Fearing the worse ........ major screwup and now cracked block?????

[mphsjeep]

I'm a DA....lets just get that out of the way:facepalm: Live in Memphis and usually the winters are mild but have been good about draining the water out of the block.....have been. This year was cold and forgot to drain it .
Just pulled it out and have a crack in the paint/rust line about 7" long running parallel to the lower drain bolt(on the right side facing the engine from inside the boat). Have never paid much attention to that section of the engine. Just going to get a pic......

The engine started as usual, no water coming from that area. I do a quick driveway start each year to make sure it turns over.

I have never noticed if there was a paint line in that area.

I am heading to the dock later today to run it in the water and see.......

What do you guys think? Would it start and run normal if there was a crack in that section of the block? Hopefully a surface crack in the paint that started rusting from moisture(fingers crossed)?

 

[JustJason]

Re: Fearing the worse ........ major screwup and now cracked block?????

That's a cracked block. Any oil in your water?

 

[mphsjeep]

Re: Fearing the worse ........ major screwup and now cracked block?????

Pulled the bigger side water drain plug and it is empty. Some water did shoot out the back when I started it with no oil. Pulled the vertical smaller plug(above the main plug, rusty water as usual drained out, no oil.
One thing that puzzles me is the oil level is fine.

That said, would the engine start and rev fine with a crack in that section of the block?

Is there a hose hookup so I can run water through it and keep it started for more than a few seconds?

 

[JustJason]

Re: Fearing the worse ........ major screwup and now cracked block?????

I was being a bit facetious, what I meant was checking the engines oil for signs of water in it.

You can have hard freezes and soft freezes, it all depends on how cold it gets. If it's just a soft freeze, in most cases it will cause the block to bulge, it might even pop a core plug out, but that's about the extent of it. If it's a hard freeze, it cracks externally and internally.


You might have dodged a bullet. All you can do is run the engine, keep your fingers crossed, and check for water in the oil after every run.

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: Fearing the worse ........ major screwup and now cracked block?????

Is there a hose hookup so I can run water through it and keep it started for more than a few seconds?

What type of outdrive are you coupled to? Do you use muffs for your "driveway start" mentioned in your first post. Sure hope so, otherwise you also need to work on your outdrive, too.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Fearing the worse ........ major screwup and now cracked block?????

Some water did shoot out the back when I

If you mean from the back of the engine, you may have pushed out a casting ( freeze) plug in the back of the engine. Get a set of muffs for the outdrive, hook up a garden hose and start it, see where it leaks. If you show water in oil ( milkshake) you need a new block. If the oil is OK you can try a J B Weld patch, then a water trial. Remember water may not be pushed into the oil until the engine is up to temperature and under load, so don't go far and constantly monitor the oil condition. The exterior crack will not affect the way the engine runs.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Fearing the worse ........ major screwup and now cracked block?????

" Some water did shoot out the back when I started it with no oil. Pulled the vertical smaller plug(above the main plug, rusty water as usual drained out, no oil."

Water shot out of where? and why would you start an engine with no oil? V8 engines have 1 block drain on each side .Describe this smaller vertical plug .

 

[mphsjeep]

Re: Fearing the worse ........ major screwup and now cracked block?????

Im going to get some muffs right now, usually I just start it and shut it down in a few seconds. Not the best I know. Its a Merc 3.0 I/O on a 1998 Stingray.

I totally deserve facetious and everything else....I know better than to do what I did, or didnt do, to cause this...

I do hope the block just bulged....

So Im assuming I will see water everywhere if these is a crack with the muffs???

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Fearing the worse ........ major screwup and now cracked block?????

Now that I know what motor you have, the horizontal one is for the block and the vertical one is for the riser.
The block is definitely cracked, might try fiberglass cloth with epoxy resin .

 

[mphsjeep]

Re: Fearing the worse ........ major screwup and now cracked block?????

