Can a torn u joint bellows cause water to get in the engine oil?

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james yarosz

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Friend of mine just got a 1975 Glastron with a 4 cyl volvo with a 270 outdrive.We fixed a few issues and ran it in the hose for quite a while and the engine oil looked fine.We launched the boat today and drove around for 20 to 30 minutes.Boat ran fine.When we pulled the boat out there was milky oil dripping out of the U joint bellows.The bellows have a finger sized hole that we hadn,t seen before.The motor also has water in the oil.Can water get into the bellows and go through the rear main on the engine and into the oil?When running it on the hose we did notice a small drip of oil from the rear main.
 
Don S

Don S

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Re: Can a torn u joint bellows cause water to get in the engine oil?

Not in the engine oil, but it sure causes a lot of other expensive problems. You probably see drive oil leaking out of the flywheel cover.
 
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james yarosz

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Re: Can a torn u joint bellows cause water to get in the engine oil?

The engine definately has water in the oil.The drive oil looks fine.
 
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aerobat

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Re: Can a torn u joint bellows cause water to get in the engine oil?

unfortunetly you may have a cracked block. freezing damage ?
 
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james yarosz

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Re: Can a torn u joint bellows cause water to get in the engine oil?

The boat is new to us so we took the previous owners word that he winterized it.Whats odd to me is we ran it on the hose for at least an hour in the driveway with no issues.20 minutes in the lake and we got water in the oil.
 
Don S

Don S

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Re: Can a torn u joint bellows cause water to get in the engine oil?

You get a lot more water volume and pressure on the water than you do on the hose at low rpm on a hose.
 
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james yarosz

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Re: Can a torn u joint bellows cause water to get in the engine oil?

Is there a way to pressure test the cooling system to find out how the water is getting in the oil?
 
Don S

Don S

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Re: Can a torn u joint bellows cause water to get in the engine oil?

What engine do you have?
 
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james yarosz

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Re: Can a torn u joint bellows cause water to get in the engine oil?

AQ130C,4 cyl dual carb.I believe it's a volvo motor.
 
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PiratePast40

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Re: Can a torn u joint bellows cause water to get in the engine oil?

Yes, the AQ130C is a Volvo engine and it's "raw water" cooled so the cooling system isn't pressurized. There really isn't a good way to pressure check it. There's a chance that the leakage is coming from the oil cooler. Call around to radiator shops to find one that will test it for you. If the oil cooler turns out allright, there's a good chance it's a cracked block. Unfortunately, the only way to find out is to tear it down.
 
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