09Searay175
Recruit
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2013
- Messages
- 4
Evening All,
I have a 2009 Searay 175, with a Merc 3.0 with 260 hours on it. I run the baot in brackish water and flush it for 10 minutes after each run with 2 doses of Salt Away during the flush. I decided to pull the manifold and riser and replace them as preventative maintenance. The manifold and riser had minimum corrosion and there are no signs of seawater getting into the manifold or riser. To be honest they could likely be re-used, but already have new parts. I can still see the casting seams in the water jackets.
When I pulled the manifold the center portion of the gasket between the mainfold and the head fell apart when pulling the manifold. The exterior peices look intact. The gasket surface on the head looks like the manifold had an exhaust leak and, likely for some time. I've never smelled exhaust in the engine compartment or heard a leak. The engine runs great and has never run hot. Riser is cool enough to touch by hand after a hard run at full throttle.
Have a look at the center two exhuast ports after I sanded off the old gasket material. There is a significant pit between the ports. I'm fairly certain installing a new gasket won't give me a good seal. Has anyone ever seen this in a merc 3.0 before?
Question is path forward?
Take the head off and get the manifold surfaces decked?
I got a quote for 125 bucks to get the manifold and head to block surfaces decked.
The pit looks to be about 1/16" deep.
Not sure the manifold will fit right if they have to deck that much material.
Get a rebuilt head?
Or attempt to seal with exhuast RTV on the new gasket, this would likely only be a short term fix, with a risk of leaking again. I don't like to repeat work...
Mainly looking to see if anyone has seen this before?
It also looks like the lower section of the gasket was starting to burn through and leak as well.
Thanks in advance.
I have a 2009 Searay 175, with a Merc 3.0 with 260 hours on it. I run the baot in brackish water and flush it for 10 minutes after each run with 2 doses of Salt Away during the flush. I decided to pull the manifold and riser and replace them as preventative maintenance. The manifold and riser had minimum corrosion and there are no signs of seawater getting into the manifold or riser. To be honest they could likely be re-used, but already have new parts. I can still see the casting seams in the water jackets.
When I pulled the manifold the center portion of the gasket between the mainfold and the head fell apart when pulling the manifold. The exterior peices look intact. The gasket surface on the head looks like the manifold had an exhaust leak and, likely for some time. I've never smelled exhaust in the engine compartment or heard a leak. The engine runs great and has never run hot. Riser is cool enough to touch by hand after a hard run at full throttle.
Have a look at the center two exhuast ports after I sanded off the old gasket material. There is a significant pit between the ports. I'm fairly certain installing a new gasket won't give me a good seal. Has anyone ever seen this in a merc 3.0 before?
Question is path forward?
Take the head off and get the manifold surfaces decked?
I got a quote for 125 bucks to get the manifold and head to block surfaces decked.
The pit looks to be about 1/16" deep.
Not sure the manifold will fit right if they have to deck that much material.
Get a rebuilt head?
Or attempt to seal with exhuast RTV on the new gasket, this would likely only be a short term fix, with a risk of leaking again. I don't like to repeat work...
Mainly looking to see if anyone has seen this before?
It also looks like the lower section of the gasket was starting to burn through and leak as well.
Thanks in advance.
