Mercruiser 225 foaming at the mouth, HELP!

[jodie]

I recently aquired an early 70's Sea Ray SRV220, with the 225HP Mercruiser. The vessel had sat in the weather with no cover for the last 5 years. I managed to get the engine running today, and noticed water gushing from a missing freeze plug; i fixed the freeze plug and started it up again. It now has no water leaking, but the dipstick coming from the bell housing area, is foaming at the mouth; thick ping foamy fluid is slowly spewing out. I picked up the boat for very little money, but didnt want to pull the engine. Is there any hope in this being an easy fix? Im guessing that the motor froze, pushing the plug out, and possibly cracked the block; hope not but what do you guys think? Pictures included. Thanks in advanced!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Mercruiser 225 foaming at the mouth, HELP!

I recently aquired an early 70's Sea Ray SRV220, with the 225HP Mercruiser. The vessel had sat in the weather with no cover for the last 5 years. I managed to get the engine running today, and noticed water gushing from a missing freeze plug; i fixed the freeze plug and started it up again. It now has no water leaking, but the dipstick coming from the bell housing area, is foaming at the mouth; thick ping foamy fluid is slowly spewing out. I picked up the boat for very little money, but didnt want to pull the engine. Is there any hope in this being an easy fix? Im guessing that the motor froze, pushing the plug out, and possibly cracked the block; hope not but what do you guys think? Pictures included. Thanks in advanced!

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Yer probably Right,... Cracked block...

 

[jodie]

Re: Mercruiser 225 foaming at the mouth, HELP!

My dad seems to think that the block may not be cracked. He thinks that another freeze plug behing the flywheel may have came out as well. regardless i will have to pull the engine. It checked the oil, and not a drop of water; oil looks clean. Im hoping that its as simple as replacing the freeze plug. Anything else i should be concearned about whilst the engine is hanging from the gallows?

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser 225 foaming at the mouth, HELP!

You aren't going to get water in the oil with core plugs missing. The water will go out those big holes and not build up enough pressure to push past a thin crack.
With the core plug behind the flywheel open, you can bet there are cracks in the lifter valley under the intake manifold. Those "Freeze" plugs have nothing to do with freezing, they are core plugs used in the manufacture of the casting to hole the "Cores" in place while pouring iron in the mold.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Mercruiser 225 foaming at the mouth, HELP!

pink foam sounds like tranny fluid. what type of outdrive is on this boat cause MC-1`s dont have a dipstick there.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Mercruiser 225 foaming at the mouth, HELP!

from manual 1 a II TR drive?
you have a boat that should have been buried a long time ago.

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser 225 foaming at the mouth, HELP!

Looks like that old Mercruiser transmission between the TR drive and his Ford engine.

EDIT: BT, I was typing while you was posting, Yep, that's it.

 

[jodie]

Re: Mercruiser 225 foaming at the mouth, HELP!

If cracks were present in the lifter valley, where would the water go that would leak from the crack? I cleaned the area of the hull under the engine to make it easy to tell if i had any more leaks coming from the exterior of the engine; and bone dry. I ran water throught for 20 min, and no leaks, other than the milky trans fluid coming out of the dip stick tube.
Thanks, for the helpful replies. I cant wait to get this boat repaired, cleaned up and on the water!

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Mercruiser 225 foaming at the mouth, HELP!

Lifter crack would dump water into the engine, popped core plugs and foaming trans are 2 different problems.
find out why the trans is milky, replacing it means you wont be hitting the water without a rather large wallet.Try and locate manual #1 for reference.