water in the cylinders - from where?

[mark_lybarger]

i haven't had very good luck with this boat so far, and it's our first boat. perhaps next time, we'll break down and buy a new one or at least we have some better knowledge to look for next time.. regardless, our boat won't start. the mechanic says there's water in the cylinder and water doesn't compress, so the boat doesn't turn over. <br /><br />this is 2 days on the water after the same mechanic/shop replaced the flywheel/starter because it wasn't starting. i don't know why they wouldn't have looked for water originally, but that's beside the point. they tell me now that they can't determine where the water is coming from. they said they don't see water in the cylinders like this. they said the oil isn't milky, but it's in more than one cylinder at least on one side. i don't think they removed the plugs on the other side to see.<br /><br />the possibilities they've mentioned to me are: 1, head gasket. 2. cracked head, 3. exhaust manifold, and 4. cracked block. they said they placed a call into mercruiser for some better hints i suppose. the boat is a 94 genesis, w/ a 4.3 liter I/O mercruiser motor. the previous owner claims to have had it regularly serviced and winterized each year.<br /><br />i'd certainly appreciate any comments/feedback from the good folks here on the iboats forums.<br /><br />thanks!<br />~mark

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: water in the cylinders - from where?

It could be any of the things listed above, but I would look at the manifolds risers first. Acracked block/head would put water in your oil. You need to check both sides and get the water out as quickly as possible. If it is salt water, it is probably too late.......JK

 

[rbezdon]

Re: water in the cylinders - from where?

by the way, water in the cylinders can many times cause a starter to fail and ruin the flywheel in the process. this is from some one trying repeatedly to start a hydrolocked engine. Something will give out and the flywheel is one of the common things. Sounds like the mechanic is OK but you bought a boat with significant issues.

 

[mark_lybarger]

Re: water in the cylinders - from where?

thanks for the feedback.<br /><br />yes, this seems like the flywheel was the result of a hydrolocked engine. i tried and tried to start it one saturday afternoon, but to no success.<br /><br />there's no salt water around here in ohio, and it's very very likely the boat hasn't been out of the state, so that's not a concern. <br /><br />i believe they got the water out, but said it comes back when running it. i assume they just run the motor with muffs on the side of the rear drive to allow water to cool the engine.<br /><br />one other question. they had to pull the engine to replace the flywheel. would that involve unhooking the manifold from the engine, or does that stay put when removing the engine.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: water in the cylinders - from where?

They probably could pull the engine without removing the manifold, depending on your boats configuration of course....My guess is yes....Pull the manifold /risers & get them pressure tested.....JK

 

[Chris1956]

Re: water in the cylinders - from where?

Mark, This year when I went to launch my 4.3Lx Mercruiser, it was hydrolocked. The gasket between my exhaust manifold and riser was leaking, allowing water into the back two cylinders on that side. I replaced the gasket, after cleaning and truing up the gasket surfaces, and it has been OK. I had to replace the starter. It had worked poorly for a while, and started to work worse, especially after the hydrolock incident.