Water in the Oil / crankcase

[Craig Elgut]

I have 1999 Rinker 280 Fiesta Vee w/ twin 4.3L carbureted Mercruisers - raw water cooled and the engines have one pcs riser-manifolds. The boat is and has been used in salt water. I purchased the vessel used in the beginning of the 2003 season from a person I know, and whom I believe took very good care of the vessel. The vessel had under a 100 hrs when I purchased it, but my mechanic suggested I change the riser-manifolds due to their condition. After putting on 100 hrs with the new riser-manifolds, my port engine failed due to water ingestion. According to my mechanic, the amount of rust evident in the engine was indicative of a long standing problem due to water ingestion. I toyed with fixing the engine but it turned out cheaper to just purchase a whole new turn-key engine. In order to install the new engine, a new "Y" pipe needed to be installed since the new engine was equipped with a two pcs riser manifold which was not compatible with the existing "Y" pipe. After several hours of operating the vessel with the new engine, the stern engine failed due to water ingestion. My mechanic swears that he checked the starboard engine when he installed the new port engine and that there was no evidence of water ingestion at that time. I tend to believe him since I check the oil regularly on both engines and did not see any evidence of water in the oil until hydro-lock from water prevented pistons from moving up and down in the starboard engine.<br /><br />Since the height of the riser elbow appears to be less than the minimum 13" required, the problem is likely related to the height of the riser manifold over the waterline. My question is whether anyone knows of this being a common problem to the specific vessel - namely the Rinker 280 Fiesta Vee, the 4.3L carbureted Mercruisers and/or the 4.3L carbureted engines with one pcs riser-manifolds. I guess it would also be good to hear from anyone who has problems with water ingestion due to the design of the one pcs riser-manifold.

 

[a.d.mobile]

Re: Water in the Oil / crankcase

how is over all running condition? what is the idle in gear set at? has the engine ever run on after key was shut off?

 

[Craig Elgut]

Re: Water in the Oil / crankcase

Both original engines appeared to run great last season (2003) for about 100 hours after new one pcs riser manifolds were installed. My wife tells me that she thinks that toward the end of last season there was farting (backfiring) comming from the engine that failed (port) and which was replaced. Neither engine ran on after key was shut. I don't know what the idle in gear is set at, but I do know that my mechanic did a complete tune-up, replacing wires etc at the same time that new riser-manifolds were installed. The boat really did run great last season. The failure to the port engine happended about 15 - 20 minutes into the first use this season (2004). Right before the port engine failed, it started great and sounded great. I was barely making way since I had just put it in the water for the season and was also in a no wake zone. The engine backfired like crazy and than shutdown.