Water leaking from exhaust valve HELP!!!

[cableguy1979]

Its a fresh water boat, Im using the MMO to help clean the inside of the engine just in case of rust or clogged oil pump so yep makes me feel better so its doing its job whether it does or not...lol Good to know on needing special tools for the shift cable i didnt know that so I am assuming it needs a shift cable since its sat for so long and Ive had to fix everything else it usually needs it maybe ill get lucky but i doubt it.

 

[cableguy1979]

Got the engine back together and decided to let it run. Once it gets up to temp I get steam out of the right side of the engine. To get the captain's call exhaust back on I took the exhaust riser off but didn't have another gasket to replace with it but it looked good so I put it back on. Could this cause steam if leaking? Could that get into the engine? So far no water in the oil and not overheating. I pulled all the plugs and they were all black from carbon. One did look cleaner than the others. Not sure if that's from steam or just not firing as efficient in that cylinder but it still had plenty of black on it. I'm really hoping for an exhaust riser gasket and not a head gasket again. It all seemed to go together well and everything was torqued to spec. Heads were pressure checked.

what can be done on the cylinders to determine a water leak into a cylinder? It's not like a car with a closed system that can be pressure tested. A leak down test will just leak air past the rings. And with steam I don't think the leak is big. Ill post a youtube video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQJIlkfkUKI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w83KwwGlUGw

 

[Lou C]

To check for water getting in the cyls:
disable the ignition
remove all the plugs
Get someone to crank it over while you watch or hook up a remote starter switch and crank the engine over. If water is getting into the cyls you will see it shoot out of the plug holes. Also look for rust on the spark plug side electrode and an orange cast to the center insulator. Sometimes it will be a fair amount of water but not enough to hydrolock it, sometimes just a mist that you can hardly see but will cause rust on the plug side electrode.
Is this the same side where the cyl head had the water issue?
I had water in the cyls too from 2 blown HGs but did not have steam out the exhaust. How is your exhaust manifold/elbow temp? You can get steam from a slightly overheated exhaust system on one side due to low water flow.

even tho its an open system, there are ways to check for water getting into the cyls. What you are actually looking for is the inverse (combustion gas getting into the cooling water). I rigged up this to verify that I had a blown HG or cracked cyl head (turned out to be both). Watch what happens at the end.....next post....

 

[Lou C]

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8lz4p4e7pdrtqr2/summer and fall 2016 232.MOV?dl=0

There is a way to check for water getting into cyls with a running engine.....with an open or raw water cooling system.....
I rigged this up to check for water getting into the cyls by seeing if combustion gas was getting into the cooling water. Just ran it long enough to see so as to not overheat the exhaust manifolds. When the engine is shut off at the end you can clearly see air bubbles rise to the top of each funnel, a sign of exhaust gas getting into the cooling water.

 

[Rick Stephens]

You can also cap water hoses going to manifolds and risers, remove the input line and pressurize at the thermostat housing. Then see what leaks.

 

[cableguy1979]

Well I took the exhaust riser off and not a drop of water inside. Replaced the gasket and fired it up and let it run. Started steaming again. All plugs are black and dry. Oil is clean and clear. I'm thinking because of the stainless captains call exhaust its just hotter than normal causing steam and is probably normal. Think I'm gonna run it. It all went together very well. I like the ideas though. The steam worries me but the engine isn't showing any sign of water leaking. I guess it could be leaking a fine mist causing the steam and then drying up. Might try pressurizing it and testing it some how.

 

[tank1949]

Well I took the exhaust riser off and not a drop of water inside. Replaced the gasket and fired it up and let it run. Started steaming again. All plugs are black and dry. Oil is clean and clear. I'm thinking because of the stainless captains call exhaust its just hotter than normal causing steam and is probably normal. Think I'm gonna run it. It all went together very well. I like the ideas though. The steam worries me but the engine isn't showing any sign of water leaking. I guess it could be leaking a fine mist causing the steam and then drying up. Might try pressurizing it and testing it some how.

If water is getting on valve stem, as photo displayed, you are asking for major repairs. As others have suggested, jury rig pressuring cooling system and look for leaks. Another consideration: has it rained on motor so possibly rain water dripped into valve area? Good luck!

 

[Lou C]

or just simply disable the ignition to prevent sparks, remove the plugs and spin the engine over. If water is getting in a cyl it will be obvious...just checking the riser you may miss small amounts of water.....
Also when you have steam, that's a sign that your exhaust is running hot. For the water to be steaming like that your exhaust water temps must be HOT. Should be warm but not hot enough to steam. Check water flow to the side that is steaming.
You have a LOT of steam on that starboard side. It could save you an overheated exhaust with burnt rubber exhaust tubes/shutters.

 

[cableguy1979]

If water is getting on valve stem, as photo displayed, you are asking for major repairs. As others have suggested, jury rig pressuring cooling system and look for leaks. Another consideration: has it rained on motor so possibly rain water dripped into valve area? Good luck!

That water on the valve stem has been fixed. It was a major rebuild. Took the heads off to them to a machine shop and had it fixed. Im seeing steam on the Other side of the engine now.

 

[cableguy1979]

or just simply disable the ignition to prevent sparks, remove the plugs and spin the engine over. If water is getting in a cyl it will be obvious...just checking the riser you may miss small amounts of water.....
Also when you have steam, that's a sign that your exhaust is running hot. For the water to be steaming like that your exhaust water temps must be HOT. Should be warm but not hot enough to steam. Check water flow to the side that is steaming.
You have a LOT of steam on that starboard side. It could save you an overheated exhaust with burnt rubber exhaust tubes/shutters.

I know the motor is running very rich. Maybe causing more heat than necessary but I can touch the riser with my bare hand. If its a small amount of water do you think turning the engine over will yield anything noticeable? All the plugs look dark black with soot and typically water inside a cylinder cleans them.

 

[tpenfield]

The risers (elbows) should be about 95 F degrees on top. So, you should be able to keep your hand there. I cannot recall, but were you able to do a full cooling system pressure test once the engine was put back together? I believe you had the heads pressure tested.

 

[cableguy1979]

I had the heads pressure tested but I havent been able to pressure test the full cooling systems. I guess I need to come up with a tool that will do this and figure out how to do this. Only way im gonna know. I will turn the engine over and see if any water comes out. I figure if there is enough water to steam there has to be enough to be forced out the cylinder on the compression stroke.