water coming out from engine ??

[Gyroe1970]

im a boat newbie. I bought a 87 230 weekender. Ive done some work on it, changed the port exhaust manifold due to a leak, the fuel sender unit and some other things. I took it out to a lake nearby to run it and found that it would bog down a bit. I was thinking it needs a good tune up. I had the engine compartment open to observe the engine while underway. I noticed water spray coming from under the starboard exhaust manifold and thought well theres another one to change. I took a picture with my phone of the area under the manifold. I believe I see a crack in the block. Im not an expert on engine blocks, so please take a look and tell me what you guys think and what my options are. Thanks.


image upload without registration

 

[BillK2632]

Yes, unfortunately that looks ,like a crack - bad. Have you checked the oil - is it milky? If it is that means there is another crack inside that is letting the cooling water mix with the oil - real bad. If it is just the crack on the outside you might be able repair it with JB Weld. Honestly you have nothing to loose. If you are getting water in the oil that is not really repairable and usually means end of life for the engine. The cause of cracks like this is usually freeze damage from improper winterization.

 

[scoflaw]

Could just be that fitting, I'd replace that to start with

 

[nickdcj7]

That sure looks like a cracked block to me. Cross your fingers that the oil is not milky, and JB weld might just save your season. If that works, you could get the block brazed as a more permanent fix, assuming the engine is in good enough shape to want to save the block.

 

[Ten Years Gone]

im a boat newbie. I bought a 87 230 weekender. Ive done some work on it, changed the port exhaust manifold due to a leak, the fuel sender unit and some other things. I took it out to a lake nearby to run it and found that it would bog down a bit. I was thinking it needs a good tune up. I had the engine compartment open to observe the engine while underway. I noticed water spray coming from under the starboard exhaust manifold and thought well theres another one to change. I took a picture with my phone of the area under the manifold. I believe I see a crack in the block. Im not an expert on engine blocks, so please take a look and tell me what you guys think and what my options are. Thanks.


image upload without registration

That is most definitely a cracked block. I have seen many of them. Freeze damage. DO NOT attempt a JB Weld repair! Do not waste your time and money having it stitched, welded or brazed. None of those methods will be a long term solution. Call Michigan Motorz and order a remanufactured long block. Ask for a one piece rear main seal block with Vortec heads. Swap over your existing marine parts and go boating. And next time you buy a boat, get a pre-purchase survey done, or for Petes sake, at least do a sea trial! It would have saved you $2,500.

 

[Mike Blake]

Why not buy a mirror and look down there to find the REAL leak? That way you could save the JB for some other crack.

 

[BurgundyS24]

That is most definitely a cracked block. I have seen many of them. Freeze damage. DO NOT attempt a JB Weld repair! Do not waste your time and money having it stitched, welded or brazed. None of those methods will be a long term solution. Call Michigan Motorz and order a remanufactured long block. Ask for a one piece rear main seal block with Vortec heads. Swap over your existing marine parts and go boating. And next time you buy a boat, get a pre-purchase survey done, or for Petes sake, at least do a sea trial! It would have saved you $2,500.

+1 just went through the same thing. But hey, atleast i know every inch of my boat now!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

 

[Gyroe1970]

thanks to all. I have checked the oil and there is no water in it. I looked at the block a little better and noticed the main leak was above the crack thats in the picture. In fact is a much worse crack and the lower side of the crack is protruding out about 1/16 of an inch and 1 1/2 inches long!!! That explains the 'stream' of water shooting out the side. Im shopping around for a good used 350 to swap marine parts on for the time being. I do not have the funds to buy a new long block right now and will have to do most of the work myself. Any tips on removing the motor would be helpful. Thanks everyone.

 

[Bt Doctur]

an 87 weekender with a omc engine???? grey motor, capped manifold, omc rear mounts

 

[scoflaw]

No water in oil, that's good. Here is a tip that saved my season in the past. JB Waterweld, an amazing product to say the least.

Drain your block, prep the crack with a dremel or something similar, clean the area real good, with carb cleaner. push a golfball size chunk of this stuff on the crack and enjoy the rest of your season.

 

[NorCal Boater]

thanks to all. I have checked the oil and there is no water in it. I looked at the block a little better and noticed the main leak was above the crack thats in the picture. In fact is a much worse crack and the lower side of the crack is protruding out about 1/16 of an inch and 1 1/2 inches long!!! That explains the 'stream' of water shooting out the side. Im shopping around for a good used 350 to swap marine parts on for the time being. I do not have the funds to buy a new long block right now and will have to do most of the work myself. Any tips on removing the motor would be helpful. Thanks everyone.

