Starting problem #2

[estedman]

In reference to this thread; http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=199688&highlight=Starting+Problem; I put a new starter on and the engine is turning over again.
Now I think I have bigger problems. I'm guessing I burnt up the first starter because of problems w/ the engine.
I have gasoline(Maybe water also) pouring out of the carb when I turn the engine over. I also pulled one spark plug and had gasoline(maybe water also) pour out of the spark plug hole.
Before putting the new starter on I had pulled all of the plugs and only one had a little gas in the plug like it was flooded, the rest were dry. I only pulled two plugs on the same head after the new starter, and they both looked wet.
The oil looks fine so far.
I'm I missing something simple or does this sound like a blown head gasket or worse a cracked block?
Maxum 2500 1990 5.0 Merc.

 

[Don S]

Re: Starting problem #2

The first thing you need to do is determine if you have water or gas in the cylinders.

 

[estedman]

Re: Starting problem #2

The first thing you need to do is determine if you have water or gas in the cylinders.

Is there a way to do this w/o tearing the head off? I pulled the plugs and liquid came out of the #2 cylinder, smelt like gas, but could of been water mixed in also.
Thanks.

 

[thrasher]

Re: Starting problem #2

This doesn't sound like a problem with the head gasket. If you have gas pouring out of the carb, some of it will run down the inlet admission and into the cylinders.. Clearly your problem is in the carb.
If fuel is pouring out, then the float mechanism is not working. You need to open the carb and check that the float in the carb does float (not holed) and that the float valve is preventing fuel from entering when you push it into the housing (closed position). You might have some dirt in the valve preventing it from shutting of the gas supply.
You do not want to be trying to start that engine if gas is pouring out of the carb, it will catch fire..
Your engine is definately not at fault here (there may be other problems with it, but it is your carb that needs repairing first).

Gary

 

[Windykid]

Re: Starting problem #2

Pump some gas out of the fuel line into a clear glass. Let sit and see if fuel and water separate.

 

[thrasher]

Re: Starting problem #2

But windy, if he has fuel pouring out of the carb, why do you care if there is water in the fuel? He needs to fix the carb problem before doing anything else. Or am I missing something here?

Gary

 

[estedman]

Re: Starting problem #2

But windy, if he has fuel pouring out of the carb, why do you care if there is water in the fuel? He needs to fix the carb problem before doing anything else. Or am I missing something here?

Gary

Thanks Gary. Being new to boating my first thought was water in the engine because of how the engine was hard to crank. Gives me another place to look.

 

[sixholdens]

Re: Starting problem #2

Liquids do not compress. Gas and water in the cylinders would cause them to basically "jam" during compression stroke until the fluid is forced past the rings or valves allowing the piston to move.
Note: The gas moving past the rings will contaminate the oil by thinning it so much that it doesn't lubricate properly.
As noted before, you seem to have a carb problem that must be fixed before you can figure out any other problems.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Starting problem #2

Ayuh,............ Gary's Got It,.......

Fix the Fuel Delivery 1st,...........

Along the way, You can figure out it you have Fire to go with all that Fuel.......

Does the Oil Smell like Gas yet,..??......