exhaust and water mixed? leak on alpha 1

[retrorocketz]

I have a mercruiser alpha 1 with a 351W ford engine. I got water into the bilge area (a lot) so, following the advice of what i could find here and on the internet elsewhere i removed the outdrive to check the bellows. No water in bellows and can't find a tear or anything. Got the bellhousing removed, and i am putting in a new gimball bearing. However after cleaning up the bellows tubes to reinstall, i used compressed air to blow the gunk out that i had cleaned off. I got the air close to the exhaust tube, and when i did, water came out of the water supply tube that is located above the gimbal bearing. To double check, i purposely shot compressed air in the tube and immedieately more water came out of the water tube, A lot of water. Is that normal? do i have an exhaust manifold leak somewhere? Could water get into my bilge area from this? I assume that wouldn't do it, because i wouldn't have any pressure in the system ( the air would leak out somewhere before it pushed out water). I am not sure what my next step should be, any advice?

 

[Don S]

Re: exhaust and water mixed? leak on alpha 1

There is water in the exhaust, that's how the exhaust system stays cool.

Before you start fixing leaks, you should actually locate the leak so you know what to fix.

As long as you have it apart, look at the shift cable bellows, it may have damage.

 

[retrorocketz]

Re: exhaust and water mixed? leak on alpha 1

i know that the exhaust manifolds have water in them, i was not aware if the actual exhaust and water are mixed.

I am trying to find the leak, i have gone over the boat several times and cannot figure out where the water is coming in at. The SUGGESTION that i recieved was to pull the outdrive off to see if the ANY of the bellows had a hole or tear. I visually inspected them BEFORE i removed the outdrive, and couldn't fnid anything, so i removed said parts to be able to inspect them better.

None of the bellows, ( u-joint, exhaust, or shift) have a tear or hole in them.

Trying to move to the next step to figure out where it is leaking.

 

[Don S]

Re: exhaust and water mixed? leak on alpha 1

I've done this on several boats.
Pull the engine, reinstall the outdrive, tie the boat to the trailer and back it into the water, With the engine out of the way you can get in there a look around and see where the leak is coming from.

 

[retrorocketz]

Re: exhaust and water mixed? leak on alpha 1

Thanks for the reply, really hoping it wouldn't come to that. Have you ever had water leaking around the water inlet tube? Looking into the back of the boat there is some sediment on a lip of the transom near where the water inlet tube goes through it. Not sure if that is from water leaking into the boat, or if it is left over from when the bilge got water in it ( it was a lot of water, found out the bilge pump didn't work either).

 

[Don S]

Re: exhaust and water mixed? leak on alpha 1

Put the drive back on. Put it in the water and find the leak. Use mirrors and flashlights and anything else to see under and around things.
You could have a rotten transom or even the aluminum bolts in the bottom of the transom shield leaking. Or, you might have something leaking somewhere that has nothing to do with the engine and drive.

 

[futz]

Re: exhaust and water mixed? leak on alpha 1

put the drive on and and fill the bilge with water, seen people do that to find the leak.

 

[TowRoper]

Re: exhaust and water mixed? leak on alpha 1

futz thats how i found mine but my bilge needed cleaning in a bad way (oil drain plug on the pan not a good idea) so 2 birds with one stone!

 

[Bondo]

Re: exhaust and water mixed? leak on alpha 1

I have a mercruiser alpha 1 with a 351W ford engine.

Ayuh,.... For future reference,... You Don't have an Alpha 1,...
Fords were Never put in front of an Alpha 1....
I imagine you have the Model 1 drive,... It's Very much like the Alpha 1,+ is known as the Pre-Alpha...

i know that the exhaust manifolds have water in them, i was not aware if the actual exhaust and water are mixed.

Within the Risers, the waste water is just dumped thru open holes into the exhaust stream...
When you blew air into the exhaust pipe, it back-pressues the Raw Water System....
Perfectly Normal....

As noted above,.... It's Always easier to track down the Leak, Before tearing down for a Look....

Good Luck,+ Welcome Aboard....

 

[snoski]

Re: exhaust and water mixed? leak on alpha 1

What Futz said and add some food coloring.

 

[TowRoper]

Re: exhaust and water mixed? leak on alpha 1

better make it a color you like! you may be seeing it for a while i wouldn't do it with anything but clear water