Engine died and found water in oil

[caken]

I have a 4.3L Volvo engine in my boat and took it out for the first time in 7 months today. It ran great for 3 hours and just when we were heading back to the dock it slowly lost power and died. I checked the oil and it had water in it. I didn't even try to start it since I knew there was water in the engine.

I have had this problem in the past but it always happened when I turned the boat off and on the next start. What would cause the water to leak in while the engine was running? A cracked gasket? I had the risers and manifolds replaced 2 years ago so I wouldn't think it would be a crack there but I don't know.

 

[Lyle29464]

Re: Engine died and found water in oil

how cold did it get this winter?
how much water in oil?
Did you do a good job on winterizing it?
Is it full of salt water?

 

[caken]

Re: Engine died and found water in oil

I live in southern California so not very cold. Also was in freshwater so not worried about the water in the engine. I am going to pull the plugs tonight thought just to see what I'm dealing with. The water was a milky white. I just changed it this morning before heading out.

 

[caken]

Re: Engine died and found water in oil

Ok update. Just pulled all 6 plugs and no water in the cylinders. The farthest back on each side did seem to have a lot of oil on them and smelled like gas. The other 4 seemed dry and no smell. Sorry I don't know which numbers the cylinders are. It's just the back two.

 

[Lyle29464]

Re: Engine died and found water in oil

I would get that water out of the engine. You will need to run it dry for a 10 or 15 seconds after you change the oil to get it out of the lifters etc. might need to change it several times . You can save your water pump by taking the drive off if its a stern drive or taking the hose off of the engine where the water supply hooks to the thermostat housing. Then do some tests. #1 compression and get back to the board.

 

[cr2k]

Re: Engine died and found water in oil

If the block is cracked you will have to pull the heads to see. Usually cracks just below the deck on the inside of the lifter valley.
Not sayin that is what it is.

 

[caken]

Re: Engine died and found water in oil

Thanks for all the advice. Good news is that the engine fired right up when I put the new plugs in. Warmed up the engine a bit and changed the oil last night. Replaced it and fired up the engine again to get the new oil warm and ready for a second change. Of course, not thinking, I hooked it up to the muffs and there ended up being more water in the oil than the first time. Definitely something leaking into the oil. I am assuming it is not the manifolds or risers since there was no water in the cylinders but will check there first. I had them replaced about a year ago.

Hopefully it will be a head gasket and not a cracked block. Fingers crossed.....

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Engine died and found water in oil

Hopefully it will be a head gasket and not a cracked block. Fingers crossed.....

Howdy,


Stop hoping and pressure check the block. do not remove the heads before you do this.

Where in Ca are you located? was the boat parked in a garage all year or outside?

 

[caken]

Re: Engine died and found water in oil

I live in Los Angeles (redondo beach). The boat was parked outside in the driveway.

I plan on having someone take a look at it this weekend. Unfortunately I think I have hit my limits on what I know how to do myself.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Engine died and found water in oil

I know it's unlikely that you experienced below freezing temps in Redondo Beach. but if it dropped below freezing there this winter at all, you may have a cracked block.

You also may have leaking riser gaskets. (unrelated to freezing)

The exhaust system is filled with water up to the "top" of each riser while the engine is running. this is more than a few inches above the riser gasket on each side in any V-type engine.

When you shut down, the water in each side doesn't drop immediately..........so if there's a leak in one or both riser gaskets, that water will run into the exhaust area and into any open (ex) valves and right into the cyls with open or even partially open exhaust valves....... and the exhaust crossover in the intake manifold(if there is one)

If you try to crank the engine right after this happens it will appear to hydrolock.

If you let it sit for an extended period of time that water will eventually seep past the rings and into the crankcase.

If you have a corroded intake manifold on the other hand, water from the cooling system will run directly into the lifter "valley" and directly into the crankcase.

A cooling system pressure check will indicate cooling system leaks quite readily.

If you take it to a shop, they'll probably check based on what you describe.

I looked at the temp history for the greater LA area and it doesn't appear that you had below freezing temps last winter......but if you did, it could have only took one night of under 32* to crack the block.


Good luck.


Rick