some support on head gasket

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martyd

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travelling back last week the engine seemed underpowered then every now and again there was a surge of power, when the boat was out of the water i could smell burning oil took the engine cover off and had emulsified oil all over the engine coming from the breather, now i assume it was running on 3 hence the surge, I have dropped the oil but before i rip it apart to check the head gasket is there another possible source for the water????..........thanks in advance:)
 
alldodge

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Re: some support on head gasket

Do a compression test. You probably have 1 or 2 cylinders with ring problems and this will tell you where it is. If you find low compression then pull the valve cover and see if it is valves before you decide to pull the engine or head.
 
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martyd

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Re: some support on head gasket

AllDodge said:
Do a compression test. You probably have 1 or 2 cylinders with ring problems and this will tell you where it is. If you find low compression then pull the valve cover and see if it is valves before you decide to pull the engine or head.
Click to expand...


no pulled the plugs straight away assuming one would be fouled but no all the same, I assumed head gasket because of the surge to full power when running at about 3000rpm, if it was rings or valves where would the water in the oil appear from?
 
alldodge

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Re: some support on head gasket

What engine are we working on? You mentioned oil coming from the breather and sounds like a lot of it, this lead me to the possiable ring issue.
 
Bondo

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Re: some support on head gasket

martyd said:
travelling back last week the engine seemed underpowered then every now and again there was a surge of power, when the boat was out of the water i could smell burning oil took the engine cover off and had emulsified oil all over the engine coming from the breather, now i assume it was running on 3 hence the surge, I have dropped the oil but before i rip it apart to check the head gasket is there another possible source for the water????..........thanks in advance:)
Click to expand...

Ayuh,... Welcome Aboard,.... What motor, 'n drive,..??

Emulsified,..?? as in mixed with water,..??

Most likely a cracked block, but We need more Info,...
 
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martyd

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Re: some support on head gasket

Merc 3.0l with alpha gen2, yes oil in water but a cracked block would not miss and run on 3 like that would it? nice creamy oil from valve cover breather but only on high rpm, running slow it was fine, i was convinced head gasket?????
 
alldodge

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Re: some support on head gasket

I think Bond-o called it, crack in a cylinder wall with water and oil coming out cover breather. You have something adding a bunch of pressure in the oil pan area and at higher rpms it blows it out the breather
 
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sti1471

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Re: some support on head gasket

Since you know it is either a blown head gasket, or rings, just pull the head and see which one it is. A problem like this, most of the time will need the head pulled in order to be sure of the problem. The head is not hard to pull, and it can save you lots of time in a proper diagnosis.

Do a compression check. See which cylinder has low readings. This way when you pull the head you know what cylinder(s) you need to focus on by inspecting the gasket, head, walls, rings etc...
 
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martyd

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Re: some support on head gasket

sti1471 said:
Since you know it is either a blown head gasket, or rings, just pull the head and see which one it is. A problem like this, most of the time will need the head pulled in order to be sure of the problem. The head is not hard to pull, and it can save you lots of time in a proper diagnosis.

Do a compression check. See which cylinder has low readings. This way when you pull the head you know what cylinder(s) you need to focus on by inspecting the gasket, head, walls, rings etc...
Click to expand...
Thanks for the opinions guys, although I struggle with the cracked block theory affecting performance!! but head off it is....
 
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sti1471

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Re: some support on head gasket

cracked head will effect performance for sure. In order for an engine to run at peak it needs 3 things.
fuel
spark
compression

If one of those 3 starts to weaken then the performance will as well. anything that allows air to escape a cylinder chamber will hurt your performance, and a crack in the block will do just that.

Normally I would say it might not be the head gasket or a crack, but since you had performance issues which led you to find the water in the oil, I am betting you will find either cracked head/block, broken head gasket, piston ring is shot, cracked piston surface, warped cylinder walls. But no matter which one of those you find, it will be found by removing the head.

One way you can test is to start the engine, pull and reinstall each spark plug wire 1 at a time, and see which ones does not affect the engine idle much. In my case when I decided to pull the head, both cylinders 2 and 3 did not affect idle much so I knew something with those cylinders was bad. in my case turned out to be a broken head gasket between cylinders 2-3.

Keep us posted on what you find. Pictures are good.

Good Luck.
 
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Bondo

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Re: some support on head gasket

martyd said:
Thanks for the opinions guys, although I struggle with the cracked block theory affecting performance!! but head off it is....
Click to expand...

Ayuh,... Before ya go crazy, do the compression test 1st,...

How Over-full is the oil level gettin',...
 
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martyd

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Re: some support on head gasket

I now appear to have a faulty starter too!! drawing current and getting hot will test it later, oil was not over full, dropped about 5 litres which is near what it should be, after some reading gasket going between 3+4 is very common apparently we will see ....
 
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martyd

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Re: some support on head gasket

It transpired that it was the head gasket, cleaned the head and bores but need to flush the block and sump out, has anybody ever done this using diesel and was the result ok??
 
alldodge

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Re: some support on head gasket

martyd said:
It transpired that it was the head gasket, cleaned the head and bores but need to flush the block and sump out, has anybody ever done this using diesel and was the result ok??
Click to expand...

Never done it on a boat but did a couple cars in my yourger days and had no issues. Diesel will mix oil and so long as your getting most of it out should not be an issue. I would suggest on final, put some clean oil in and pull it back out as a rinse.
 
Bondo

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Re: some support on head gasket

martyd said:
It transpired that it was the head gasket, cleaned the head and bores but need to flush the block and sump out, has anybody ever done this using diesel and was the result ok??
Click to expand...

Ayuh,.... It's been drippin', 'n drainin' How long now,..??

You said the oil Level didn't rise on the dipstick, 'n the appropriate amount came out, Right,..??

Clean it up with a diesel soaked rag, 'n compressed air,...
Put it back together, 'n Run it,....

A few tablespoons of water, If there is that much, will steam off the 1st time the motor is run up to temp for an extended period of time,...
 
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