kcsguide
Seaman Apprentice
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2015
- Messages
- 34
Before everyone points out the obvious, here is what happened and what I have found since. I have a 1976 Fiberform Baja 24 with a Volvo Penta AQ240A engine (Ford 351 Windsor) and a 280 outdrive. Last summer I had the engine overhauled by an overhaul shop and have put approximately 6 hours on the engine. I installed a new impeller but was not able to install a new seal kit in the pump as just about everything older from Volvo is obsolete. Yes, I did a complete winterization including pumping marine antifreeze throughout the system. First time out this year and I'm cruising along and my wife says "I smell rubber burning". I shut down the engine and open up the engine compartment and steam and or smoke is coming up from around the engine. No, older VP engines did not have an overtempt buzzer. Something I plan to correct before going out again. Got home and opened up the water pump and found just what you'd expect, impeller was toast. Started looking for external signs of damage. Checked the oil and it was still nice and clear, no water in the oil. Yes, I know it has to be changed after an engine overheat. Found very fine rust on the outside of the heads on both sides just above the head gaskets which I assumed meant blown head gaskets. Pulled out the spark plugs and looked inside with a boroscope and all 8 cylinders were clear full of water. Removed the intake manifold and no water, except for the water in the water passages and the gaskets and seals are intact with no signs of failure. Removed the valve covers and found no indication of water intrusion. Then removed the heads and as I said, the cylinders were all full of water. Then inspected the head gaskets and neither of them showed any signs of failure or water intrusion so my suspicion went to the exhaust manifolds. I did the acetone test on each of them, not for the 20 or 30 minutes that is recommended but for a full 2 hours and neither of them leaked a single drop of acetone, not so much as a wet spot inside. So I'm back to the head gaskets as I don't know where else the water could come from. I know there was steam coming out at the head gaskets but would that allow enough water to literally fill all 8 cylinders?? I don't want to put all new gaskets on it and put it back together only to find that it does it again? And yes, I replaced the water pump with a crankshaft driven Modern! New water pump. I spoke with a marine mechanic by phone and he couldn't think of anything else but the head gaskets or the exhaust manifolds that could cause that, both due to excessive heat from the failed water pump. Any new ideas out there would be much appreciated.
Last edited: