1981 360 ec water in engine

[Kgriggs33]

This weekend I noticed my heat exchanger had a hole and my starboard engine was three gallons low on coolant. It is a 454 Merc 340 thunderbolt. Engine runs fine but I decided to check the oil and it had about two quarts of water in the engine. I'm guessing the thing got hot and burned a head gasket. I'm going to do compression test this weekend. Any advice, tips, ect.

 

[hottoddie]

I hope you changed the oil already. How many engine hours?

 

[Kgriggs33]

I drained the oil. 900 hours

 

[NorCal Boater]

I'm far from an engine mechanic but I had a similar problem with the small block engine in my Cobalt. I did a compression and leak down test and only need to do the head gasket. I left the block in the boat, pulled the heads, had the valves done replaced the head gaskets and put it all together. Changed fluids and all runs great.

 

[Kgriggs33]

My mechanic is checking the oil cooler and doing a comp/leak down test. I'm hoping for the best. Def going to have to have the hole in the heat exchanger fixed or get a new one.