'96 4.3 quit running, splattered oil..help

[achris]

Re: '96 4.3 quit running, splattered oil..help

...is there anything i can pour down there to help getting things loosened up and flow out during my oil changes?

Many years ago when people did oil changes they used 'flushing' oil. They would drop the old oil, refill with flushing oil, run the engine for 10 minutes, then drop the flushing oil before refilling with normal engine oil. I don't know if you can still get flushing oil.

One thing that might be worth a try is diesel. It has a high detergent level and is really good for cleaning. I would remove the plugs, over fill the crankcase with diesel, crank the engine on the starter for a couple of minutes (in 30 second bursts with 10 minutes between each so you don't cook the starter motor) and them drain out the diesel. Then refill with oil, run for another 10 minutes on the muffs, drain and refill.... Just a thought.....

Chris...........

 

[Maxum21]

Re: '96 4.3 quit running, splattered oil..help

ok Chris, sounds good i'll give that a shot...
as far as my "knock", could that be push rods/valves making that noise from thick, clogged, greasy oil?
thanks!

 

[achris]

Re: '96 4.3 quit running, splattered oil..help

...as far as my "knock", could that be push rods/valves making that noise from thick, clogged, greasy oil?
thanks!

Could be, or you might have wiped the bearing metal off a big-end.... Having not heard the noise I can't say. Have a car mechanic listen to it, they how noises quite well, and let's face it, that is just a car engine with some different fruit on it....

Chris.......

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: '96 4.3 quit running, splattered oil..help

What Chris said about the diesel is spot on, just make sure it doesnt start when you crank it over. Dont skip the removal of plugs part !! You might pull both valve covers and use you neighbors shop vac to remove as much as possible that way.

Valvetrain can make a hell of a racket if not getting proper lubrication, so that might be your noise.

Did you ever cut open that original filter?

 

[Maxum21]

Re: '96 4.3 quit running, splattered oil..help

Joe, i'm gonna cut the filter open 2morrow. If i dont find any metal pieces/shavings, does that mean i lucked out? i'll let you know what i see

 

[bruceb58]

Re: '96 4.3 quit running, splattered oil..help

How was your oil level on the dipstick? If it was over full, you have a cracked block for sure. If not, there is a possibility you have a bad riser/manifold junction or a bad riser or manifold. Just so you know, running it on muffs in the driveway isn't going to tell you anything. You need to run it on the water under load for a crack to really leak.

You should pressure test your block before going through all these oil changes you are doing. If you do have a cracked block, you are wasting your time and money. This is the most likely case since it was spurting out all over your motor. If its the manifold/risers that I mentioned, you are also wasting your time and money!

 

[achris]

Re: '96 4.3 quit running, splattered oil..help

..You should pressure test your block before going through all these oil changes you are doing. If you do have a cracked block, you are wasting your time and money. ...

You mean like this post suggested???

Before you run it again I would suggest you pull the water hoses off the manifolds and plug them, pull the water inlet hose and start pressurising the block (and heads) to check for cracks. It's an easy test an will confirm whether you have a cracked block or head. If that passes test, pull the exhaust elbows and pressure test the manifolds. ....

 

[bruceb58]

Re: '96 4.3 quit running, splattered oil..help

You mean like this post suggested???

Exactly...which he doesn't seem to be following.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: '96 4.3 quit running, splattered oil..help

Joe, i'm gonna cut the filter open 2morrow. If i dont find any metal pieces/shavings, does that mean i lucked out? i'll let you know what i see

Maybe.... Still not out of the "might have a water leak" problem yet, but its looking better.
When all is said and done don't forget that if you did take on water from a sudden stop you need to check/ replace your shutters in your exhaust!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: '96 4.3 quit running, splattered oil..help

Maybe.... Still not out of the "might have a water leak" problem yet, but its looking better.
When all is said and done don't forget that if you did take on water from a sudden stop you need to check/ replace your shutters in your exhaust!

If that happened, you would have a hydrolock condition.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: '96 4.3 quit running, splattered oil..help

If that happened, you would have a hydrolock condition.

