Motor got hot smelled electrical burrning

[acuraguy81]

Took the boat out for the 4th time this year seemed to be running warm gauge said 200 degrees which it was ussualy 150. after driving for about 5 min i noticed an electric smell so i slowed down then head some thing like fire so i shut it down and opened the engine hatch to hear water boiling in the motor and lots of smoke and electrical smell bad. I got a tow in and got the boat home checked the impeller it is good, took the thermostat out put the muffs in and tried to start it. The motor acted locked up started to turn over then stoped kept trying and the started can one get one or two cranks and then locks up. started to smell the electrical smell again and the power wire coming from the battery was very very very hot. So my guess is my gauge or sending unit is bad, my thermostat froze shut and the motor got very hot and is ruined but why the electrical issue and smell/smoke? Please help this is so odd!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Motor got hot smelled electrical burrning

Ayuh,.... What motor,..?? What drive,..?? What vintage,..??

 

[acuraguy81]

Re: Motor got hot smelled electrical burrning

1990 omc 4.3liter.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Motor got hot smelled electrical burrning

My guess is head gaskets blew from the overheat and now there is water in the cylinders putting a giant load on the starter and heating up the wire. What happens if you turn it over with all of the spark plugs removed?

PS. The motor is not necessarily ruined if you get all the water out of it...

 

[acuraguy81]

Re: Motor got hot smelled electrical burrning

I have water in 4 of my cylinders took out the plugs. I will be pulling the heads in a few days to get the water out and put new gaskets on. you think i should have both heads checked since boths gaskets blew?

 

[acuraguy81]

Re: Motor got hot smelled electrical burrning

Any idea's after me finding water in the cylinders? should i get em both checked?

 

[alien4fish]

Re: Motor got hot smelled electrical burrning

I have water in 4 of my cylinders took out the plugs. I will be pulling the heads in a few days to get the water out and put new gaskets on. you think i should have both heads checked since boths gaskets blew?

Yes and Yes,
I would get the water out NOW!!! Dont Wait !! Pull the plugs and crank it over, so the motor is spitting all the water out.
Then take some engine oil and squirt it into the each cylinder (1-2 tablespoons)and crank it again You want to coat the cylinder walls to prevent rust from scoring up the cylinder walls and ruining your block some guys like to use the marvel mystery oil to you can get it at pep boys................... If you dont get the water out of the cylinders then you WILL need a new long block.
Good Luck

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Motor got hot smelled electrical burrning

You want to check the exhaust manifolds and risers too. People more knowledgeable than me will be along later but as I understand it water can get in the cylinders when the exhaust water jackets fail. So you may want to do a compression & leak down test before opening the engine. Failed compression test points to the head. Leakdown testing will help locate compression ring issues. These tests will tell you a lot in not too much time. Then if it is confirmed that you have failed head gaskets, so be it. But figure out a plan first, get your info.

 

[acuraguy81]

Re: Motor got hot smelled electrical burrning

great info. Please keep it coming I did crank it over to spray out the water through the spark plug holes then sprayed some oil in the cylinders and cranked it again. Whats next. Thanks again guys.

 

[alien4fish]

Re: Motor got hot smelled electrical burrning

You want to check the exhaust manifolds and risers too. People more knowledgeable than me will be along later but as I understand it water can get in the cylinders when the exhaust water jackets fail. So you may want to do a compression & leak down test before opening the engine. Failed compression test points to the head. Leakdown testing will help locate compression ring issues. These tests will tell you a lot in not too much time. Then if it is confirmed that you have failed head gaskets, so be it. But figure out a plan first, get your info.

That is very true, im right in the middle of a Very fresh rebuild(posted here) and im getting some water intrusion......Maybe........... but thats another thread.
once you do all the necc. things to save your block ..........then look for the primary cause of your engine failure impellar, water pump,manifolds etc.and post up your findings here so others can learn
good luck,
and remember you CAN do it right the 1st time

 

[acuraguy81]

Re: Motor got hot smelled electrical burrning

I think the thermostat was bad, it looks so rusty and nasty i took it out and plan on running with no thermostat since this is the second time they have cause issues in a boat of mine. Also my temp gauge or sending unit is bad which i will be changing also.

