Water in the #4 cylinder

[pillsy]

Well Here is the story. I have a 1973 Century Raven 17 with a Mercruiser 140. Just got it started for the first time this year. I fired it up it ran for about 5 minutes, then started to run ruff. I turned it off and pulled the plugs. Yup water in the #4.
I hooked a water hose to the thermostat housing.Then pulled the exaust manifold away from the head about 1/2 inch and turned on the water to see if the manifold was leaking water into the intake or exaust, nothing bad there. Next turned the water pressure up and checked to see if the water was either making the oil level rise or if it was going into the cylinder via a hole in the head gasket. Nothing there either. The only way I can get water to go into the cylinder is with the engine running. I think (hope) its just the head gasket. Can anyone tell me if there are other ways to check for other problems. I don't think its a cracked block, but I don't know for sure. any advise would be great.

 

[havasuboatman]

Re: Water in the #4 cylinder

It's probably not the head gasket. The reason the engine has to be running is that the head (or block) has to heat up in order to expand the crack enough to allow water to pass thru.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Water in the #4 cylinder

It's going to be the exhaust manifold or the riser. It nearly always is. Headgasket is usually about reason #4 or 5 for water in a cylinder of a marine engine.

 

[cedarjunki]

Re: Water in the #4 cylinder

did any* water drain as you pulled the manifold away?

 

[pillsy]

Re: Water in the #4 cylinder

No no water in the manifold, little water mix with oil in the exaust from the number 4. The engine didn't run even 30 sec. The second time I started it and it filled right up. How do I locate a crack?

 

[pillsy]

Re: Water in the #4 cylinder

I also should mention I may have overheated it a little last summer. I didn't know the prop was slipping. I just thought the boat was slow. Because the guy I bought it from didn't tell me the prop was bad. So I ran it around a few times WOT 5000 rpm at about 25 mph. wondering what was wrong with the boat. I know not good... I had heard that could cause the head gasket to leak. I wonder though. I didn't have any problems with it at the end of last year. I did winterize it. Ran antifreez until it spit it out the exaust for a few minutes. probably took a gallon or so until I saw green coming out of the outdrive. I am in Rochester NY so It does get cold. Not good if she's cracked.

 

[BRG25]

Re: Water in the #4 cylinder

So you sucked antifreeze through the outdrive using muffs? Did you drain the water out of the engine first? If you didn't then there is a good chance you still had water in the block. Check out this thread...

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=280921

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: Water in the #4 cylinder

make sure engine is running as the exhaust pressure keeps water out ,so do not run at full city pressure and try to start engine as soon as possible and stop water as soon at same time engine stops or a liitle sooner that is what i do as i filled my #4 last year when i ran water thru it without running and i had a mess, had to cahnge oil 3x and pull plugs .mercruiser even states this fact.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Water in the #4 cylinder

probably took a gallon or so until I saw green coming out of the outdrive.

Not even close to enough AF to fill the block and manifold

 

[cedarjunki]

Re: Water in the #4 cylinder

No no water in the manifold, little water mix with oil in the exaust from the number 4. The engine didn't run even 30 sec. The second time I started it and it filled right up. How do I locate a crack?

i dont get it? your saying no water in the manifold, but then you say water and oil in the exhaust? where exactly are you seeing the water??
in the manifold im assuming right?


but....water and oil isnt good period. possible head gasket, cracked head, or cracked block.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Water in the #4 cylinder

make sure engine is running as the exhaust pressure keeps water out.

Once the engine stops, no water will make it past the water pump impeller so that shouldn't be a problem.

 

[pillsy]

Re: Water in the #4 cylinder

i dont get it? your saying no water in the manifold, but then you say water and oil in the exhaust? where exactly are you seeing the water??
in the manifold im assuming right?


but....water and oil isnt good period. possible head gasket, cracked head, or cracked block.

Sorry. The water that was in the cylinder was being pushed out through the exaust.

 

[pillsy]

Re: Water in the #4 cylinder

I read the sticky post for winterizing your boat and I know now I did it wrong.
What I did was take the thermostat out, and yes I hooked up the muffs to the outdrive and let it suck the antifreeze in until it came out throught the exaust. I let it circulate for about 4-5 minutes while holding the antifreeze. It took a long time until the water turned green so I thought it would have made it through the entire engine. After I saw the antifreeze I let it run for another minute or two.
This is what happens when you listen to how someone else does it and don't read the manual. I haven't taken of the head yet. I will probably rip it off tomorrow. I will post back and let you know what I see.
It May be time for a new boat. I only paid $700 for it. I knew I would have a large learning curve, and didn't want to spend alot on a new boat and be in a heap of trouble.
I did just replace the bellows and shift cable and put new lifters in it, because one was tapping. So I figure I am out a total of $1200 with the new gas tank I bought last year. I don't know. Live and learn.

 

[pillsy]

Re: Water in the #4 cylinder

I will get the digital camera out take some pics so you can see what I saw on the exaust port on the #4. I may also have to show some what it looks like when you don't winterize properly. IE Cracked Block.
I have to first talk the wife into letting me jump back in the boat again. She is starting to wonder why I'm in the back yard so much.

 

[cedarjunki]

Re: Water in the #4 cylinder

so are you saying... your seeing the water exit with the exhaust out through the lower unit through the prop?
thats normal.

other than that the exhaust runs out through the manifold, therefore im betting you have either a cracked riser or manifold....
water in #4 usually is from the manifold or riser leaking and is seen in #4 because of the angle of the engine sitting lower in the rear. chances are it is sucking all the water in through the exhaust valve when you shut it down.
btw.... i just went through this with my fathers a couple weeks ago. it was the riser.

 

[pillsy]

Re: Water in the #4 cylinder

I hope so. when I sucked the water out of the cylinder it was clear.
when I looked between the head and the manifold I saw where the water had come out the exaust port and was sitting in the manifold. that was a little creamy looking all other were dry.
could it be the gas that pooled and didn't burn that made it look creamy?

 

[cedarjunki]

Re: Water in the #4 cylinder

it could be carbon making it look funny....
test the manifold or have it tested at a machine shop. if you have a 1/4" steel plate laying around and a drill you can test it yourself. get a riser gasket/place over steel plate/mark bolt holes/drill em out. using gasket bolt the plate on the manifold, now clamp the garden hose to the water hose on the manifold/ turn on water....if its cracked water will escape out of the ports.

now take the riser, flip it upside down somewhere level/ carefully fill the exhaust port full of water without spilling any... now let it set and see if the water drains down any.... thats how the machine shop told me to test my riser.

good luck!

 

[pillsy]

Re: Water in the #4 cylinder

 

[pillsy]

Re: Water in the #4 cylinder

I will pull the head later and put some pics of that. I guess I am limited to 5 pics total. Does anyone know how to add more than that?

 

[pillsy]

Re: Water in the #4 cylinder

Just pulled the head. The block, gasket, and head are fine. relief!
I talked to a mechanic. he also thinks it is probably the exaust elbow.
I forgot to mention. When I took the distributor out I put it back wrong and had some hellatious backfires. Think that might have anything to do with my troubles?