Is it probable that my engine is blown?

[troyboy22]

I was tooling down the river when I started hearing some pinging in the engine. The engine is a brand new Jasper engine 250hp with about 1 hour on it at best. My mechanic told me that the engine would probably sound bad the first few times out because of bad gas. Temp was at 140 when it started pinging. Oil pressure read 45. When I put it in neutral, it died. Started it back and it would hardly run and was sounding like an train engine. I kept it going until we could get to a safe area to shut it down and get it towed in. Now, when I start it, it just spins and does not turn the motor over. My mechanic is in Florida for a holiday and I have very basic knowledge of engine issues but it is driving me crazy. This would be the 2nd Jasper engine that I had that had issues. The other one did about the same thing and had to fight in court for warranty to be honored and they sent me this one.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Is it probable that my engine is blown?

1 hour, I run mine 5 hours on a stand before I install them. Did your guy "pre-oil " the motor before starting?Even with assembly lube it should still be done before firing it for the very first time. What was the rpm that this happened at? Did the oil pressure fluctuate any or go higher just before the noise?

 

[troyboy22]

Re: Is it probable that my engine is blown?

1 hour, I run mine 5 hours on a stand before I install them. Did your guy "pre-oil " the motor before starting?Even with assembly lube it should still be done before firing it for the very first time. What was the rpm that this happened at? Did the oil pressure fluctuate any or go higher just before the noise?

The RPM showed 3 and the oil pressure stayed between 40 and 45. The noise was sounding like that of your car when you know you have bad gas. That is why I was not too worried at first because the mechanin said it might sputter around. Thanks for helping me.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Is it probable that my engine is blown?

Now, when I start it, it just spins and does not turn the motor over.

Two contradictions in one sentence, that's impressive!

It doesn't start, right? When you TRY to start it, does the motor turn over, or do you just get the dreaded "click"? Or does the motor spin over and over, but not start?

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Is it probable that my engine is blown?

The noise was sounding like that of your car when you know you have bad gas.

I have never had bad gas in a car (or in a boat for that matter). What does it sound like?

 

[havasuboatman]

Re: Is it probable that my engine is blown?

What just spins? the starter? What you need to do is pull the plugs and see if you have water in the cylinders.
You should also re-think using a shop that would knowingly let one of their new motors be run on bad gas. Not once, but twice.
All new motor rebuilds have to be run before use to seat (break in) the lifters. Then with a load to seat the rings.

 

[troyboy22]

Re: Is it probable that my engine is blown?

Two contradictions in one sentence, that's impressive!

It doesn't start, right? When you TRY to start it, does the motor turn over, or do you just get the dreaded "click"? Or does the motor spin over and over, but not start?

You are correct, that was a conradiction,,ha,,I get excited,,anyway, it does not turn the motor over, it just sounds like maybe a hand held drill. Just kind of makes a spinning sound. Thanks for your help.

 

[troyboy22]

Re: Is it probable that my engine is blown?

I have never had bad gas in a car (or in a boat for that matter). What does it sound like?

I think my dad told me one day when I had my first car that the valves were pinging from me using cheap gas. That is what it sounded like.

 

[troyboy22]

Re: Is it probable that my engine is blown?

What just spins? the starter? What you need to do is pull the plugs and see if you have water in the cylinders.
You should also re-think using a shop that would knowingly let one of their new motors be run on bad gas. Not once, but twice.
All new motor rebuilds have to be run before use to seat (break in) the lifters. Then with a load to seat the rings.

Yes, the starter I belive just spins. You are correct about the shop. He told me to just put some stabalizer in it which I did. In fact, I put about 3 bottles of that stuff in there but the tank holds like 60 gallons. I will pull the plugs and see if there is water. If so, am I in bad shape?

 

[havasuboatman]

Re: Is it probable that my engine is blown?

That is just a bad starter. The drive gear isn't being pushed back to mesh with the engine ring gear. Or the ring gear is damaged and there is a "bald" spot the flywheel

 

[maxxman04]

Re: Is it probable that my engine is blown?

the initial pinging could be bad gas, which shouldn't have been run. motor def should have been "broke in" properly before install/use. the pinging could also be timing. when this motor went in, did the cap/rotor/plugs get replaced? was the timing set right before starting?

 

[troyboy22]

Re: Is it probable that my engine is blown?

the initial pinging could be bad gas, which shouldn't have been run. motor def should have been "broke in" properly before install/use. the pinging could also be timing. when this motor went in, did the cap/rotor/plugs get replaced? was the timing set right before starting?

cap/rotor and plugs were replaced. Not sure about the timing.

