Something new on 2.3 Cobra water in oil.

[wecoyote]

Up to now...

Water in oil.

Put it on the hose, and water in cylinders.

Yesterday....

One bolt missing in joint from manifold to riser. Assuming that could cause a leak and deterioration of the gasket thereby latting water into the exhaust.

Removed riser, and not to surprised to find gasket crumbs. Was surprised to look into riser and find a nickel sized hole almost half way around the arc of the riser into the cooling passage. Not a crack but a hole.

Any ideas how that happened?

On a lighter note, I removed the t-stat and poured water into the manifold cooling passage until full to the mating point of the riser, and it held it for 30 minutes while I put the tools away. Can this be good news?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Something new on 2.3 Cobra water in oil.

That would be called corrosion.

Do you know how old the manifold and riser is? Are they used or have they been used in salt water?

I would not put either back on the boat. Just replace them. and consider yourself lucky that the engine is not completely trashed!

Cheers,


Rick

 

[wecoyote]

Re: Something new on 2.3 Cobra water in oil.

That would be called corrosion.

Do you know how old the manifold and riser is? Are they used or have they been used in salt water?

I would not put either back on the boat. Just replace them. and consider yourself lucky that the engine is not completely trashed!

Cheers,


Rick

I have no way of knowing how old the riser is, could be original. Boat not tagged since 2000 (wow). Compression at 120 and not run since 2005-6.

Finding an exhaust manifold for a 87-90 2.3 Cobra is proving to be as easy as finding a Virgin in LA

Thanks for the tip on corrosion, though it surprises me it would happen that high up/far out the exhaust system and the manifold still hold water.