Water leak while running

Strecker25

Strecker25

Well-Known Member
SILVER Sponsor
Nov 20, 2014
4,917
Rochester, NY
Boat Info
2002 410DA
Engines
Caterpillar 350HP 3126
Ok guys I need some help on this one. I keep a dry bilge and recently have noticed small amounts of water (8-10oz probably) down there after running for 1-2 hours. I climbed under today while the motor was running and noticed very slow drips from the bottom of the hose that connects the power steering cooler to fuel cooler. The issue is I can't see where its coming from, that side of the bilge is crazy tight and the genny is in the way. Its hard to tell if it is the hose or something above, but I can't imagine what else would be leaking. I put my hand around the block and don't feel any water and have taken pics under the exhaust manifold of the freeze plugs and don;t see anything

The motors are 5.7 EFI Alphas. The pic below is the hose in question. I'm thinking when the boat is out of the water I'll pull the exhaust manifold (they're 3 years old and should probably be inspected) and just replace the hose for $30

What else should I look for? It doesn't leak while sitting, could there really be a hole in that hose?

Capture.JPG
IMG_2929.jpg
 
Last edited:
If just the hose is wet, replace the hose and check again. If its still wet its obviously coming from someplace else. Seems odd though that a 3 year-old hose would fail. If changing the hose doesn't do it I'd get one of those mirrors on a telescoping mount and start looking around. Let us know what you find.
 
Thanks, my first post was misleading. The hose isnt 3 years old, I have no idea if it was ever replaced. The manifolds/riders are 3 years old and I planned on pulling one or two for inspection anyways. Taking that sides exhaust off will leave a lot more room to do the replacement job of the old hose.
 
outlaw32 said:
Cooler is leaking
Click to expand...
Which? I put my hand all over the power steering cooler and traced down the hose and didn't get any water on my hand or the paper towel until I hit that spot down low in the pic. I also don't see anything from the fuel cooler
 
It could be your hose, could be a loose clamp, could be something else higher up. Before you order any parts or start changing anything (not that it would be a bad idea to change a 30-year old hose, anyways... and the rest of them), double check your findings. Dry everything really well. Wrap a paper towel around the clamp area of the cooler and then tape it in place. You don't have to be neat about it - you just want it to be tight and stay in place. Do the same thing on the other side of the cooler. Tape any other area that you want to check. Run the engine for a bit. Then remove paper towels and check for signs of wetness (even if they had dried, you will still see signs). Keep in mind how gravity works as you figure this out. This way you should end up with pretty much definitive evidence.
 
Lazy Daze said:
It could be your hose, could be a loose clamp, could be something else higher up. Before you order any parts or start changing anything (not that it would be a bad idea to change a 30-year old hose, anyways... and the rest of them), double check your findings. Dry everything really well. Wrap a paper towel around the clamp area of the cooler and then tape it in place. You don't have to be neat about it - you just want it to be tight and stay in place. Do the same thing on the other side of the cooler. Tape any other area that you want to check. Run the engine for a bit. Then remove paper towels and check for signs of wetness (even if they had dried, you will still see signs). Keep in mind how gravity works as you figure this out. This way you should end up with pretty much definitive evidence.
Click to expand...

Great advice, that's why I ask here. Sometime laying under the motor common sense escapes me lol

I'll do that today, a lot easier when the boat is still floating and not on stands. I'd like to get it figured out before she's layed up. Thanks Dennis
 
@Lazy Daze so I did the towel trick all over the hose, bone dry. I then took my GoPro on a selfie stick (multi purpose I guess) and put it down there while the motor was running and the video steaming to my phone. I caught a drop from the oil pump hooking up to the flex hose going to the remote oil filter. Doesn’t make sense, no water there. Turns out that is a super slow oil drip, I thought it was water on the hose because it’s so clean from new oil. Ok, so that’s a problem I need to fix.

While I’m sitting in the bilge I notice a very slow drop from the starboard exhaust manifold hose. Maybe that’s the water leak after all? I tightened the blue plug and it seemed to stop. Weird that the water was usually on the outside of the stringer as well as in the center but maybe enough would collect while I plane and shift through the weep hole in the stringer to that side in turns, who knows.

Anyways, now I have an oil leak to fix first. I’m hoping it’s just a loose nut at the pump, but worse case I’ll have to replace the hose if the crimp fitting is bad.
 
I just observed a leak in nearly the same area. On a lunch hour, I felt around for while and believe it is from the cool fuel unit (is cooled with sea water). The water fittings are on the stern side of the module, so tough to see and get to. So I'll spray with anti-corrosion spray, dry, then use the paper towel method. Good luck!
 
Tacoma290 said:
I just observed a leak in nearly the same area. On a lunch hour, I felt around for while and believe it is from the cool fuel unit (is cooled with sea water). The water fittings are on the stern side of the module, so tough to see and get to. So I'll spray with anti-corrosion spray, dry, then use the paper towel method. Good luck!
Click to expand...

That one's a PIA too. I took an old socket and cut slots in it with a dremel to help remove/install the blue plugs for winterizing on that side. my CF module is dry, though. Keep us posted on yours
 
Here's the video of the drips, you'll see them from the oil hose. I'm going to throw a wrench on the nut tomorrow and hopefully tighten it up. Worse case the crimp is leaking and I'll have to replace the long hose. Not the end of the world, just annoying. There is a drip at 0:27 and around 0:48

 
It's funny, when I looked at your first post, I looked at the picture first. The first thing I thought of was that there was an oil leak - between the type of wetness on the hose and the shininess of the crimp fitting, along with being able to see what seemed to be a tiny bit of oil sitting the actual, rectangular crimps. But then when I read your description I dismissed it.

But, at least you've been able to narrow things down - and that is usually at least half the battle. If you still notice water showing up, you can do the paper towel trick on various places of the floor and stringers. Seems like you have a good handle on it!
 
Good eye! unfortunately based on the first pic and then the video I fear I might have a leak on both hoses (they're not cheap)

Fingers crossed I can snug up the fittings at the block side but if not I'll have to replace them.
 
If you find any of the hydraulic hoses to be leaking, you might want to check with a local hydraulic shop - they can make custom hoses to your specs and, from my experience, are cheaper (and at least as good quality, if not better) than Merc. Of course, Merc is the "easy" route as they are plug-n-play.
 
Thanks guys, I'll pull them off this winter and get them to a local hydraulic shop. $200 for two merc hoses is crazy
 
What you'll want to double check on is your clearances. Sometimes the shops only have larger, bulkier fittings and it can make it difficult, if not impossible to reconnect. Take some good pictures of where the hoses are currently installed. Worst case, get the Merc hoses - but it's worthwhile to at least check into having hoses made.
 
And Strecker, I would advise you to replace both sets and both engines at the same time. Voice of experience here...
 
Tacoma290 said:
And Strecker, I would advise you to replace both sets and both engines at the same time. Voice of experience here...
Click to expand...

Yeah, I can already feel a little slick on the other side. Only a matter of time until that one goes I'm sure. I have extra manifold gaskets so I'm just going to pull the manifolds this winter and do both. Looks like it could be done with the exhaust in place but I'd have to go into the bilge head first again
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,118
Messages
1,426,546
Members
61,035
Latest member
Lukerney
Back
Top