Engine Exhaust is smoking/steam? (VIDEO)

[brsox88]

Got the boat started first time of the season. Seems like its smoking/steaming a lot, this normal?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnJX6soiNwk

Runs great, checked the oil though and it looks like coffee. Was good looking oil before I ran it. Also, I am not sure if the dipstick is entirely accurate as it moves around a bit but according to it the oil is far above the full line...like 2 inches.

 

[dubs283]

Re: Engine Exhaust is smoking/steam? (VIDEO)

how much water is coming out the exhuast??

is the temp guage reading above normal??

looks like a combination of steam/smoke coming out, tough to tell if there was much water coming out

is the supply water all being taken in or is some pushing out around the muffs??

i would change the oil/filter and be sure you get ALL the old oil out - normal amount would be 4.5 -5 qts

 

[brsox88]

Re: Engine Exhaust is smoking/steam? (VIDEO)

Ohh, forgot to mention is a V6 4.3 merc. Our water pressure of our hose isnt all that great but I would think its getting atleast the min amount of water? The temp guage (hoping that its accurate) was reading around 140 degrees. Now that I look at the vid again, it does look like little water is coming out. What would that be? Bad impeller? Blockage somewhere? What worries me is the coffee looking oil. And when I say coffee, I mean milky...

 

[dubs283]

Re: Engine Exhaust is smoking/steam? (VIDEO)

What worries me is the coffee looking oil. And when I say coffee, I mean milky...

that would worry me as well, if the oil was clean before you ran the engine and now is milky either there was water in the oil pan prior to running the engine, or the block is cracked

was the engine properly winterized??

 

[brsox88]

Re: Engine Exhaust is smoking/steam? (VIDEO)

The guy said he winterized it correctly, and even showed me the winterization kit he bought and used so I am guessing he did a half decent job. If this were your boat, what would your next steps be?

 

[dubs283]

Re: Engine Exhaust is smoking/steam? (VIDEO)

The guy said he winterized it correctly, and even showed me the winterization kit he bought and used so I am guessing he did a half decent job. If this were your boat, what would your next steps be?

i could tell you from here that i winterized it correctly, but that doesn't mean a thing does it??

a half decent job of winterizing is just that - a half decent, not full proper job

two things you can do, pressurize the block and listen for air leaks, or change the oil and filter til you have clean oil at the full mark on the dipstick then run it til it pukes milky oil out the top or the level increases and becomes milky

being a 4.3 i'll bet he didn't notice the drain plug at the front of the intake manifold and it cracked above the valley, if that is the case you may just get by with a new manifold

 

[picklenjim]

Re: Engine Exhaust is smoking/steam? (VIDEO)

First thing that came to my mind is cracked block or head. I would change the oil and run it again and see if it still does it. By coffee I quess you mean with cream.

You could pull the plugs and see if there is water on one or more. Then pull the head on that side and hope it's just the head.

 

[brsox88]

Re: Engine Exhaust is smoking/steam? (VIDEO)

two things you can do, pressurize the block and listen for air leaks, or change the oil and filter til you have clean oil at the full mark on the dipstick then run it til it pukes milky oil out the top or the level increases and becomes milky

Sorry for asking so many questions but whats the easiest way going about pressurizing the block?

Also, as for changing the oil what do you mean till it pukes milky oil out the top? Out of the dipstick?

I am wondering if he put too much oil in when changing it and that is why its smoking/steaming (cant tell) and also possibly why there is a blown gasket or something.

 

[dubs283]

Re: Engine Exhaust is smoking/steam? (VIDEO)

Sorry for asking so many questions but whats the easiest way going about pressurizing the block?

block off all the cooling passages and apply compressed air into the drianed cooling system (15 psi) and listen for leaks

Also, as for changing the oil what do you mean till it pukes milky oil out the top? Out of the dipstick?

you will see oil coming out the breathers in the valve covers

I am wondering if he put too much oil in when changing it and that is why its smoking/steaming (cant tell) and also possibly why there is a blown gasket or something.

could account for the smoking, overfull oil won't usually blow a gasket

if you do find a crack/air leak somewhere or continue to get milky oil first step would be to pull the intake and check for crack(s) on the bottom - like i said you may get lucky and only have to replace the intake

otherwise 4.3's usually crack in the valley near the tops of the lifters

 

[fossill]

Re: Engine Exhaust is smoking/steam? (VIDEO)

being a 4.3 i'll bet he didn't notice the drain plug at the front of the intake manifold and it cracked above the valley, if that is the case you may just get by with a new manifold

What plug is that? That plug on the forward intake isn't a drain plug should you be refering it.
The 4.3 I got has 5 blue plugs. lower block x2, bottom of exhaust manifold x2 and 1 at lower water pump hose. Those are the only ones you drain according to the service manual. Merc service manual also says to remove thermostat to fill with antifreeze after draining for further protection. I bet he never followed Mercruisers recomended procedure.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Engine Exhaust is smoking/steam? (VIDEO)

You say the person who winterized your boat showed you the kit he used. It wasn't a kit to flush antifreeze in to the block by any chance??

