Bigfoot0220
Cadet
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2019
- Messages
- 7
Hi guys. A little background first:
2 years ago I Bought a 95 trophy with a 4.3 and Alpha one gen 2. Went out half a dozen times or so, and ended up seizing the motor. I replaced the motor myself with a Mercruiser 350 alpha 4v complete motor last spring and all seemed good. Ran it all summer and drained it for the winter.
Went to start it last week in my driveway for the first time this year, and it was starting very rough. I had to give it a lot of extra throttle to fire up, and keep it up to stay running. I noticed dark smoke coming from the prop/exhaust. After shutting it down and getting back on the ground, I noticed the ground was covered with black oil spots, which I assumed was gear oil that was leaking. Did a lot of internet research and it led me to removing the drive to pressure test. This morning, I removed the drive and found the exhaust bellows full of rubber parts, which I determined was the exhaust flappers after I got them out. I know the flappers were not missing from the old engine which was assumed to be the reason water got in and seized up the motor. I am not sure yet if these are the missing flaps or the ones I installed with the new motor. Assuming this was related to the current issue, I hooked up the hose to the water inlet and started it up again to see if the problem was solved. Started up quickly but then went straight back to the rough running and oil coming out of the exhaust.
Since I now know this was engine oil not drive oil, I shut it down. I extracted the oil and it was black (changed last week before initially starting) and there was a lot of water in it. Oil on dipstick still looked new. Ended up getting about 7 quarts out, when I only put about 5 in last week. Not milky at all, just very liquid and black. I also drained the water from the drain plugs, the thermostat and starboard manifolds drained oily black water but port manifold was clear. Im going to pull the plugs next to check for water, but they are impossible to see so I'm not sure I'll be able to tell if there's water in the cylinders.
From my quick searching, it sounds likely I have a head or gasket issue. Please tell me there could be a simpler explanation as to why water and oil are mixing. Next steps are also appreciated, I am not a mechanic and am at a total loss here and don't want to see all the money put into this go down the drain. Thank you.
2 years ago I Bought a 95 trophy with a 4.3 and Alpha one gen 2. Went out half a dozen times or so, and ended up seizing the motor. I replaced the motor myself with a Mercruiser 350 alpha 4v complete motor last spring and all seemed good. Ran it all summer and drained it for the winter.
Went to start it last week in my driveway for the first time this year, and it was starting very rough. I had to give it a lot of extra throttle to fire up, and keep it up to stay running. I noticed dark smoke coming from the prop/exhaust. After shutting it down and getting back on the ground, I noticed the ground was covered with black oil spots, which I assumed was gear oil that was leaking. Did a lot of internet research and it led me to removing the drive to pressure test. This morning, I removed the drive and found the exhaust bellows full of rubber parts, which I determined was the exhaust flappers after I got them out. I know the flappers were not missing from the old engine which was assumed to be the reason water got in and seized up the motor. I am not sure yet if these are the missing flaps or the ones I installed with the new motor. Assuming this was related to the current issue, I hooked up the hose to the water inlet and started it up again to see if the problem was solved. Started up quickly but then went straight back to the rough running and oil coming out of the exhaust.
Since I now know this was engine oil not drive oil, I shut it down. I extracted the oil and it was black (changed last week before initially starting) and there was a lot of water in it. Oil on dipstick still looked new. Ended up getting about 7 quarts out, when I only put about 5 in last week. Not milky at all, just very liquid and black. I also drained the water from the drain plugs, the thermostat and starboard manifolds drained oily black water but port manifold was clear. Im going to pull the plugs next to check for water, but they are impossible to see so I'm not sure I'll be able to tell if there's water in the cylinders.
From my quick searching, it sounds likely I have a head or gasket issue. Please tell me there could be a simpler explanation as to why water and oil are mixing. Next steps are also appreciated, I am not a mechanic and am at a total loss here and don't want to see all the money put into this go down the drain. Thank you.