Do you think I should have a machine shop check the heads or block?

 

[alien4fish]

Re: Motor got hot smelled electrical burrning

I am running NO thermostat in my motor just FYI...... others may disagree,
but i want my engine to run as cool as possible. I can live with hard starting long warm up periods, when i launch at the ramp, I drop the drive I start the motor and then go park the truck(close by of course) when i get back she is is close to where she needs to be.
Then off to the bait reciever.
For me, I want a cold water ALWAYS flowing thru my engine. but thats just me
many will disgree.To each his own

 

[acuraguy81]

Re: Motor got hot smelled electrical burrning

yup i agree plus no burns from the thermostat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[acuraguy81]

Re: Motor got hot smelled electrical burrning

should i have both heads checked? or just put new head gaskets on and go.

 

[acuraguy81]

Re: Motor got hot smelled electrical burrning

I got my motor tore apart heads off and they are going to the machine shop. but I have a piston that is toasted has chucks of the ring on top of it burt good from when the motor got hot. the cylinder walls seem to feel ok. Im going to pull the motor completely out and change the one piston and all the rings and bearings while the block is out and reassemble. any thoughts?

 

[fossill]

Re: Motor got hot smelled electrical burrning

I am running NO thermostat in my motor just FYI...... others may disagree,
but i want my engine to run as cool as possible. I can live with hard starting long warm up periods, when i launch at the ramp, I drop the drive I start the motor and then go park the truck(close by of course) when i get back she is is close to where she needs to be.
Then off to the bait reciever.
For me, I want a cold water ALWAYS flowing thru my engine. but thats just me
many will disgree.To each his own

By doing that you're at a high risk of sludging up the engine. They need to run at an operating temp to what they are designed.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Motor got hot smelled electrical burrning

I am running NO thermostat in my motor just FYI...... others may disagree,
...........many will disgree.To each his own

Running without a thermostat is a huge mistake.

And it's not just people that disagree. The MANUFACTURER will also disagree.

Even running an engine at 140 or 160 degrees is not nearly as efficient as running closer to 200 degrees. The lower temps for raw water cooled engines is very important for operating in salt water. If you're not operating in salt, 160 or even a little higher is even better than running colder.


Running without a 'stat will cause also cause hot and cold spots in the heads and block (where your temp gage cannot tell you anything.....) and cause you to retain water in the oil because it never is allowed to heat up sufficiently to evaporate out all the water.

There's no up-side in running without a thermostat.

I got my motor tore apart heads off and they are going to the machine shop. but I have a piston that is toasted has chucks of the ring on top of it burt good from when the motor got hot. the cylinder walls seem to feel ok. Im going to pull the motor completely out and change the one piston and all the rings and bearings while the block is out and reassemble. any thoughts?

You should carefully inspect your manifolds and risers. Do you operate in salt? have you ever looked at the risers (& gaskets)? have you ever looked at your manifolds?

When the engine overheated was it at a high power setting? (I.E. WOT acceleration up to plane?) If so, your broken piston may have been due to detonation (which sometimes accompanies high temps)

The smell might have been due to rubber burning in the exhaust system because your manifolds & risers are plugged with rust and not allowing anough cooling flow thru them.....

If you have power steering, your PS oil cooler might be plugged with remnants of a previous impeller failure restricting water flow etc....



Regards,



Rick

 

[acuraguy81]

Re: Motor got hot smelled electrical burrning

great info thanks guys. No salt water here and PS how can I check a manifold for clogging? Im very familiar with detonation I have built forced induction cars. The motor got flat hot im sure cause of the thermostat being all rusty and nasty and not working properly.

PS pulling the motor putting new piston in and all new rings and bearing including checking the heads to see it they are ok.

thanks to all again for the insight more is welcome

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Motor got hot smelled electrical burrning

You have to separate the riser from the manifold to inspect for corrosion-clogging. It's usually, fairly obvious.

 

[acuraguy81]

Re: Motor got hot smelled electrical burrning

my manifold is once piece. has a little drain at the bottom and the cooling hose and that is all.