Water in engine problem

[Aviator19]

I was at the Colorado river this weekend with the boat. It seemed to be running fine as I dragged a few people around on a tube (one after the other, stopping the engine a few times along the way to pick up or switch people) for about an hour or so.

No signs of any problems until I tryed starting the engine up once again to only hear a click. I first thought the starter died.

After a while of floating down-river someone came along to help us...They took off the spark plug wires, spark plugs and had me crank the engine. I saw water being pumped out of the engine. Wasen't a starter problem afterall lol.

Question:
The plugs are back in but I didn't have time to note the order of the wires before being unplugged, so I have no idea which wire goes to which plug. How do I find this out?

The other question:
How would water get in the engine like that with no warning? I shut it off and then tryed to start it a few minutes later, and nothing turning was the first clue something was wrong.

Since that already hapened though, and I think most of the water is out of the engine, how do I proceed in fixing the problem? Could it be as simple as a gasket?

I will probably end up trying to fix it myself as I hear it's cheaper but I'm only a beginner in mechanics. Have to start somewhere I guess lol. How much would other's usually charge to fix such a problem?

Thank you in advance

 

[Aviator19]

Re: Water in engine problem

Some more details I forgot to include that might be helpfull:
Merccruser stern drive, I think it's an Alpha one.

A mercury 140HP engine. Though it has GM and made in Mexico (translated from Hecho Mexico I believe) on it. Other things I noticed on the engine in my search for more info about it: 2770087 F.7.72 D

 

[Robj]

Re: Water in engine problem

First piece of advice is to get a service manual.

Regarding the plug wires, you have to put No. 1 cylinder in TDC position, and then follow the firing order and put the wires back on in that order.

To find TDC, remove the spark plug from the #1 cylinder and put your finger over the plug hole. Have someone else turn the engine over with a wrench. When you feel the pressure from the piston building that means that it is on a compression stroke, continue rotating the engine until the piston is at the top of the stroke. Your timing marks should also align to 0 degrees. At this point #1 cylinder should be firing, so go look at the distributor and see which wire the rotor is pointing to, this is #1. Then crank the engine a little more to see which way the rotor turns, and that is the second cylinder in your firing order. Continue with the firing order until all the wires are installed.

Regarding your water problems, there can be many causes, I am sure some of the Merc guys will give you some ideas.

Good Luck

Rob.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Water in engine problem

Follow the advice, get the plugs sorted out, and get your engine started now. You can't wait. You have to get the remaining water out now or rust will set in and your engine will be lost.

There are a number of ways it can get in there, but none of them matter yet. If you don't get it started soon you'll be buying a new engine anyway so the water intrusion could be a non-issue...

 

[Coors]

Re: Water in engine problem

Yep, a fast shut down throws the wake up the exhaust.

 

[Aviator19]

Re: Water in engine problem

I thought rust formed from saltwater? Colorado river is not salt water.

Also, if I did get the engine started again as it currently is, could water still get in again when I plug the hose in the muffs on the stern drive. I keep hearing it's not good to run the engine without water circulation.

I have found a picture I had taken while repairing an earlier hydraulic problem which provided a good view of how the spark plugs where wired. So I have them plugged in now.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Water in engine problem

You definitely want it hooked up on the muffs when you get it started. All water causes steel to rust, saltwater just causes it to rust faster. Yes water could get in again, depending on the problem. Is your oil water free?

 

[Aviator19]

Re: Water in engine problem

The oil appears to be free of water.

 

[Coors]

Re: Water in engine problem

And the problem is; you have mercruiser, instead of a good old dependale OMC
I go hide now

 

[Aviator19]

Re: Water in engine problem

lol. I coulden't get too picky. I got the boat for only 3500 dollars which I think was pretty good. My first boat.

Before I got it I initially was looking at the bigger ocean going boats in the 5K to 10K dollar range. Found some nice ones but I know the engine is the first thing to look at.

After a while of seeing how those engines looked and the way the seller started them I went smaller and found this 16 ft schuster which has been running pretty well actually for 2 years until this incident though.

I was thinking back about what was said about water going up in the exaust...On the stern drive there was a hose I removed and never replaced. I'm not sure which the hose does:
water outflow, exaust gas outflow, or both? Could that Make it easier for water to get back into the system too?

I'll see if I can get a service manual too. Are there any free on the internet though? Thought I'd ask lol.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Water in engine problem

Hmm..............OMC is good? and reliable?


Man......I had it all wrong! I guess I should rip that piece of junk Merc out and put the Good old dependable OMC back in....





Aviator 19, you probably have a riser gasket or riser leaking water back into the engine after shut down. Or it could be an exhaust shutter allowing water to slosh back up into the engine but the riser problem is more likely.

This needs to be fixed very soon or you will be replacing the engine

And the problem is; you have mercruiser, instead of a good old dependale OMC
I go hide now