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  1. Lou C

    Buying a used boat with Mercruiser 228

    That for sure does not look like a salt water run engine but as was said check ALL the structural wood carefully!
  2. Lou C

    . . . and I Thought Hi-tech Boat Engines Were Bad . . .

    Yeah that’s my problem with so many modern vehicles. Basic engineering is over complex and a nightmare to repair when there are problems. I have an ‘07 Jeep with the 5.7 Hemi that’s been very good although it only has 123,000 miles on it. I kept & am restoring our first Jeep the old mule I call...
  3. Lou C

    Water in the Oil +

    The longest I ever went in salt water on an exhaust system was 6 seasons. Any rust stains in the joint between the manifold and the elbow?
  4. Lou C

    Water in the Oil +

    I had one bad overheat back in 2013. Engine ran fine for 2 1/2 more seasons, then at the end of the third had a reluctance to start, rough running after starting and water in the oil. Pulled the spark plugs & found that there was water in cyl # 2 and just a trace of water in # 1. Pulled heads...
  5. Lou C

    Water in the Oil +

    these pix are from when I pulled the heads off my 4.3, both HGs were leaking water into the front 2 cyls and oil, if you look closely you can see a couple of valves stuck open, which might be the same problem you have. It was cyls #1 & 2, in the bottom pic the cyl head is flipped around....top...
  6. Lou C

    Water in the Oil +

    Yes a blown HG can cause low or zero comp if it blows between 2 cyls or between a cyl & the edge of the cyl head. Your problem could be a stuck valve but water let in a cyl by a bad head gasket can cause a valve to stick open due to corrosion on the valve stem or seat. This can cause a backfire...
  7. Lou C

    Larson restore

    Yep stick with points. I still have em in my 1988. The boat looks great inside & out. Nice family history with it.
  8. Lou C

    . . . and I Thought Hi-tech Boat Engines Were Bad . . .

    yep no thanks arid southwest here I come, to pick up vehicles designed the way I want them to be. Simple DC electrical systems, that anyone can understand, and repair Carbs, points distributors and 4bbl carbs. The devil take technology.
  9. Lou C

    Replacement of water circulation pump V6 4.3L

    First you usually get a bit of a grinding noise from the bearing, then some time after it may start to leak from the weep hole, then it's really time to change it.
  10. Lou C

    Mystery Knock -- Insurance and Warrantee

    Does this engine have a remote oil filter mount? Did someone hook up the oil lines backward?!
  11. Lou C

    4.3 Mercruiser fuel supply issue

    Pulling the drive is easy compared to what you're doing now! How about laying a strong wooden beam across the gunnels, padded where it lays on the fiberglass and use a strong enough ratchet strap to just lift the engine high enough to get access? You guys with the newer engines have my...
  12. Lou C

    Replacement of water circulation pump V6 4.3L

    I've used Sierra water circulating pumps on my engine, they don't last as long as the OEM but are readily available and reasonably priced. I'm in salt water if you're in fresh water they'd probably last longer.
  13. Lou C

    Mercruiser 5.7 MCM carb low idling

    The main thing with a carb overhaul is the cleaning all the jets, passages & air bleeds must be open. The float had to be adjusted to manufacturers specs and gaskets all replaced.
  14. Lou C

    5.0 OSi-JF overheating at speed

    these are only about 40 lbs but same idea, makes it a lot easier.
  15. Lou C

    PSA on Winterization Antifreeze

    https://www.westmarine.com/west-advisor/Selecting-Antifreeze.html
  16. Lou C

    PSA on Winterization Antifreeze

    Even West Marine says to use -100 for those temps! I guess the marinas are counting on the thought that the -60 gets firm but doesn’t expand. IMHO that might be ok for plastic pipe but not for a cast iron engine!
  17. Lou C

    PSA on Winterization Antifreeze

    I would love to have seen a study about whether filling cast iron engines with AF actually reduces corrosion or if it does nothing. We do spray oil pans, timing covers & leaf springs with Corrosion X or similar & that works. And Mercruiser has been recommending it for a long time in their...
  18. Lou C

    Maintenance on 20 year old VP 3.0 inboard.

    Sounds like you’ve gotten most of the critical points… The hoses don’t get stressed that much with open cooling. HT leads you can check with an ohmmeter. Get way down in the bilge & check the tin oil pan for rust; if any is starting treat with rust converter & then paint over if you can, if not...
  19. Lou C

    5.0 OSi-JF overheating at speed

    Part # 9 plastic nipple if cracked or the hose isn’t on tight that could contribute to the problem. Hose collapse? Not sure about that one. How about the water tube grommets inside the drive and/or the p/s cooler?
  20. Lou C

    OMC 4.3 Water Temp Gauge went to zero after reaching 220..

    It’s similar except OMC said to heat oil instead of water for the water temp test I guess because it won’t boil so you can get higher readings. Don’t do this on a gas stove! When you get no reading on a water temp gauge & the sending unit & gauge are good that could mean there is no water in...
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