1993 4.3 Mercruiser puking water and bogging down.

[Mopararambula]

Hello ladies and gents,

So I have. A 93 4.3 or 4.6 mercruser in my maxum 18ft I bought it last year it ran fantastic I tried taking it out on the water yesterday for the first time this year and it's not pretty.

And before I continue I did start the boat in the driveway before it took it out and it seemed fine.

Foot starters I could not for the life of me get it to stay idling it just wanted to not down and die when I tried putting it hear it bogged down and die weather I have it A little has or floored it, it bogged down. So while my wife was driving I was just holding the carb open A little which helped some but while doing that I noticed a warm stream of water spitting on my feet and more then usual amount of water was building up while running it. I had to keep my bilge pump on while we were going.

and to top it off it seemed very hot and steaming, when I was holding the engine cover up it started to run a touch better but not much.

I'm not much of a boat mechanic but I was guessing maybe bad water pump carb rebuild and or exhaust manifold problems I'm not sure and can't really jump on to working it because we're moving but I don't want to miss a year of boating again so advice will be appericated.

 

[Benny67]

Where exactly is the steamy water coming from?

​​​Was it properly winterized last year?

 

[Scott Danforth]

exactly how did you winterize the motor last season?

 

[Bondo]

Hello ladies and gents,

So I have. A 93 4.3 or 4.6 mercruser in my maxum 18ft I bought it last year it ran fantastic I tried taking it out on the water yesterday for the first time this year and it's not pretty.

And before I continue I did start the boat in the driveway before it took it out and it seemed fine.

Foot starters I could not for the life of me get it to stay idling it just wanted to not down and die when I tried putting it hear it bogged down and die weather I have it A little has or floored it, it bogged down. So while my wife was driving I was just holding the carb open A little which helped some but while doing that I noticed a warm stream of water spitting on my feet and more then usual amount of water was building up while running it. I had to keep my bilge pump on while we were going.

and to top it off it seemed very hot and steaming, when I was holding the engine cover up it started to run a touch better but not much.

I'm not much of a boat mechanic but I was guessing maybe bad water pump carb rebuild and or exhaust manifold problems I'm not sure and can't really jump on to working it because we're moving but I don't want to miss a year of boating again so advice will be appericated.

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,....... My guess is, the carb needs to be rebuilt, 'n the long block needs to be replaced, as it sounds like that one is cracked,......

 

[Mopararambula]

It looked like it could have been around the exhaust were it was leaking but then when I was on the water it looked like a freeze plug or something was missing and leaking out of that don't quote me on that cause I don't know boats well. But I didnt see cracks in the block it was perfectly circle. And as far as winterizing a friend said he did it as I took it out maybe 4 times last year as we had bad blue green algae over here

 

[Mopararambula]

I will try to get pictures mid week or weekend cause it's out at my other property which is like 50 miles away and I don't have internet out there yet

 

[Mopararambula]

So the exhaust manifold are cracked and a plug is missing I guess next time I go out all check the oil

 

[poconojoe]

You said it was a perfect circle stream of water shooting out.
Are all the (blue plastic) winterizing plugs installed? Maybe one was left off. Find out how many your engine requires and see if they're all installed. They screw into a small hole, so you should be able to see the difference between that and a core plug stream of water, which is much larger. You need to get in there and see exactly where the water is coming from. If you can't get your head in there, use your cellphone to take pictures. Post the pictures here. There are other plugs that may also be missing or even things like sending units. Take some pictures.

 

[Mopararambula]

 

[Mopararambula]

Thats the hole I assume its a freeze plug?

 

[Scott06]

Yes that’s where a freeze plug should go. Block must have frozen due to lack of winterization. If you can get at it pound a new plug in or use a rubber expansion plug to test it out. But I bet you have a cracked block as well and will get water in the oil

 

[Mopararambula]

so if it is cracked what best reasonably priced place to buy like a long block? Cause I imagine a shop will charge a arm and a leg

 

[Bondo]

so if it is cracked what best reasonably priced place to buy like a long block? Cause I imagine a shop will charge a arm and a leg

Ayuh,..... If you buy a long block, 'n pay someone to install it, the labor will no doubt be higher, than if you hire someone to install a new long block they provide,.....

A crate motor will run from just over $1,500. to $3,000........
Dependin' on where ya find it, what's in it, 'n how far it's gotta go,....

 

[Furbird]

If it popped a freeze plug (core plug so we don't start another war) and DIDN'T crack the block, you better go buy a lottery ticket. I bet it's in the bilge somewhere, although it's not reusable so don't try it.

 

[Mopararambula]

Alright thanks fellas I will look when I get out there at the oil the boat gods are not on my side my last boat I ran once before the bottom end exploded

 

[Scott06]

so if it is cracked what best reasonably priced place to buy like a long block? Cause I imagine a shop will charge a arm and a leg

Michigan motorz has remanufactured and new base engines bonds had the right prices. If you can turn your own wrenches it’s a fairly easy job