white smoke

bluebunnyss

Cadet
Joined
Apr 1, 2009
Messages
10
I ran my 94 evinrudw 15hp without (didn't know it) oil in the gas. It ran fine. When I shut it off I looked back and white smoke/steam hissed of the engine. Since then it will not start.
How do I know if it a bad head gasket? Do I need to take it apart?
 

ezeke

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 19, 2003
Messages
12,532
Re: white smoke

The engine overheated. Good shop practice is to replace the head gasket whenever that happens. Since you got steam, you can be fairly certain that you blew the head gasket.

You will need to buy a new cylinder head gasket and take off the cylinder head. You will need fine emery cloth and a good torque wrench.

Keep the cylinders well oiled until you can complete the repair.
 

crxess

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 30, 2009
Messages
559
Re: white smoke

Yep, compression check may show low cylinder. Pull plugs, may be wet with water.

Head Gasket - Check head level. May need to sand flat on a good Flat surface. 220 Wet/Dry paper in a figure 8 motion.
 

R.Johnson

Rear Admiral
Joined
Sep 24, 2003
Messages
4,446
Re: white smoke

How fast, and how long did you run the engine without oil? You could well be looking at more than a head gasket here.
 

5150abf

Vice Admiral
Joined
Aug 12, 2007
Messages
5,808
Re: white smoke

Agree with Johnson, if it overheated because of lack of oil I would be VERY suprised if you don't have bigger problems ike pistons, rings and bearings.

The oil in the gas is the only oil the engine gets and you can't run one long with no lubrication, you can try a head gasket but I think when you pull the head you will find the cylinder walls are scored pretty badly.
 

Home Cookin'

Fleet Admiral
Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
9,715
Re: white smoke

you can also see where the head was warped/cracked by areas that appear "steam cleaned."
 

krogie

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 3, 2009
Messages
107
Re: white smoke

too bad on that experiance. i have added double the oil before not remebering if i had already added ( ran rich that day , and no bugs came near the boat ) hopefully there is no scaring on the cylinder walls. definitly get some oil in the top end to displace water that may be present. good luck!!
 
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