water in 3 cylinders

[jdbartsch]

I have a 1997 4.3 mercruiser. All 3 cylinders on the starboard side seem to be getting water in them. I changed the head gaskets and had same results. Could this be from exhaust man or riser? Or could I be facing problem with block? The boat has run fine all season until now.

 

[TowRoper]

Re: water in 3 cylinders

could be any of them or the head did you machine the head b4 re assembly?

 

[jtybt]

Re: water in 3 cylinders

So you have the two piece manifold/riser exhaust? When was the last time you replaced them? What did the manifold/riser joint look like?

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: water in 3 cylinders

Is this your first boat? And you have a little knowledge of car/truck engines right? Well, sorry, this is one of the BIGGEST, most common rookie mistakes. Sorry you wasted so much time replacing head gaskets.

The number 1 source of water in the cylinders of a marine engine is a bad exhaust manifold and or riser. That's what it is almost 95% of the time.
What did your manifolds look like when you removed them to change the head gasket? You are looking for LOTS of rust in the water passages, but more specifically, you are looking for rust streaks or cracks in the exhaust ports.
And obviously you realize that you don't want to let the water sit in the cylinders, or you are going to ruin the block, right?