 

[dubs283]

Re: Engine Exhaust is smoking/steam? (VIDEO)

What plug is that? That plug on the forward intake isn't a drain plug should you be refering it.

some older style 4.3's had the drain plug on the front of the manifold, it was only for a few years in the early to mid-90's

volvo is a MUST, i just do it on merc's for peace of mind

 

[fossill]

Re: Engine Exhaust is smoking/steam? (VIDEO)

I see

 

[81 Checkmate]

Re: Engine Exhaust is smoking/steam? (VIDEO)

I realy couldnt see any water coming out of your exhaust ports on the gimble. Seamed like alot of smoke to me. As it wasnt getting water flow thru the motor. That was probley the water burning in the oil.
First drain the oil and take a pic so we can see the oil. This will tell the story!

 

[brsox88]

Re: Engine Exhaust is smoking/steam? (VIDEO)

He used the kit that comes with 5 gal of antifreeze, that you pump into the system like you would running the boat out of water (earmuffs) until it was pouring red antifreeze out the back. He said he even fogged it until it was just about to choke and die so I assume he did it correctly.

Blocking off the cooling ports (I assume this involves closing off the exhaust manifolds?) and then some how applying 15 psi somewhere on the engine doesnt seem like a easy job right? I like to consider my self a back yard mechanic with the right instructions on jobs I have never done before but is this something I should just bring to the marina and have them pinpoint the issue? Im going to do the oil change and all that first though. Also, how much oil exactly should the 4.3l get? I dont want to rely on that dipstick..

 

[scipper77]

Re: Engine Exhaust is smoking/steam? (VIDEO)

I am very sorry to hear of your misfortune. For future reference (not trying to beat you up) those flush kits are the cause of many cracked blocks. I am posting this not to beat you up but to help educate other boaters of why those kits are a bad idea. If you don't get all water out it can freeze. Air will never freeze.

 

[picklenjim]

Re: Engine Exhaust is smoking/steam? (VIDEO)

Oil is milky. Oil level reads 2 inches above full on the dipstick. You are deffinately getting water in the oil. Engine is running at 140 degrees which is perfect so it is circulating and cooling. Change the oil. It takes at least 4 1/2 qts.. 5 1/2 on 2002 and newer. Put in 4 1/2 and check the dipstick. Run it on the muffs to 140 degrees. If it is smoking then smell the smoke. You should be able to determine if it's steam or not. If it's steam pull all the spark plugs and compare them. You will easily be able to tell which cylinder the water is getting into by looking at the plugs.

 

[brsox88]

Re: Engine Exhaust is smoking/steam? (VIDEO)

Oil is milky. Oil level reads 2 inches above full on the dipstick. You are deffinately getting water in the oil. Engine is running at 140 degrees which is perfect so it is circulating and cooling. Change the oil. It takes at least 4 1/2 qts.. 5 1/2 on 2002 and newer. Put in 4 1/2 and check the dipstick. Run it on the muffs to 140 degrees. If it is smoking then smell the smoke. You should be able to determine if it's steam or not. If it's steam pull all the spark plugs and compare them. You will easily be able to tell which cylinder the water is getting into by looking at the plugs.

Thanks,

Ill try that. Ill put pictures of the oil after I change it and also each spark plug.

I noticed today when checking the engine over again, that the power steering pump? on the very right front of the engine is bone dry. What type of oil does that take?

 

[picklenjim]

Re: Engine Exhaust is smoking/steam? (VIDEO)

You can run power steering fluid or transmission fluid. I just run transmission in mine.

 

[brsox88]

Re: Engine Exhaust is smoking/steam? (VIDEO)

So I decided to run it again today so I could get the oil warmed up to change it. This time I took a bin, stuck it under the transom unit, and filled it with water so the gills were completely submerged. Got the boat started finally (boat has issues starting) and even after 3-5 minutes of the boat running no water was coming out of the back, only like drops of water. So either the water isnt being sucked in or its blocked somewhere? However, the boat doesnt seem to overheat. Gets up to 140 after about 8 minutes and seems to stay there but I havent ran the engine very long, like max maybe 12-15 minutes.