Sorry about the news. Be sure you look for a marine 350 block. YOu can't use an automotive block....well you can, just not for very long. Try your local craigslist. Good luck.

 

[scoflaw]

Sorry about the news. Be sure you look for a marine 350 block. YOu can't use an automotive block....well you can, just not for very long. Try your local craigslist. Good luck.

No such thing as a marine 350 block, GM 350 block is a GM 350 block no matter what the application. Now if you buy a complete motor, that's a different story.

 

[CliffA]

No such thing as a marine 350 block, GM 350 block is a GM 350 block no matter what the application. Now if you buy a complete motor, that's a different story.

I was under the impression a marine 350 block has 4 bolt main crankshaft caps where most car 350 engines have 2 bolt mains.....

also the core plugs in a marine block are bronze vs. steel in a car block for corrosion protection.....

cliff

 

[scoflaw]

Merc used their fair share of 4 bolt main blocks, but like trucks,they all didn't receive 1. Sure, brass freeze plugs and other things were added but the block is nothing special. No marine designated casting # for it.

 

[NorCal Boater]

My apologies for not being more specific. The OP said he was newbie and had limited resources. I wanted to make sure that he didn't go to a wrecking yard or something and buy any 350 and slap it in.

Gyroe, You are probaly more confused than when you first posted.

Jeez guys....

 

[Gyroe1970]

lol, no problem I appreciate everyones input, thats why im here! Thanks again guys.

 

[JVM225]

Here's what happened to me:
I had a similar problem with one of my old motors about a year after I bought my boat.
Was up on plane when all of a sudden one of my motors starting running like crap.
Had a friend run the boat whil I stuck my head in the bilge.
Water was spraying out and shorting out the ignition which was causing the boat to run like crap.
Thought I had a cracked block after trying to get a look at it with a mirror and seeing the water staining, I then resigned myself to the fact that I would be replacing it.
Pulled the exhaust manifold back at the dock later that day and found that the threaded plug that goes in to the head had rotted out and was causing water to shoot out. The exhaust was diverting the stream of water in to a spray above which was effecting the ignition, and below the exhaust which made it look like there was a crack in the block itself because of the staining pattern.
Turns out that Mercruiser put steel plugs in those holes. They are threaded in to the castings because the same castings were used in cars that had temp senders in those holes. If the temp senders aren't in the holes, they just have a plumbing plug threaded in there.
Anyway, I removed the rotted plug, went to a local plumbing supply store, got a brass replacement and installed it, put the exhaust back on, and got several more years out of it until I repowered. Then I sold that motor to a friend who put it in a boat 3 years ago, and it is still running strong.
You never know, you may get lucky.
Take the exhaust off and get a good look at things before you order a motor.

 

[Ten Years Gone]

You never know, you may get lucky. Take the exhaust off and get a good look at things before you order a motor.

Your story is nice, but he is not getting lucky with this particular engine! There are obvious multiple cracks in the cylinder walls of his engine. If anyone doubts my experience and still thinks he has a functional engine that just needs a band-aid...here is my offer. I will buy the OP a new engine if he pulls it out and discovers that it's just a loose fitting!

That's how sure I am that he needs another engine. And by the way, freeze damage almost always takes out the exhaust manifolds too.

GYROE...send me a PM so I can help get you squared away.

 

[scoflaw]

How can you tell the condition of his cylinder walls from that photo? Says he has no water in oil. Is the PM to get his address so you can send him a new motor?

 

[kevin27]

Your story is nice, but he is not getting lucky with this particular engine! There are obvious multiple cracks in the cylinder walls of his engine. If anyone doubts my experience and still thinks he has a functional engine that just needs a band-aid...here is my offer. I will buy the OP a new engine if he pulls it out and discovers that it's just a loose fitting!

That's how sure I am that he needs another engine. And by the way, freeze damage almost always takes out the exhaust manifolds too.

GYROE...send me a PM so I can help get you squared away.

You are not seeing the outside of the cylinder wall in that pic. There is a water jacket between that and the cylinder walls. This is common for an engine to rot out the outer block water jacket wall especially if used in salt water and not flushed after each use. This engine is not repairable. I will come install the new engine that Ten Years Gone will buy you if it is not the case.