Water in oil. Where to start?

[Danny_Ocean]

Motor is a 454/330, raw-water cooled. Thru-transom wet exhaust.<br /><br />Discovered water in the oil today (boat was just un-winterized and has only 1/2 hr. running time). I suspect it came from defective risers or a bad head gasket (I was about to upgrade manifolds/risers soon, anyway). Question is, after inspecting head gaskets and risers/manifolds, where else should I look before reassembly? Must I rebuild the entire engine? I really don't want to go through all the work of replacing head gaskets and risers, only to find water in oil came from another source.<br /><br />Also...there is about 2 qts. of oil in the bilge. Where do I look for THAT leak?<br /><br />Many thanks in advance,<br /><br />D. Ocean<br />Miami, FLA

 

[Walt T]

Re: Water in oil. Where to start?

Perhaps the water just got in via rain? Did you change the oil and run it to verify you had a leak? Oil under the engine could be the drain plug gasket, oil pan gasket, front seal, rear seal. Use a mirror.

 

[Danny_Ocean]

Re: Water in oil. Where to start?

Nope...don't think rain did it. Motor oil in the engine is milky, from the dipstick to the oil-filler/pcv valve.<br /><br />I plan on changing the oil tomorrow and will try the mirror trick.<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />D. Ocean

 

[Trent]

Re: Water in oil. Where to start?

Have the manifolds and risers pressure checked for cracks.

 

[Danny_Ocean]

Re: Water in oil. Where to start?

The manifolds & risers are old and crusty. I've ordered a new set.<br /><br />Can a malfunctioning manifold/riser be the sole cause of water in the engine?<br /><br />D. Ocean

 

[yoced]

Re: Water in oil. Where to start?

Well, of course you *could* have more than one source of water. But the manifolds and risers _can_ do the trick all by themselves; they don't need help from anything else.