mercruiser 160 water in oil

[bigblackcat]

Going to pull a 160 mercruiser out of a 68 seaswirl. Owner said it has oil in the water. Said that when he was out on the lake noticed the temp gauge getting hot. He shut the engine off and check the oil level; found to be milk shaked. He also reported that it was not winterized after the prior season.
My question is how could I check if its
a blown head gasket, bad manifold or riser, and finally internal cracked block?

 

[Grub54891]

Re: mercruiser 160 water in oil

Washington state? The block froze last winter.,she's shot!
Could be anything from a cracked block/head/ps cooler-if it has it to exhaust manifolds,closed cooling? Could be heat exchanger.....hmmmm. You could plug off all exhaust and intake water ports and pressure test it but a leak down test is easier and listen for the leaks in oil filler,exhaust,and intake.that should give ya an idea where to start.
Frozen blocks can get pricy.

 

[bigblackcat]

Re: mercruiser 160 water in oil

Well I figure for $70.00 bucks for a complete engine, with all external bolt ons I wont get burned to bad.

 

[bigblackcat]

Re: mercruiser 160 water in oil

How does one do a pressure check? Can this be done with the engine removed?

 

[Bondo]

Re: mercruiser 160 water in oil

How does one do a pressure check? Can this be done with the engine removed?

Ayuh,.... Isolate the blocks coolin' passages, 'n add air pressure, then listen...

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: mercruiser 160 water in oil

Don't disassemble anything. People love taking cylinder heads off...I don't know why, but then you are usually pooched for a diagnosis.
10 psi into tstat hsg where water normally enters. block hose to manifold

 

[bigblackcat]

Re: mercruiser 160 water in oil

Okay I just pulled the engine and got it home. I completed the air pressure test as above.
Heard air coming from oil fill cap. With the oil filler cap off
and my hand over the hole I feel air pressure. So does this confirm that the
block has an internal crack OR do I pull the head and check there?

 

[bigblackcat]

Re: mercruiser 160 water in oil

Pulled the head; no damage found. Pulled oil pan...found cracks. Looks like its time for a
new engine!