NONONO...I mean the back of the drive, sorry. There is oil in the engine. I just saw a utibe vid on the JB weld patch, exact same place where the crack is. Off to the Bass Pro......will check in after the test....

 

[mphsjeep]

Re: Fearing the worse ........ major screwup and now cracked block?????

Now that I know what motor you have, the horizontal one is for the block and the vertical one is for the riser.
The block is definitely cracked, might try fiberglass cloth with epoxy resin .

:faint2:......hoping for the best but I know you are right.

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: Fearing the worse ........ major screwup and now cracked block?????

Good luck and get muffs before starting it again.

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: Fearing the worse ........ major screwup and now cracked block?????

Im going to get some muffs right now, usually I just start it and shut it down in a few seconds. Not the best I know. Its a Merc 3.0 I/O on a 1998 Stingray.

A few seconds is usually all it takes to fry an impeller (or at least get it going on its way to early demise).

 

[mphsjeep]

Re: Fearing the worse ........ major screwup and now cracked block?????

So did I mention how total BS I am with myself!!!! Noted on the impeller.....now have muffs.
Down to it........I think I got grazed by the bullet. Oil is well......oil so far. BUT there is a very small amount of water coming from the middle of the crack. Talking like drip, one one thousand two one thousand, drip. At least its not gushing out. So I will attempt the JB Weld deal. Vid I found below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgnQmfiIo9k&list=HL1399842747&feature=mh_lolz

 

[JustJason]

Re: Fearing the worse ........ major screwup and now cracked block?????

Holy cow that guys a butcher. Talk about being lazy and not pulling the manifold off.

Either way that guy forgot an important step. You need to drill and pin the block, or else the crack can spread.

 

[mphsjeep]

Re: Fearing the worse ........ major screwup and now cracked block?????

"drill and pin the block".............need some help with that one please.

 

[mphsjeep]

Re: Fearing the worse ........ major screwup and now cracked block?????

Yea I saw he just drilled a little on each end of the crack and went for it. I found this stuff to use instead of JB Weld:
Smooth-On A4 Metalset Epoxy Adhesives - 6 oz Kit at SkyGeek.com
Know anything about this stuff?

......found their other product a few minutes later:
http://www.farwestmaterials.com/epoxy-adhesives/mt-13-epoxy-detail

 

[achris]

Re: Fearing the worse ........ major screwup and now cracked block?????

Another option that I have used successfully in the past is to weld it. It does take time, but if done right is as strong as before the block was cracked.

The technique involves not allowing the weld to get too warm... Drill 1/16" holes in the ends of the crack (called 'crack-stops'), then grind out the crack along its length. Using a MIG welder, with the current up and a good shield of gas put in about 4 seconds of weld. Stop and let it cool back down to ambient temperature, then do another 4 seconds. It will take a while, but done right, it is very strong.

I welded a V6 block when the outer mounting pad for the starter was broken off due to the engine trying to be started when it was full of water. I managed to weld that on, and when the engine got hydrauliced (again) 6 years later, the weld didn't break!

Chris.....

 

[mphsjeep]

Re: Fearing the worse ........ major screwup and now cracked block?????

Update........following the idea of "the butcher" from the vid but doing a much better job of digging into the crack. Plan to use this Smooth-On A4 Metalset Epoxy Adhesives - 6 oz Kit at SkyGeek.com vs. JB Weld. I do not have access to a welder or would do that. Called the company on this metal set stuff and it is scary what all they used this stuff for.

"engine is up to temperature and under load" is the plan and found a friend dumb enough to get stuck on the water with me.

JustJason....."drill and pin the block"......more info please.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Fearing the worse ........ major screwup and now cracked block?????

Lock-N-Stitch Repair for engines, compressors and other cast iron equipment by Reynolds French

However if you are lucky, and the crack is only on the external wall of the casting, I would weld it. I have had really good luck welding cast iron with a high-nickle rod with lots of pre-heat.