power head water leak

[rebelcatfisher]

I have a 91 mercury classic 40 oil injected whene I crank it it leaks water out of the bottom
Of the power head on the left side where that square plate is with bolts goin through it is this just a simple replace gasket fix or is it signs of somthing worse any help would be appreciated I tried to upload some pics but it won't let me it's on the left side has several bolts through it kinda of a square plate looking thing

 

[Texasmark]

If you are talking about the left side when standing behind the engine looking at it, and a large rectangular plate then yes it is probably a gasket problem.

That is where the exhaust gasses from the cylinders are cooled. The are on one side of an interim plate and cooling water is between the interim plate and the outer plate. The outer plate to interim plate gasket is probably your smoking gun.

Clean up all the corrosion, get some blue RTV, get a replacement gasket, put a thin layer of RTV on both sides of the gasket and put her in.

The bolds holding it are probably corroded so be especially careful in attempting to remove them as TWISTING OFF THE HEAD IS COMMON. First soak with a high quality penetrating oil. If you can't find something better (commercial product like Kroil) use PB Blaster (WM has it) and let it soak for a couple of days. Don't try to force unscrew the bolts. Use impact only to get them started at least. Take a boxed end wrench and a suitable hammer 16 oz or so, install the wrench on the bolt head, holding in place with your finger, and using MULTIPLE taps, smack the end of the wrench repeatedly until it breaks loose and turns at least half a turn. Then more penetrating oil and let it soak and you should be able to unscrew the bolt.

Mark

 

[rebelcatfisher]

Thanks