Milky oil...4.3 merc

[kewlkatdady]

To start... 2000 Regal 1900: 4.3L Merc carb motor 190HP

bought the boat in late July this year. Boats been running great all summer. Last weekend the bilge pump was left on after leaving the lake and it ran the battery so I had to replace the battery after determining that the battery would no longer hold a charge.

Heres where the fun starts...after replacing the battery...I crank her up and off we go...the boat will not plain out and WOT rps are in the 3000 range. Normal is in the 4200 range or so. Come out of the throttle and the boat dies. Get it started back up and limp it back to its home at the marina. I pull the air filter off the carb and notice the valve cover vent tubes have smoke coming out of them. I pull the dipstick and its milky.

#@!%#$^...

The oil (and water) level is high on the dipstick...about 2" above the "full" mark.

I understand that this is more than likely why the RPMs are low and the motor isn't turning properly due to having too much fluid in the crankcase...

I understand I've got several oil changes in front of me...

but where do I start looking for the water leak. Do these motors have common failures to start with. Are there quick easy fixes to start with?

Again just looking for a starting point.


A little about my background. I know car motors...dads a mechanic and have a lot of knowledge and understanding of car motors...but this my first boat and have very little knowledge on boat setups.

The motors isn't locked up...but hopefully I wont have to pull it and rebuild it.

any help is appreciated.

 

[Alpheus]

Re: Milky oil...4.3 merc

Have you been checking the oil before every run since you got it or is this the first time?

Usually water in the oil = cracked block and yes they still run great until they get over filled with milkshake.

You can start by doing a compression test and if you have a low cylinder, do a leak down test. This will tell you if you have a possible head gasket failure.

If that is good, plug all your coolant lines and pressurize your block with 10 psi of air. This will tell you how and where the water is getting in your oil...

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: Milky oil...4.3 merc

Agreed. I doubt the bilge pump has anything to do with your oil problem.

 

[kewlkatdady]

Re: Milky oil...4.3 merc

Have you been checking the oil before every run since you got it or is this the first time?

no...we checked it when we got the boat...and maybe once since...never saw alarming until today...

Agreed. I doubt the bilge pump has anything to do with your oil problem.

bilge pump ran the battery down...nothing to do with the milky oil...I agree.

 

[kewlkatdady]

Re: Milky oil...4.3 merc

If that is good, plug all your coolant lines and pressurize your block with 10 psi of air. This will tell you how and where the water is getting in your oil...

how do you pressurize the block without a radiator cap?

I've done this on cars and used the radiator cap...but since there is no radiator...how?

 

[kewlkatdady]

Re: Milky oil...4.3 merc

anyone got any insight on pressurizing the block?

how do you pressurize the block without a radiator cap?

I've done this on cars and used the radiator cap...but since there is no radiator...how?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Milky oil...4.3 merc

Ayuh,... Isolate the blocks cooling jacket by pinching hoses, or pluggin' it up anyway you can, then pressurize to 15psi...

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Milky oil...4.3 merc

I know... Somebody with a sick sense of humor, snuck into your boat and rerouted your bilge pump overboard discharge hose back into your crank case ! What a jokester!!! Happens all the time.

 

[kewlkatdady]

Re: Milky oil...4.3 merc

Ayuh,... Isolate the blocks cooling jacket by pinching hoses, or pluggin' it up anyway you can, then pressurize to 15psi...

Maybe I'm being a little dense (not the first time), but how do you actually pressurize the block? Again I've done it with a car motor and the radiator...but I cannot wrap my hands around...how to do this.

I know... Somebody with a sick sense of humor, snuck into your boat and rerouted your bilge pump overboard discharge hose back into your crank case ! What a jokester!!! Happens all the time.

I wish it was that easy...

 

[iop]

Re: Milky oil...4.3 merc

no...we checked it when we got the boat...and maybe once since...never saw alarming until today...

Get into the habit of checking engine oil and drive oil as much as you can. it will head off many probs that will fester and destroy your good time if you dont!!!
Engine oil is easy obviously do it before and after every run... I open drive the fill plugs every ten hours or so when i grease my gimbal bearing... with the drive cooled down.. bottom one and just let a little come out. Water, metal shavings will reveal themselves that way!!!

good luck!!

 

[kewlkatdady]

Re: Milky oil...4.3 merc

yeah i know...lesson learned.

