omc 2.3 newbie BAD BAD BAD Mechanics help!! GAH!

becon776

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ok, bought a 1990 bliner capri 2052 cuddy - 21' (2.3 Ford OMC cobra) a few years ago... It has been incredible and being a teacher have enjoyed many days out on it. It's the first boat of my life and have always tried to take good care of it. now the inevitable.

After three years of zero problems now this year I take it out.. first time out.. my hose blew a big diameter one that is for the cooling system (attaches to the tstat). I went to auto zone. now I am out again but I check the oil... white froth draining neat the flame arrestor (carb intake). when running at wot and removed steam comes out... thus water in the oil. Looking at the dipstick it's WAY overfull and indeed looks as though there is definately water in the oil. So now I am wondering wtf! water and oil mixing is not good. Then the hose blew again... spraying water and oil EVERYWHERE. boat has been winterized every year... oil changed every year. I have tried to take good care of her. I know it's just a bayliner but it's in good shape and all I could afford.

So, water in oil... oil in water... overfull oil measurement... yet if I put a pair of muffs on and replace the hose again it will start right up. head gasket? cracked block? if it is those how do I know which one? Is there a way to tell. When it was running the oil pressure was within good range. Don't know could it be something else? Exhaust?
 

Don S

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Re: omc 2.3 newbie BAD BAD BAD Mechanics help!! GAH!

You need an engine............. Cracked block.
While it might have been winterized, it wasnt winterize correctly.
 

jerryjerry05

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Re: omc 2.3 newbie BAD BAD BAD Mechanics help!! GAH!

It could be a blocked riser.Change the oil and have the riser checked for clogs.If the riser is blocked change it and then run it and keep an eye on the oil.If the riser isn't blocked then get a tech to check it out.Keep us posted.
PM me with any questions.Jerry
 

BAYLINER185

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Re: omc 2.3 newbie BAD BAD BAD Mechanics help!! GAH!

I know it's just a bayliner but it's in good shape and all I could afford.


I have 2 bayliners this has nothing to do with "the boat" its the motor.

It could be a SeaRay, Donzi or Doral and this could have happened.

Id check the risers and manifolds as suggested.

woundering if it could be the intake manifold?
 

Don S

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Re: omc 2.3 newbie BAD BAD BAD Mechanics help!! GAH!

Leaking risers or manifolds will put some water in the cylinders, and a little might leak into the oil past the rings. But for it to fill with water while running, it has to have a cracked block. Since the water will be blown out of the exhaust.

PS Jerry, why should he have to PM you for answers. Something the rest of us not allowed to hear?
 

becon776

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Re: omc 2.3 newbie BAD BAD BAD Mechanics help!! GAH!

ok so today I am gonna call and give hell to the shop that winterized it.. since they shrink wrap it as well I figured I'd have them winterize it too.... last time for that.
Nobody has mentioned the head gasket? which based on my car knowledge would be the prime suspect... should I just forget about that?
which is more difficult replacing an engine or changing a head gasket?
 

bomar76

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Re: omc 2.3 newbie BAD BAD BAD Mechanics help!! GAH!

PS Jerry, why should he have to PM you for answers. Something the rest of us not allowed to hear?


Who was that guy on here a long time ago that used to pull that stunt ("PM me for more advice") and was charging the suckers for the advice (and drumming up business for his shop)...reminiscent of that....
 

wecoyote

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Messages
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Re: omc 2.3 newbie BAD BAD BAD Mechanics help!! GAH!

ok, bought a 1990 bliner capri 2052 cuddy - 21' (2.3 Ford OMC cobra) a few years ago... It has been incredible and being a teacher have enjoyed many days out on it. It's the first boat of my life and have always tried to take good care of it. now the inevitable.

After three years of zero problems now this year I take it out.. first time out.. my hose blew a big diameter one that is for the cooling system (attaches to the tstat). I went to auto zone. now I am out again but I check the oil... white froth draining neat the flame arrestor (carb intake). when running at wot and removed steam comes out... thus water in the oil. Looking at the dipstick it's WAY overfull and indeed looks as though there is definately water in the oil. So now I am wondering wtf! water and oil mixing is not good. Then the hose blew again... spraying water and oil EVERYWHERE. boat has been winterized every year... oil changed every year. I have tried to take good care of her. I know it's just a bayliner but it's in good shape and all I could afford.

So, water in oil... oil in water... overfull oil measurement... yet if I put a pair of muffs on and replace the hose again it will start right up. head gasket? cracked block? if it is those how do I know which one? Is there a way to tell. When it was running the oil pressure was within good range. Don't know could it be something else? Exhaust?

Check for messages from me on the same problem. I described how to isolate the exhaust manifold from the engine and pressure check the engine. I was able to tell that the engine was still good.
 

rocket1968

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Feb 18, 2008
Messages
125
Re: omc 2.3 newbie BAD BAD BAD Mechanics help!! GAH!

The head gasket would be easier, based on my knowledge. Unless you really know how to take out that engine quickly. One man's opinon. Rephrased; I would have a better chance if it working if I replaced the head gasket than pull the engine.
 

msargent

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Re: omc 2.3 newbie BAD BAD BAD Mechanics help!! GAH!

Looks like we are in about the same boat...no pun intended, lol. Mine was "winterized" and then cracked block and exhaust manifold...of course the shop is taking no responsibility. My choice now is to take it to small claims court or not.
 

chiefalen

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Re: omc 2.3 newbie BAD BAD BAD Mechanics help!! GAH!

if don says it's a cracked block than you can take it as gospel it's a cracked block.now who is responsible is another question.here in jersey 5 thousand is the max for small claims court,ga i don't know but i think it'll be more money to get it back to where it was.you have insurance?
 

wecoyote

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Re: omc 2.3 newbie BAD BAD BAD Mechanics help!! GAH!

if don says it's a cracked block than you can take it as gospel it's a cracked block.now who is responsible is another question.here in jersey 5 thousand is the max for small claims court,ga i don't know but i think it'll be more money to get it back to where it was.you have insurance?