 

[troyboy22]

Re: Is it probable that my engine is blown?

You know, I just have to say it. The chance of getting two bad rebuilds in a row from Jasper is so low I won't even guess at the odds. Did Jasper and/or your mechanic explain the break in period and did you follow it?

You said you had to go to court with Jasper to force them to replace the first engine, care to tell us what they said? The reason I ask is I would bet their position was that you did not follow the break in instructions or that another component caused the damage. (And I am guessing you put all the components back on the second new engine and are seeing the same thing happen again.)

If an engine suddenly starts pinging, there is a reason and its NOT due to the engines internals, its due to the ignition, carb set up or possibly a bad gasket on the intake manigold or head OR, you used old exhaust manifolds that are allowing water back into the engine.

Have you damaged the engine internals? Hard to even guess at and your mechanic will need to do a compression test to determine this.

The Jasper thing was I had taken it out about 4 times but I only go about half mile past the dock and sit in a cove and watch all the girls go by. They said I over heated the engine and that they could tell because of "tabs" the put on the engine and it showed that it was over heated. I am not sure how it could have. The total milage of the 4 times I took it out was about 2 miles. A buddy looked at it and said that it seized up. The other problem was that Jasper had me ship the engine to them for examination and then, according to them, destroyed the engine. We were not real clear on why a company that rebuilds engins would destroy the engine. They ended up sending me a new engine but it took 2 years to get that done so I am not sure I really "won" the case.

The mechanic did tell me to take it easy and I have. It is not the kind of baot that will go fast anyway. My top end speed to get my resting spot is about 30 mph. Thanks for your help.

 

[maxxman04]

Re: Is it probable that my engine is blown?

timing, along with everything else, has to be set right before motor starts, and has to be adjusted right after motor starts. this is imperative on new motors. pistons can be damaged, cams can be flattened if not done right. a grenaded piston is hard to argue as far as gettin another replacement engine under warranty.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Is it probable that my engine is blown?

Personally speaking,evey motor I`ve built from scratch or purchased as a short or long block get run on the stand 5 hours heat cycling so you dont get "micro-welding" of the rings.
volts, oil press, temp,leaks, noise,re-rightening,checking ,belts, everything untill I`m satisfied . Then I install it and take the boat for a spin, setting and adjusting what needs to be set.Then the timing is retarded just a hair and I safety wire the dist hold down bolt .Tell the customer to follow normal breakin procedures ,and call me in 20 hours to reset and check the timing.
some poeple want to see how fast a new motor goes and you cant do that untill it`s broken in.
What you could be doing is pulling the plugs checking for water, check the engine oil level and condition, maybe pull the starter and have it checked.
The heat tabs you mention are installed on the motor and if you exceed the normal temp ,they fall off. Easy to determine if the motor got hot at some point.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Is it probable that my engine is blown?

OR, you used old exhaust manifolds that are allowing water back into the engine.

I will bet you all a nickel that this is the problem. The starter is spinning over cause the bendix broke, when he tried to turn over the engine, which is probably hydrolocked. Not the engine's fault. It's the fault of the installer.

If i am wrong, I'll apologize and admit it. But what you are describing sure sounds like a hydrolocked engine that has busted a starter. it happens everyday.

 

[maxxman04]

Re: Is it probable that my engine is blown?

excellent, excellent advice BT Doctur. you are right, so many people want to put a new motor to the test right away, but that's the fastest way to destroy it. manufacturers and rebuilders can tell too. a little patience goes a loooooong way towards insuring a long life out of a motor.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Is it probable that my engine is blown?

Oh and to answer the original question, no it's not probable that your engine is blown. it's "possible", but not "probable".
However if you let it sit with water in the cylinders (which I "think" you have) it will be junk in a couple of days!

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: Is it probable that my engine is blown?

speed has nothing to do with it rpm does , you sound a little green on engines so wait for a mech or gearhead to look at it because i doubt you will be able to fix . running bad gas thru new engine is not the smartest thing i ever heard so you mech might be hurting you more then helping you.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Is it probable that my engine is blown?

speed has nothing to do with it rpm does , you sound a little green on engines so wait for a mech or gearhead to look at it because i doubt you will be able to fix . running bad gas thru new engine is not the smartest thing i ever heard so you mech might be hurting you more then helping you.

Ayuh,.... Agreed,.... Not Once, but Twice......