OK, now I'm just plain mad at my 4.3L

[Volphin]

Re: OK, now I'm just plain mad at my 4.3L

Well just heard from the machine shop. Manifolds tested A-OK and the surfaces are good with no signs of leakage from elbow. sigh. Off with their heads! What are the chances of cylinder cracks on 3, 5 and 4? My compression gauge keeps dropping rapidly during compression tests... thought it was the schrader valve but maybe the block IS cracked. That would suck.

V

 

[Volphin]

Re: OK, now I'm just plain mad at my 4.3L

Well I finally have some time tonight to further investigate my problem of water in the cylinders. I'm probably only 1 hr away from having the heads off. But here's the thing... I noticed some moisture in the intake. Water pooling marks left on my flame arrestor and intake manifold. It caused a milky white film crust on both (not inside the intake but outside). Right before this happened, we got a LOT of rain from that tropical depression. It probably saw quite a bit or rain actually, and after a day I was able to garage it, knowing a lot more was on the way. PLUS, I know my doghouse leaks as it is bowed a bit. It must leak at the lowest point... Yep, right over the arrestor. So, given this aha, and the fact it was run twice with no issue (slightly high oil pressure), what do my esteemed colleagues think? Should I continue with the teardown? Or pop it together and run it again? Compression was over 100 in all cyls, but my gauge was bleeding down fast due to age. Estimated compression was, in numerical order, 165/160/190/150/165/210. Cyls 3, 5 and 4 filled with water. Right bank, Cyl 3 was 190, Cyl 5 was 165. Left bank, Cyl 4 was 150. I'm guessing some rust formed up on 4. I hate to trash good head gaskets and intake gaskets! Anyone?

V

 

[Volphin]

Re: OK, now I'm just plain mad at my 4.3L

Update: Intake is off as are rockers. Noticed rust streams down # 3 and 5 intake runners, not so much on 4. Water in oil pan as well. Probably leaked by the rings.

Anyone?


V

 

[Don S]

Re: OK, now I'm just plain mad at my 4.3L

Water in oil pan as well. Probably leaked by the rings.

How much water? A few drops of water might make it past the rings eventually, but rings are designed to stop pressure from getting past, let alone large amounts of water. You wouldn't have hydrolocks if water went past the rings.

 

[Volphin]

Re: OK, now I'm just plain mad at my 4.3L

Hard to tell. Probably a 1/2 quart. I don't know if the rings in all cases are sealing against the wall as well as they should... but that's true of most of the cyls. I do know that the water is very rusty looking that exited the large upper left cooling hose. Perhaps the block IS cracked. Bet we can pressure test it in the boat with deck plates...

V

 

[Volphin]

Re: OK, now I'm just plain mad at my 4.3L

Update: Head gaskets look just fine, and no leakage is apparent.

Heads are off and at the machine shop for pressure testing. Took the new intake too for S&G.

Finished in the dark last night... will closely inspect the cyl walls tonight.

V

 

[Don S]

Re: OK, now I'm just plain mad at my 4.3L

Check the lifter valley, that is where you would be most likely to find a crack.

 

[Volphin]

Re: OK, now I'm just plain mad at my 4.3L

Check the lifter valley, that is where you would be most likely to find a crack.

Will do Don. And thanks for your help!

V

 

[Volphin]

Re: OK, now I'm just plain mad at my 4.3L

Well, I heard from the machine shop. Heads are indeed fine. sigh...... Looked in the lifter valley and didn't see anything abnormal. Will keep at it.

V

 

[stackz]

Re: OK, now I'm just plain mad at my 4.3L

dog house is bowed and you saw water inside the intake manifold. I'd be looking at that as far as water getting into the engine. rubber plug in the dipstick and cut some plexiglass from lowes to make deck plates cheap. wedge another between those two for the lifter valley with some sealant and tap that one and pressure test the block through the lifter valley cheap and quick.

how do the cylinder bores look? have you turned the engine over completely with the heads off to see if any of the cylinders are cracked?