I had three gallons (yes three) of water and oil in my crankcase. The engine was fine. The gasket between the riser and manifold was the problem.
 

HT32BSX115

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10,083
Re: omc 2.3 newbie BAD BAD BAD Mechanics help!! GAH!

Like Don said,
(I Love piggy backing on what Don says! You should see me on an oil thread!!.....oh wait......I don't do oil threads anymore.....:p)


It's VERY hard to get that much water into the crankcase via a riser gasket because it has to come in thru an open exhaust valve when the engine is not running. AND THEN get past the rings... No small boat riser(s) have the volume to provide 3 gallons of water.(unless you leave the hose running for hours(or days) with the engine off!)

Also for the water to get down below, you have to have literally NO RINGS on the pistons! It just doesn't run in there.

I had the very same problem with my (former) 460. Both sides (riser gaskets) were leaking. It was only a problem shortly after shutdown. It would hydrolock briefly while trying to start it. If I let it sit all night, it would start right up (because the little bit of water would presumably leak past the rings over night) . If I ran it for the next day all the water in the crankcase would quickly evaporate right out.

If you had 3 gallons of water in the crankcase, it probably came from somewhere else besides a leaking riser gasket......







I had three gallons (yes three) of water and oil in my crankcase. The engine was fine. The gasket between the riser and manifold was the problem.
 

Coors

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Re: omc 2.3 newbie BAD BAD BAD Mechanics help!! GAH!

What Rick said; my SIL engested water in one cylinder(frozen flapper, thru hull, fast stop, no idle).
2 weeks later, the cylinder shot water out after the spark plug was removed.
Rings take a long time to let water into the crankcase.
 

Coors

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3,367
Re: omc 2.3 newbie BAD BAD BAD Mechanics help!! GAH!

Wait, was thinking about the wrong engine; it was one week.
 

Don S

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Re: omc 2.3 newbie BAD BAD BAD Mechanics help!! GAH!

I had three gallons (yes three) of water and oil in my crankcase. The engine was fine. The gasket between the riser and manifold was the problem.

Bull S**t
I do this for a living and know better. You may have gotten water in your crankcase thru the dipstick tube or somplace from forgetting to take the drain plug out of the boat and let it fill up with rain water, but you didn't get 3 gallons of water past the rings. That is just pure BS.
 

jerryjerry05

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Re: omc 2.3 newbie BAD BAD BAD Mechanics help!! GAH!

Leaking risers or manifolds will put some water in the cylinders, and a little might leak into the oil past the rings. But for it to fill with water while running, it has to have a cracked block. Since the water will be blown out of the exhaust.

PS Jerry, why should he have to PM you for answers. Something the rest of us not allowed to hear?
I cant always remember the people I have responded to.Nothing SINISTER!!!
 

sea wolf

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Messages
1,219
Re: omc 2.3 newbie BAD BAD BAD Mechanics help!! GAH!

Don't go to Autozone for boat parts. That hose has a flared end on the transom side. That's probably why it blew again, it didn't fit right. But that's the least of your problems.
 

wecoyote

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Apr 25, 2008
Messages
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Re: omc 2.3 newbie BAD BAD BAD Mechanics help!! GAH!

Like Don said,
(I Love piggy backing on what Don says! You should see me on an oil thread!!.....oh wait......I don't do oil threads anymore.....:p)


It's VERY hard to get that much water into the crankcase via a riser gasket because it has to come in thru an open exhaust valve when the engine is not running. AND THEN get past the rings... No small boat riser(s) have the volume to provide 3 gallons of water.(unless you leave the hose running for hours(or days) with the engine off!)

Also for the water to get down below, you have to have literally NO RINGS on the pistons! It just doesn't run in there.

I had the very same problem with my (former) 460. Both sides (riser gaskets) were leaking. It was only a problem shortly after shutdown. It would hydrolock briefly while trying to start it. If I let it sit all night, it would start right up (because the little bit of water would presumably leak past the rings over night) . If I ran it for the next day all the water in the crankcase would quickly evaporate right out.

If you had 3 gallons of water in the crankcase, it probably came from somewhere else besides a leaking riser gasket......

Not three gallons of water, three gallons of water and oil. Figure about 7 quarts of water. There was literally no riser gasket. One of the 4 bolts on the riser was missing, and another striped. The cooling system (separated from the exhaust) held pressure for 2 days, and my compression is 150-155. My current problem is a plugged riser, so all pumped water was going into the exhaust manifold. Some people should not own things with moving parts. :D
 

wecoyote

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Joined
Apr 25, 2008
Messages
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Re: omc 2.3 newbie BAD BAD BAD Mechanics help!! GAH!

Bull S**t
I do this for a living and know better. You may have gotten water in your crankcase thru the dipstick tube or somplace from forgetting to take the drain plug out of the boat and let it fill up with rain water, but you didn't get 3 gallons of water past the rings. That is just pure BS.

Geeezzzz people! read my post. I said three gallons of water and oil. To be accurate about 7 quarts of water. I'm of course not positive how it got in there, but the engine is pressure checked ok, and the water was very much churned up with the oil so it had been running that way.

I'm not sure what you mean by the dipstick hole, but I would think that if water could go in, then oil and water would come out. It had been sitting for some time.

So. I've only stated what I found, and what I've found bad. The engines cooling system held pressure for 2 days. I at no time suggested anywhere that the water went past the rings.

I also called the ops attention to my other posts on how I checked the cooling system so he may be able to do the same.

No bull :D
 
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