You got me there Bruce, I guess anything other than just a little water this way would lock the motor up. Small amount of water this way might explain a Knock? I?ve personally never experienced a rush of water thru broken/missing shutters. O/P for sure needs to follow pressure test advice.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: '96 4.3 quit running, splattered oil..help

He's got a knock because he either has too much water in the oil or something is damaged. The knock is the secondary issue here and needs to be taken up with after the block has been pressure tested.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: '96 4.3 quit running, splattered oil..help

after the block has been pressure tested.

Agreed, that was pointed out on post #6 i believe here we are on #33 and climbing

 

[bruceb58]

Re: '96 4.3 quit running, splattered oil..help

Agreed, that was pointed out on post #6 i believe here we are on #33 and climbing

And yet I see no posts by the OP that says he has or is planning on doing this which is why I repeated it. I see changing oil posts and cutting up filter posts which are pretty much useless at this point.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: '96 4.3 quit running, splattered oil..help

And yet I see no posts by the OP that says he has or is planning on doing this which is why I repeated it. I see changing oil posts and cutting up filter posts which are pretty much useless at this point.

Bruce,
I agree with most of what you have said, but i think you are assuming the abosolute worst for the o/p and are forgetting that apparently he knows little about this. I gave him a link on post #3 that showed prob every possible way water could be in his motor. He is naturally gravitating toward the best case senario for him. He is using the easiest method to check for cracks, RUNNING IT. While i agree with you that wont find a small tight crack like pressure testing it, it will show some. Since he is choosing this method, it wont work unless he changes the oil. His tools and mechanical ablity might not be as extensive as yours, hence he proceeding at his own pace. Afterall if he knew everyhting you do, he wouldnt be here. I disagree with your problem of me suggesting cutting the filter, its free, pretty easy to do and will tell him if he toasted his bearings running across the lake with a crankcase full of water.
In the boating world chances are someone sold him last winters freeze crack, but it could also be as simple as a blown head gasket, or rotten manifolds. You are assuming cracked block, on the inside only? So... he should tear it down and pressure check the block?

 

[Maxum21]

Re: '96 4.3 quit running, splattered oil..help

pressure tested the block. no cracks or water intrusion anywhere..manifolds and & elbows seem good..dipstick is maintaining consistant level while running on muffs after about 4 oil changes. i see NO signs of water entering motor anywhere.. prior owner had boat winterized. i'm not ignoring anyones advice on here. but i dont see any water getting in this motor via any cracks.. i did check oil after my first outing on the lake in which i ran the boat for hours..oil was clean, non milky and at proper level. second time i had boat in the water is when the oil splatter happened. if i had a crack in the block or head then why wouldnt i have noticed in oil after my first run?? it doesnt make sense. like i said, second time in water, i did stop the boat suddenly and shut down engine.. started it up again and soon after is when is started running poorly. thats when i noticed the oil issue. some are saying the motor would be hydrolocked if the water was sucked back up the exhaust..well in my case there was no hydrolock..so i'm really confused

 

[Don S]

Re: '96 4.3 quit running, splattered oil..help

pressure tested the block. no cracks or water intrusion anywhere..

You can not pressure test a block that has water in it. You need to drain all the water out of the cooling system and then do your pressure check.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: '96 4.3 quit running, splattered oil..help

Although I have never personally experienced water ingestion from a sudden stop, i would assume past the shutters, I would think that it would be possible to hiccup some water back thru the motor that would wind up in the oil. I hope this was the case for you. Maybe take a lake run; if no oil in water, I would check the shutters.
Don?t stop suddenly. LOL

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: '96 4.3 quit running, splattered oil..help

I was typing while Don S was posting. As usual, he is correct. You might have a false negative if pressure test was done improperly.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: '96 4.3 quit running, splattered oil..help

pressure tested the block. no cracks or water intrusion anywhere..manifolds and & elbows seem good

How did you pressure test? How long did it hold pressure? How many PSI?

How did you determine the manifold/risers are good? Did you take the risers off? Has this boat ever been used in salt water?

What was the oil level in the crankcase when the oil splattered out? Was it overfull?