Engine is Foaming!! Please Help

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darrinwlowe

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I just purchased my first boat from a co-worker. It is a 1997 4.3L Mercruiser with a 2 barrel carb. Got it up and running on Tuesday (no foaming), but when I started it up today, the foam in the pictures started coming out of the return tubes to the flame arrestor and from what appears like from the bottom of the heads on both sides. The foam is on the dipstick when I pull it and in the oil fill tube. If anyone can help me with what is going on, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.
IMG_0367.jpgIMG_0369.jpg
 
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darrinwlowe

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Re: Engine is Foaming!! Please Help

I was afraid that was going to be the answer. Just out of curiosity, why did it chose to foam today and not on Tuesday? I ran it for about 20 minutes on Tuesday, and no issues, but got this in about 5 minutes today.
 
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1ruralmailman

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Re: Engine is Foaming!! Please Help

takes a while to get enough water in the pan to cause the milkshake action.once that level is reached it is game on though.
 
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darrinwlowe

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Re: Engine is Foaming!! Please Help

If I wanted to get it back up and running, how much am I looking at?
 
Don S

Don S

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Re: Engine is Foaming!! Please Help

darrinwlowe said:
Just out of curiosity, why did it chose to foam today and not on Tuesday? I ran it for about 20 minutes on Tuesday, and no issues, but got this in about 5 minutes today.
Click to expand...

Who knows, was either time in the water, or were they on the hose and muffs?
 
Don S

Don S

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Re: Engine is Foaming!! Please Help

darrinwlowe said:
If I wanted to get it back up and running, how much am I looking at?
Click to expand...

Another impossible question to answer.
Depends on whats all wrong.
Re-manned long block 1500-2000
Exhaust manifolds and risers 500-1000
Intake if it's cracked ??????
Labor depends on access to your engine and labor rate of the ones doing the job.
 
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darrinwlowe

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Re: Engine is Foaming!! Please Help

Does anyone know of any laws where I am protected here? I was explicitly told that there was nothing wrong with the motor.
 
Don S

Don S

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Re: Engine is Foaming!! Please Help

Have you talked to your friend yet ??????? That would be step one.

If he says too bad, and nothing was in writing, then you are in the he said I said area and it's attorney time. We can help you with mechanical things, but this is not the law forum.
 
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darrinwlowe

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Re: Engine is Foaming!! Please Help

Fair enough, I didn't know if anyone else had ran across this issue before from a legal standpoint.
 
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darrinwlowe

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Re: Engine is Foaming!! Please Help

Another potential avenue, I am experienced in building automotive engines, could I just swap the parts out from marine engine and use an automotive block? I would still use all the marine internals, heads, intake, etc., but don't know if this is possible.
 
Don S

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Re: Engine is Foaming!! Please Help

Blocks are the same, cams are different from cars, closer to RV or trucks. Core plugs are brass, intakes are the same if cast iron. Aluminum is not a good idea if you are around salt or brackish water. Heads are the same as automotive.
Electrical and fuel system parts are what you really have to look out for for differences beteeen automotive and marine. Marine parts are designed to not leak externally and pass fire tests (fuel) and the electrical items are ignition protected so sparks can't ignite and possible fumes that could be present if there was a fuel leak.
 
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darrinwlowe

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Re: Engine is Foaming!! Please Help

What I am suggesting is that I take literally everything off and out of the cracked block and swap it over to an automotive block. Cam, rods, pistons, crank, oil pan, heads, manifolds, intake, carb, etc. If I could get away with a long block out of a truck that would be great, but I'll trust you in letting me know if it will work or not. I can get a bare block for around $100, or a long block for about $400, and just swap the heads, manifolds, intake, carb, and flame arrestor. I am assuming that the GM truck 4.3L's have a similar cam profile, since they need low end torque, so the long block my work. While I am at it, I may look for a 4.3L Vortec, and swap the intake out for a 4 barrel setup, and use a 4 barrel marine carb (I think Edelbrick makes one for the 4.3) with flame arrestor. If I am thinking crazy, please let me know. Thanks for all your help, I greatly appreciate it.
 
Friscoboater

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Re: Engine is Foaming!! Please Help

Aslo you need to make sure that your manifolds are not cracked. It would be a shame to replace everything and then you leak water back into the block.

Great pictures man... I have never seen it come out of the block.
 
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