Is this the Death of my Engine

[Squab]

I have a Merc 4.3 which I was going to start today but noticed that the oil level was high. So I pulled some oil out through the dip stick. Only problem was that there was no oil it was all water and a little milk toward the end. Clear water in the beginning. IS this a head gasket and if so does the engine have to be out to do that.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Is this the Death of my Engine

Clear water in the beginning. IS this a head gasket and if so does the engine have to be out to do that.

Howdy,


Well, you live where it freezes and this sort of problem is frequently caused by a cracked block due to improper "winterization" (or not being done at all)

You should pressure check your cooling system before you do any other troubleshooting.

Is this the Death of my Engine

If it's a cracked block, YES


Sorry about that.....



Rick

 

[Squab]

Re: Is this the Death of my Engine

I winterize it every summer. Take off all the hoses fill with antifreeze. How do I pressure test the cooling system.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Is this the Death of my Engine

I winterize it every summer. Take off all the hoses fill with antifreeze. How do I pressure test the cooling system.

(I hope you drained the block FIRST)



You isolate the block, plug all the cooling water hoses to and from the block (don't pull the circulating pump, heads or intake manifold) using simple plumbing fittings in the hoses you disconnect.


Get an el-cheapo 15 psi fuel pressure gage (or any gage 0-30 psi etc) and some fittings to connect an air compressor to one hose that is not plugged.

use a simple valve so you can remove the air compressor without losing the air pressure in the block.

Pump up the block to about 15 psi, close the valve and see if it holds pressure. If it doesn't, the gage (pressure) will start dropping. if it does, you'll be able to hear it. If you hear it in the oil fill, you probably have a cracked block. ensure that you don't have an exterior leak in all the hoses and connections you made using soapy water (look for bubbles)

You have to remove the hoses from the manifolds/.risers because it's just about impossible to plug the riser discharge.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Is this the Death of my Engine

Clear water in the beginning.

Ayuh,...Sounds like it Froze, 'n cracked the block...
A Bad headgasket rarely if ever dumps the water into the base...

Btw,... Once mixed,.. water, 'n antifreeze Don't seperate....

 

[Squab]

Re: Is this the Death of my Engine

Bondo,
in another thread last year I posted that I saw water shoot out of the starboard side of the engine last year when I was going to winterize it. We had not had a first freeze yet at that time. Someone suggested that it might be the aft freeze plug at that time. I have already pulled the port side riser and mani and found that the exhaust port in the block for cylinder 5 & 7 are rusted. I have not gotten to the other side but I am assuming the same. BTW last year I bought new to me Risers and Manifolds for the boat. The only manifold that I did not change was the port side one. How can I check if there is a crack in block?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Is this the Death of my Engine

How can I check if there is a crack in block?

Ayuh,... Exactly as Rick explained in post #4....

 

[Squab]

Re: Is this the Death of my Engine

Bondo.

I already have the manifolds off as well as the thermastat. The gaskets were bad, so now do i test it or do I jsut start taking stuff off the engine till I see a crack.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Is this the Death of my Engine

Bondo.

I already have the manifolds off as well as the thermastat. The gaskets were bad, so now do i test it or do I jsut start taking stuff off the engine till I see a crack.

Ayuh,... You have to isolate the blocks cooling system, 'n Pressurize, dry, drained before ya start...

Bolt a plate over the T-stat opening, with a pressure gauge, 'n shrader valve in it...
Then pinch off the waterpump hoses...

 

[Squab]

Re: Is this the Death of my Engine

Bondo-
If i use the old plate from the top of the t-stat with the guage and valve then all I have to do is plug the one hose that comes off of the engine water pump right?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Is this the Death of my Engine

Ayuh,... Generally speakin', Yes...

 

[Squab]

Re: Is this the Death of my Engine

Will a compression test tell me if I have a cracked block or bad head gasket. Also it was stated before that antifreeze and water do not separate once mixed. If I had straight water in the base of my oil then it could not have frozen in the winter cuz there was no water to get into the system, right? This probably happened last year towards end of season.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Is this the Death of my Engine

Take off all the hoses fill with antifreeze.

Ayuh,... You were asked, yet you Don't answer, whether you Drained the block before adding antifreeze...

Will a compression test tell me if I have a cracked block

No...

 

[6meter]

Re: Is this the Death of my Engine

If you have clear water coming out of the oil pan in March in Jersey, I'd say that you didn't drain the water out of the block and it froze and cracked. The water in the block and the antifreeze you poured in did not mix, nor should it have. It will only mix if you have a closed cooling system and you ran it after adding the antifreeze.
Bondo, I think he answered when he said the water came out clear.

 

[Squab]

Re: Is this the Death of my Engine

Ok Guys here is the scoop today. I did a pressure test of the cooling system and there was only a leak where the thermostat usually is.. But that fould not lead to water in the oil. So my question for the group is where is the water coming from? I did purchase new to me Risers and Manifolds last year and put new gaskets in them all and noticed that the water flow is restricted with this gasket. Can that do anything? The one on the left has the gasket on it. There are just little pee holes for the water to go through. I did not replace the port side riser due to the fact that I thought it looked ok. Upon removing it last night, I did notice some significant rust in there. Could that be my problem. IS there any way to pressure test the oil system, or is a coolant pressure test enough. Please advise.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Is this the Death of my Engine

I did a pressure test of the cooling system and there was only a leak where the thermostat usually is..

Huh,..?? Directly under the hole where the T-stat goes is the intake's water jacket, which has the lifter valley(aka;Oil) directly under that...
Explain yer leak...

and noticed that the water flow is restricted with this gasket. Can that do anything?

Nope,... Those are the Right gaskets I believe...

 

[Squab]

Re: Is this the Death of my Engine

The leak seemed like it was a bad seal at the gasket. What I did was take the cap plate that goes over the t-housing and used the gasket that is for the set. I screwed new bolts in and there was still some air leaking out of the seal.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Is this the Death of my Engine

The leak seemed like it was a bad seal at the gasket. What I did was take the cap plate that goes over the t-housing and used the gasket that is for the set. I screwed new bolts in and there was still some air leaking out of the seal.

Ayuh,... Ya gotta Seal it up to do a pressure test...

 

[Squab]

Re: Is this the Death of my Engine

Ya but I only heard a little air leaking out of there., nothing from anywhere else.

 

[Squab]

Re: Is this the Death of my Engine

This is what I hate about this site. Everyone is quick to respond when there is a simple problem however when I need help where is everyone. How did water get into my oil if the pressure test was ok? Can I test the oil system?HELP