Water Spraying From Exhaust Relief Holes

[Guru5997]

My boat (1988 Four Winns 160 Freedom with a 3.0L OMC Cobra Engine) was running fine for a while. It sat for about 2 years and I finally tried to take it out again today and there was water shooting out of (what I believe to be) the exhaust relief holes on the back port side of the engine. I've heard it's natural for a bit of water to come out of there every now and then, but water was shooting out of both of them with a vengeance and filling up the engine bay quickly.

I've looked a ton online and can't seem to find any ideas of what might be wrong. We get a lot of pine needles at our house and I'm thinking maybe they got into the exhaust and are blocking something a bit, but I'm just not sure. Any thoughts or insight would be truly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

there are no exhaust relief holes on the engine. