Help! water leaking in bilge when runnin!

slider101

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Mar 31, 2011
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I need some help! I have a 1983 Citation Riveria that I have been working on for quite awhile and just now have gotten it in the water for testing. When it is on land and I hook the water hose to it at the outdrive it will run fine and accelerate fine and no leaks. When I put it in the water and crank it up I am getting water pouring out of the flywheel area where the starter is and it seems bogged down and will not accelerate and out the back where the outdrive is the water is just churning right at the bow. I thought the exhaust came out the prop but this is right at the boat. ANy ideas?
 

HT32BSX115

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Dec 8, 2005
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10,083
Re: Help! water leaking in bilge when runnin!

Howdy,


It's very helpful if you tell us what engine and drive you have. The model boat essentially means nothing.....

Usually, any water pouring out of the engine this time of year, means a cracked block or freeze damaged oil or power steering cooler.

I don't know what you mean by "water is just churning right at the bow" Do you have a BOW THRUSTER?
 

slider101

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Mar 31, 2011
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Re: Help! water leaking in bilge when runnin!

I am sorry, I cant believe I forgot to put that. It is a 2.5l inline 4 cyl GM engine and OMC outdrive. The water "churning" looks like prop wash on the top of the water but it is not in gear and it seems to be the exhaust. This is a small 16' open bow. I replaced the head gasket already cause I was getting water in the oil and now I do not after replacing. I see nothing leaking on the outside of the engine but water just gushes out of the starter/flywheel area. I wasnt sure if there was a freeze plug back there I cant see but the ones on the side of the block are fine.
 

HT32BSX115

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10,083
Re: Help! water leaking in bilge when runnin!

I am sorry, I cant believe I forgot to put that. It is a 2.5l inline 4 cyl GM engine and OMC outdrive. The water "churning" looks like prop wash on the top of the water but it is not in gear and it seems to be the exhaust. This is a small 16' open bow. I replaced the head gasket already cause I was getting water in the oil and now I do not after replacing. I see nothing leaking on the outside of the engine but water just gushes out of the starter/flywheel area. I wasnt sure if there was a freeze plug back there I cant see but the ones on the side of the block are fine.


Yeah. There may be core plugs back there.

The bubbling might be holes in your exhaust bellows. .......or slits as it were.........perfectly normal for newer exhaust bellows. They're made intentionally with the slits.

Not much of a problem even if your exhaust bellows is missing..... (My King Cobra ran without an exhaust bellows for about 15 years or so!)

Yours is a "Stringer" though I think...... and I don't know where your raw water pump is. If it's in the drive, then the hose that comes from the drive to the engine might have a leak.

You'll want to fix that.....
 

local825

Seaman
Joined
Oct 1, 2010
Messages
59
Re: Help! water leaking in bilge when runnin!

WENT through the same thing 99.9% sure it is your FREEZE OUT PLUG WHICH IS IN THE FLY WHEEL............
 

local825

Seaman
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Oct 1, 2010
Messages
59
Re: Help! water leaking in bilge when runnin!

iF you did not get all of the water out over the winter it froze and pushed out the plug, the plug is cheep but the work can be hectic you have to pull the engine and unbolt the flywheel put in new Brass plug.....
 

slider101

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Mar 31, 2011
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Re: Help! water leaking in bilge when runnin!

Shouldnt it leak also though when you have it hooked to a water hose on land? I have not noticed it leaking on land however.
 

Howard Sterndrive

Rear Admiral
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Nov 5, 2008
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4,603
Re: Help! water leaking in bilge when runnin!

if it is leaking in the lake and not on land, suspect torn transom boot or a misinstalled clamp.
Also possible the bumpy ride to the lake caused the rear core plug to pop out.

Generally with the water flow path of the cooling system, nothing is any different in the lake vs. out of the lake running on muffs.
 

slider101

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Mar 31, 2011
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Re: Help! water leaking in bilge when runnin!

if it is leaking in the lake and not on land, suspect torn transom boot or a misinstalled clamp.
Also possible the bumpy ride to the lake caused the rear core plug to pop out.

Generally with the water flow path of the cooling system, nothing is any different in the lake vs. out of the lake running on muffs.

I do have a small leak on the rubber transom boot but This is like you turned on the water hose and just hose down the flywheel area it is spraying in so much. When you are just sitting in the water I can see if just slowly come in so I know that has to be fixed but I can't see that little leak turning into the faucet when it is running but it would explain why I dont see the leak when it is on the muffs. I am going to try and get an inspection mirror back there and take a look.
 

slider101

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Re: Help! water leaking in bilge when runnin!

SO does everyone agree with me that is why it will not accelerate in the water and sounds bogged down is because of water flooding into the flywheel area?
 

slider101

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Re: Help! water leaking in bilge when runnin!

Ok I pulled the engine out and found the rear freeze plug laying in the bottom of flywheel area so that explains all the water pouring into bilge. Now would that problem cause the engine to bog and not reach full rpm when in the water if water is flooding into flywheel area?
 

Bondo

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Re: Help! water leaking in bilge when runnin!

Ok I pulled the engine out and found the rear freeze plug laying in the bottom of flywheel area so that explains all the water pouring into bilge. Now would that problem cause the engine to bog and not reach full rpm when in the water if water is flooding into flywheel area?

Ayuh,... I doubt it, but Anything is possible...

Fix it, 'n Try it...
 
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