Caps on engine along cooling lines

[jamesdgreen2016]

Over the winter these caps on the engine came off so that when you hook a hose up to the stern and turn the engine on water running thru the cooling lines comes out the holes the caps were in. My mechanic pushed the caps back in the holes they came out of and its running fine and no water coming out them now. Do i need to worry about this or is it resolved?

 

[Bt Doctur]

There called core plugs used in the manufacturing process, falsely called freeze plugs. They pop out from improper winterizing and tend to crack blocks, and manifolds.
Who and how was it winterized?

 

[jamesdgreen2016]

My mechanic winterized it... Are you saying its got a problem now?

 

[Bt Doctur]

If the "discs" are about 1 1/4 in dia there the core plugs. They go into the block and manifolds. If they were removed by freezing water in the block ,the mechanic did not do the job correctly. The way you can tell is if the oil gets cream colored and starts coming out of the dipstick tube when you run the motor

 

[Bt Doctur]

...................

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... A Potential problem,....

Check the oil after it's been run,....
If the level rises, 'n/ or the color turns milky,....

Ya got a Problem, there's a Crack in the block,...

 

[alldodge]

If the motor turns out OK, I would suggest not using the mechanic again, he doesn't know what he's doing.

Hope you got lucky and the only issue is the plugs

 

[jamesdgreen2016]

Thanks. Yeah he blew out the lines in the engine with an air compressor and tried to get all the water out of it and then fogged the engine as i recall. If its not cracked will putting the caps back in be enough? Thats what he did and we ran the engine with the hose attached and it all seemed fine. Ill run it again like that and check the oil to see if its milks then.

 

[alldodge]

Thanks. Yeah he blew out the lines in the engine with an air compressor and tried to get all the water out of it and then fogged the engine as i recall. If its not cracked will putting the caps back in be enough? Thats what he did and we ran the engine with the hose attached and it all seemed fine. Ill run it again like that and check the oil to see if its milks then.

Yes, so long as Bondo pointed out there is no water leaking into the oil. Check for milk on the dip stick.

I got luck one year, my fault :facepalm: but got away with it. If the temps drop to where things start freezing but doesn't stay down, the plugs can be pushed out, but then it starts warming back up so all the ice that started, melts and drains out thru to core plug hole. So when it gets real cold the water is gone.

 

[Bt Doctur]

All thats needed it to remove the drain plugs, probe the opening to make sure its open and that something does drain out.
FYI, heard of 2 people so far this year with cracked blocks from the single point drain system. Seems the block drains were plugged with scale and never drained

 

[Bondo]

FYI, heard of 2 people so far this year with cracked blocks from the single point drain system. Seems the block drains were plugged with scale and never drained

Ayuh,.... That wonderful Mercruiser system, that's Guaranteed to Fail, causin' a frozen, busted block,....

Plain ole brass pipe plugs can't be beat,... 'n a deck screw on the intake to poke, 'n prod out the block's holes,...

 

[jamesdgreen2016]

No Title

 

[jamesdgreen2016]

I ran it with hose on. No milky oil at dipstick but a few mins in the above picture started to happen.

 

[alldodge]

Sorry to see that, hope your mechanic will stand behind his work

 

[jamesdgreen2016]

Does it mean block is cracked? If so, does it mean i need a new engine?

 

[alldodge]

Does it mean block is cracked? If so, does it mean i need a new engine?

That is foam (milk) coming out, and you should start seeing it on the dip stick. That said oil is lighter then water, so if anything else you should see you oil level getting higher. Depending on where the crack is, if the block then new motor. With core plugs popping out, I'm betting the block

 

[jamesdgreen2016]

Whats the cheapest way to fix buy a refurb motor off ebay and have someone install?

 

[tpenfield]

I'd say the block is cracked . . . usually it takes a while of running for the water to accumulate in the oil and start making milkshakes.

 

[alldodge]

If your handy with tools, I would get a long block from a place like Michigan Motorz. Can get reman, long block or new crate. All depends on what your able to do. If you plan to hire it out, then first find some prices on motors, then find a good mechanic. This way you know what the motor cost and what is being charged to install. Keep in mind there are many little things that can increase the bill.

http://www.michiganmotorz.com/marine-engines-c-31.html

 

[jamesdgreen2016]

Cool site, thanks. Hey if i have mercruiser 4.3l 1992 with alpha 1 outdrive in an 18 foot sea ray bowrider also from 1992.... Is it possible to put a newer or better or different motor in it? I mean if i have to buy a rebuilt 'new one' it would be nice if it had more umph. With mercruiser stern drive must i put mercruiser engine back in or is there choice? Like the 6cyl i have is like 170hp. Newer ones are 220 or so. How much choice do i have here?