This is good advice on any motor really...

from the racing days and offroading days...this is something I should have carried over.

Get into the habit of checking engine oil and drive oil as much as you can. it will head off many probs that will fester and destroy your good time if you dont!!!
Engine oil is easy obviously do it before and after every run... I open drive the fill plugs every ten hours or so when i grease my gimbal bearing... with the drive cooled down.. bottom one and just let a little come out. Water, metal shavings will reveal themselves that way!!!

good luck!!

 

[Alpheus]

Re: Milky oil...4.3 merc

There is no kits or standard that people use to pressurize a block on a boat. You have to think like Macgyver and be creative. You can start by taking the water inlet hose off of the transom plate and rig up a regulated air supply. turn on the air @ 15 psi. Now start by just taking hoses that come out of the block and either plug them up with pieces of broom stick dowel rod or whatever you can find thats a tight fit in the hoses and secure it with a hose clamp, or you can get some radiator hose pinch clamps and pinch the hoses shut. Basically when you get the air running in just plug all the hoses off until the air stops running. If and when you have this accomplished pump up block to 15 psi and listen for air leaks that are coming from within the engine. If you pump up the engine and you can hear air coming out of the oil fill cap, then you have a cracked block...

 

[kewlkatdady]

Re: Milky oil...4.3 merc

well the engine swap is completely minus a couple of minor things.

Got the long block from Rapido Marine.

2 engine stands side by side. Worked on it when I had time.

Swap in 4bbl for the old 2 bbl.

Change the impeller and replace the outdrive gaskets.

Backed it down the ramp sunday, set timing, adjusted air/fuel mixtures....


jumped out of the bed of my truck and dislocated/ fractured my knee...
but....



the boat runs.

Thanks for everyones help to answered all my newb questions.

Off to the DR to see if I'll need surgery or not. Say a prayer for me.

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: Milky oil...4.3 merc

OUCH OUCH... The older we get the less we bounce huh?..
Glad ya got the boat fixed...... Yep it gets cold enough in Texas to crack a block... I drain in Nov.(sometimes Oct.) and don't fire back up till March

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Milky oil...4.3 merc

Howdy,


Prior to Winter lay-up, ensure that you drain the water out of the block before you experience freezing temps!

the boat runs.

YAY!! corngrats!!

jumped out of the bed of my truck and dislocated/ fractured my knee...
but....

BUMMER I hope the recovery is quick!!

Swap in 4bbl for the old 2 bbl.

I also hope you used a "MARINE" type carb!


Regards,


Rick

 

[kewlkatdady]

Re: Milky oil...4.3 merc

its Marine...edelbrock 1409

 

[jamiemac74]

Re: Milky oil...4.3 merc

its Marine...edelbrock 1409

Used the same intake on my 03 4.3 Vortec V-6 swap to get rid of the Fuel Injection.... Thats a awesome intake... I used a full roller V-6 out of a 03 S-10 blazer. Marine cam and a intake I it was ready to go.... Runs like a champ!!!!!!!!!! Although I did have to reprop the boat, big HP difference between a 93 model V-6 and a 03

 

[achris]

Re: Milky oil...4.3 merc

11 year old engine. I bet the elbows have never been replaced... They corrode out at the top of the exhaust passage, leak water, that runs into a cylinder with an open exhaust valve, past the piston rings and into the crankcase... My first check would be to pull the elbows and have a good look inside them. 10 to 1 on you see rusty water stains as you pull the elbows off....

Chris...

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Milky oil...4.3 merc

11 year old engine. I bet the elbows have never been replaced... They corrode out at the top of the exhaust passage, leak water, that runs into a cylinder with an open exhaust valve, past the piston rings and into the crankcase... My first check would be to pull the elbows and have a good look inside them. 10 to 1 on you see rusty water stains as you pull the elbows off....

Chris...

Absolutely!


I wouldn't put a set of old rusty manifolds/risers on a new engine!

 

[kewlkatdady]

Re: Milky oil...4.3 merc

While I do agree that putting old parts on a new engine is not the right way...

Its going to be that way though simply from a $$$$ stand point. I will watch the oil VERY closely over the next few starts and runs.

This is all on hold until I get off crutches...

BTW...I have the discontinued, one piece, HEAVY MF'n exhaust manifolds.

So I'm running it as it for now. This has been a freshwater boat.