Water in engine head

dodgeem · Post by **dodgeem** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 2:56 pm

So today I was checking things out and I noticed my heat exchanger was a low on water, as I was adding water I noticed there was a drip coming from the interior side of the port engine between the head and the exhaust manifold. After taking off the manifold I noticed that there was a puddle sitting in the head beside the valve...How much trouble am I in here? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Brian

TurboTim · Post by **TurboTim** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 4:01 pm

Sounds like a cracked head. You can get a pressure checker and pressurize it to confirm. Anyway you look at it. You will have to take off head to repair.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 7:20 pm

Water or coolant ? Is the manifold fresh water cooled or raw water ? It could have come from the manifold .

Do you have 440s ? any running issues befor this ?

dodgeem · Post by **dodgeem** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 9:21 pm

I had just recently had the heat exchanger repaired so I was just running water...good idea to put soem antifreeze in to get a true picture where it's coming from. I was more concerned when I saw it leaking as I filled the exchanger

MTP · Post by **MTP** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 10:00 pm

really would you ever consider doing that to your car? you do realize that marine engines are run much harder than almost all others

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 12:16 am

Like Paul said, we need more info on the type of cooling system you have. But if you saw water next to a valve when you removed the exhaust manifold then it was an exhaust valve and it can really only come from the head or exhaust manifold. Let us know the answer to Paul's questions, and did you happen to notice any water in the manifold's matching exhaust port?

dodgeem · Post by **dodgeem** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 8:29 am

They are 440's it's a closed water cooling system. I really didn't pay attention if there was water in the cooresponding manifold port. I am going to check it out more today.

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 10:25 am

I take it the manifolds are raw water cooled and not part of the FWC circuit? Give a look-see and let us know.

dodgeem · Post by **dodgeem** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 12:58 pm

they are raw water cooled...more bad news...water in the oil. Not a good day.

JonChristman · Post by **JonChristman** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 8:07 pm

YIKES!

Allen Sr · Post by **Allen Sr** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 5:34 am

OUCH!

And you just bought that last fall didn't you? Hopefully you can get away with a new set of heads and manifolds?

dodgeem · Post by **dodgeem** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 8:01 pm

Meeting the old owner and boat mechanic at the boat Friday, he claims possible blown head gasket. He's bringing test equipment, my first response is to see how he swims holding the anchor but I am going to give him a chance. My big problem is the wife and I are in love with this style of boat, no one makes anything like it anymore.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:06 pm

You have had the boat for about 8 months ? I see no reason to be mad with the previous owner . a head or head gasket is not a big deal so hopefully you'll be going soon .

You still got time to get it ready and go to Rock Hall or kinsale , you half way betwwen them , hard choice.

dodgeem · Post by **dodgeem** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:57 pm

8 Months and about 10 minutes of runtime between a blown manifold gasket, overheating and now this. I not too upset, I mean it's a boat but things like no thermostat and 5200 on the heat exchanger have led me to what kind of mechanic he is.

9rock · Post by **9rock** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 10:45 pm

dodgeem wrote:8 Months and about 10 minutes of runtime between a blown manifold gasket, overheating and now this. I not too upset, I mean it's a boat but things like no thermostat and 5200 on the heat exchanger have led me to what kind of mechanic he is.

How much water in the oil ,, it could be the gasket or a cracked head or block,,block least likely.. manifolds and risers are matinace no matter fresh or salt water,,
the no themastat obviously means he was chasing a problam the beauty of a partly or fully closed system is the loss of coolant is a sieren to what could end up as a bigger problam,, so u may have caught it in time

I have a simaler problam I am losing coolant but have no water in the oil runs all day trolling or up to about 2000 rpm after that temp starts to slowly rise at 5 miles at 2500 temp goes from 160 - 200

Hope its the lesser of the evil keep us posted

9