Rusty crack what is this?

[leakytarp]

See the rusty line just below the engine cylinders, is this the cooling chamber? How big of a problem is this? Thank you.

 

[leakytarp]

No Title

here is a close up

 

[Scott Danforth]

Pull the lifter cover and look. Not sure if its a crack, or rust from under the gasket of the lifter cover

 

[Scott06]

Just looks like rust on the push rod cover to block joining area, unless water or oil is leaking out I wouldn't worry about it

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... Looks like the head gasket to Me,....

Where the head meets the block,.... No problem,.... the motors been wet alot by the looks,...

 

[tpenfield]

+1 head gasket

 

[leakytarp]

Thanks all for the input. So if it is the head gasket I should probably replace it? The rust line goes almost all the way to the back and looks like there is quite the gap but no leaks yet so far. Here is another pic from the top to show the gap. I am a bit hesitant to take the plate off, seeing that the top edge looks bent outwards (causing the gap) I am not sure that it would seal properly if I replaced it. Would you guys just leave it / lube it / spraypaint it / replace it ..? Thanks again

 

[Bondo]

So if it is the head gasket I should probably replace it?

No,.... 'ell No,.... There's Nothin' wrong at all, at this point,.... the rust is incidental,...

The gasket compresses to 'bout .045", so of Course there's a visible gap,...
Paint it if ya want,... spray Fluid Film on it is what I'd do,...

Fix yer tarp, the rust is probably from just that,... a leaky tarp,....

 

[leakytarp]

No,.... 'ell No,.... There's Nothin' wrong at all, at this point,.... the rust is incidental,...

The gasket compresses to 'bout .045", so of Course there's a visible gap,...
Paint it if ya want,... spray Fluid Film on it is what I'd do,...

Fix yer tarp, the rust is probably from just that,... a leaky tarp,....

Haha ok thanks. Yeah I got a nice new boat cover last winter, looking back probably the first thing I should have bought. The engine was already rusty when I bought the boat 2 years ago but I was an idiot to keep the old cover as long as I did allowing rust to get worse...

 

[Bt Doctur]

Having 2 inline 6`s that rust is caused by a leaking headgasket . Must have been slightly overheated at some point.Not a big deal untill the tin side cover rots out if its not the aluminum one. Simple fix for the average mechanic.