes, duty and shipping.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Anti-freeze dripping from Exhaust bellows!

PM me and I can send you links. San Juan sells them cheap. plus heat exchangers can easily be repaired if that is the case.