Water in oil **NEW**

[foresteronw]

I have recently posted a topic conserning water in my oil. First let me explain the problem and then I will explain what I have found that could be the problem. There is water in my oil only at under the valve covers. There is nothing on the dip stick at all (i know it would be at the bottom of the oil pan though). The oil level never rises, at least I can't notice it. The engine runs fine, this happened at the end of last season and I didn't have time to fix it. I have just started it for the first time today and again it ran perfect. <br /><br />Now were I think the problem might be is with the way my exhaust is routed. I have seen a picture of my boats engine compartment on a different boat and it was routed completely different than the way mine is. My exhaust goes from the manifolds to the risers (rear mounted) and they point forward. The hose stays level to the front of the engine then travels down and outboard at about a 45 degree angle. Then takes a 90 degree turn to the aft and exits out the hull. On the boat with the original exhaust the risers point aft and go immediataly to a 45 degree angle down and then 90 out thru the hull. Now what I am wondering is since mine is ran this way every time I plane off and accelorate forward wouldn't the water in the exhaust just run right back into the motor. I wish I could explain it better. In case this helps I have a 1989 Sunbird Eurosport with an OMC King Cobra 5.7L. Thanks for you help and if you can come up with any question that might better explain it let me know. I can email a picture to anyone that wants to see the way my exhaust is ran, it would most likely help, I am also going to try and get a picture of the way the stock exhaust is suppose to be ran.

 

[foresteronw]

Re: Water in oil **NEW**

more info: the distance from the riser to the first turn in the exhaust is about 19". This is how far the exhaust hose stays level and goes forward before there is any down ward angle.

 

[wvit100]

Re: Water in oil **NEW**

Are you talking about water or condensation. If you had water under the valve covers then it would be in the oil pan also. When do you find this water, is it there all the time or was it early in the morning after the motor had gotten cold and the air was warming up? Is it there when the engine is hot?

 

[DJ]

Re: Water in oil **NEW**

More than likely you are seeing condensation only.<br /><br />I/O engines typically run at 160 degrees or less. That is not warm enough to boil out any water in the oil.<br /><br />Make sure your crankcase ventilation system (PCV) is not clogged up.

 

[foresteronw]

Re: Water in oil **NEW**

I drained the oil from the oil pan, made a set up so it would go out the bilge and into the bucket without making a mess. There was water in the bottom of the pan too. It was just not showing up on the dip stick. So I guess I was wrong, it is getting in the pan also. There are 2 things that are puzzeling me. <br />1. If there was something seriously wrong, like engine block crack or manifold crack etc, why would the engine run so well. <br /><br />2. I have been looking on the internet all day and can not find any engines that have there exhaust routed the same way mine is.

 

[DJ]

Re: Water in oil **NEW**

Typically, if you are getting water in the engine, it will come in from the manifold(s) or riser(s). Then it would go into the cylinders and you would know it.<br /><br />You could get some oil and water mixing from a leaking intake gasket, but again, your oil would probably look like creamed coffee.<br /><br />Your exhaust routing might be funky, but I'm not so sure it's causing a problem.

 

[foresteronw]

Re: Water in oil **NEW**

Is there anyway to tell what is causing the problem without tearing the engine apart. i have called around about getting the manifolds and risers presure checked and no one around here can do it. What can I do myself. So would it make no sense to re-route the exhaust then.

 

[1976_SkiTique]

Re: Water in oil **NEW**

I'm not that experienced with what you are talking about, so I'll put my .02 in quick. <br />Are you sure the water that you saw when you drained the oil wasn't introduced in the bilge system. Your oil should be creamy if there's water in with it and you've run your boat. I use a drill pump to drain the oil froim my boat. You could try this and you would know for sure if you saw water where it was from. If I'm way off base, just ignore me...

 

[akriverrat]

Re: Water in oil **NEW**

boat level at dock or on muffs. start engine.fast idle for few minutes. pull spark plugs. look for signs of water in cylinders. if no signs of water run with bow high allmost on step. rapidly throttle down to idle/neutral. as soon as safe shut engine down. pull spark plugs and look for wet plugs or steam coming out plug hole. if water first time probable rusting out manifold/riser. second time bad exhaust design. just making this up as i type, may not prove anything at all.if i pictured it right in my head and it was mine i might do this befor yanking manifolds off. might not because either way they gotta come off. good luck.

 

[dmorley]

Re: Water in oil **NEW**

I've got a 1998 4.3 L merc alpha with the one piece exhaust manifold (no riser) with a half closed cooling system. It has about a 6 inch extension tube on the valve cover oil fill tube. This summer on the Oregon coast (foggy) I noticed white foam/condensation in the cap and extension tube after a long run. The dipstick oil showed no signs of water. I drained the oil with a line that went down the dipstick port and still no water in oil. I don't think my pan has a drain plug on it. Could this be just condensation or does this engine have bigger problems brewing?