Bootstraps
Cadet
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2020
- Messages
- 7
Earlier this year when I was getting my boat ready for the slip, I discovered a small amount of water in my crankcase oil, not mixed. Wasn’t 100% sure how it got there. Flushed it with clean oil and it did not seem to be taking on any new water so I put it in the slip. I’d say I got a dozen 1 to 2 hour cruises in without any appear to water in the oil. Now all of a sudden, I have mixed oil and water in the crank case. The engine still runs fine,
wouldnt even know there’s a problem except I check the dipstick religiously. So, I’m no stranger to wrenching, I’ve been building street cars and bikes since I could drive, so I started tearing things apart at the marina with the boat still on the water. Today I pulled the manifold, and the first thing I notice is that, number 1: there is a small 1in crack in the outside of the block, hidden under the manifold. I noticed the slightest amount of drip rubbing down from under the manifold so I thought it was the manifold gasket leaking. Number two: under the manifold gasket I notice there is two, unused nickel sized holes with caps pressed into them. One of the caps seems to have migrated out a little and cut a partial ring hole in the gasket, and it looks like a there is a small failure point connecting it to the channel next to it. My first thought was replacing the exhaust manifold and the head gasket while I have the manifold off. Now that I see the small block crack, I’m more worried that I should just get a new engine. Now I talked to the owner of my marina, who’s been working on boats for 60 years, claims that it’s rare for the block to crack internally, it usually cracks to outside, Plus I suspect the crack has been there for at least 3 seasons, as I’ve noticed the small drip for some time. So, what do you think my prognosis is here? Anyone with any insight for me?
wouldnt even know there’s a problem except I check the dipstick religiously. So, I’m no stranger to wrenching, I’ve been building street cars and bikes since I could drive, so I started tearing things apart at the marina with the boat still on the water. Today I pulled the manifold, and the first thing I notice is that, number 1: there is a small 1in crack in the outside of the block, hidden under the manifold. I noticed the slightest amount of drip rubbing down from under the manifold so I thought it was the manifold gasket leaking. Number two: under the manifold gasket I notice there is two, unused nickel sized holes with caps pressed into them. One of the caps seems to have migrated out a little and cut a partial ring hole in the gasket, and it looks like a there is a small failure point connecting it to the channel next to it. My first thought was replacing the exhaust manifold and the head gasket while I have the manifold off. Now that I see the small block crack, I’m more worried that I should just get a new engine. Now I talked to the owner of my marina, who’s been working on boats for 60 years, claims that it’s rare for the block to crack internally, it usually cracks to outside, Plus I suspect the crack has been there for at least 3 seasons, as I’ve noticed the small drip for some time. So, what do you think my prognosis is here? Anyone with any insight for me?
