Exhaust manifold crack...repair??

SHOOTER72

Cadet
Joined
Jul 10, 2006
Messages
11
I have an 84 Mercruiser GM V6 3.8 L 185hp.....today I found a big ol crack in the right side manifold and unfourtunaely its cracked all the way thru....

my question is....is there any repair that can be done to this before i just go out and spend $200 on a replacement kit????....maybe weld it?...maybe some sort of liquid metal or liquid weld or some other sort of high temp sealant??...or maybe i dont know what the hell im talking about.....but thats why im asking...

its probably a good 6 inches or so and water was whizzing out of it when i started it in the driveway today...
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: Exhaust manifold crack...repair??

Obviously wasn't winterized, so I would be wondering if the inner part of that manifold is also cracked. If it is, you will have water in your cylinders when you shut it down. The same thing probably happened to the other manifold. And wouldn't surprise me a bit if the block isn't cracked too. Maybe inside. Have you checked the oil to see if it's milky and overful?
 

fishmen111

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 1, 2008
Messages
637
Re: Exhaust manifold crack...repair??

I fear that crack is just the first sign of the overall condition of the manifold(s). I would replace both of them
 

SHOOTER72

Cadet
Joined
Jul 10, 2006
Messages
11
Re: Exhaust manifold crack...repair??

Obviously wasn't winterized, so I would be wondering if the inner part of that manifold is also cracked. If it is, you will have water in your cylinders when you shut it down. The same thing probably happened to the other manifold. And wouldn't surprise me a bit if the block isn't cracked too. Maybe inside. Have you checked the oil to see if it's milky and overful?


it actually was winterized and the water was drained....thats what is kind of weird.....even if it wasnt totally drained....wouldnt it have to be full to freeze and expand to crack?.....anyways, it was winterized and rv antifreeze was put into it......the oil was changed with mercruiser synthetic before i winterized and is nice and clean still...the other manifold is in good shape, no signs of cracking
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: Exhaust manifold crack...repair??

Should have asked if it was PROPERLY winterized. There are lots of posts here about attempts to winterize by DIYer that turn into broken manifolds and blocks every year around the time.
How was the RV antifreeze put into it? That's the question.
 

SHOOTER72

Cadet
Joined
Jul 10, 2006
Messages
11
Re: Exhaust manifold crack...repair??

hmmm...thats a good question.....i was helping a friend of mine while he was winterizing my boat and when he put it in i actually wasnt there....but i do remember taking the thermostat housing off and see the antifreeze.....maybe thru there??....unfortunately im not sure.......but, the question at hand is....is there any repair i can do?? or try before going out and buying new one or both maybe
 

JCF350

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Oct 21, 2007
Messages
1,149
Re: Exhaust manifold crack...repair??

Nope. And buy both sides, manifolds and elbows.
 

Coors

Captain
Joined
Dec 8, 2006
Messages
3,367
Re: Exhaust manifold crack...repair??

hmmm...thats a good question.....i was helping a friend of mine while he was winterizing my boat and when he put it in i actually wasnt there....but i do remember taking the thermostat housing off and see the antifreeze.....maybe thru there??....unfortunately im not sure.......but, the question at hand is....is there any repair i can do?? or try before going out and buying new one or both maybe

Search Bondo's pressure test in here.
 
Top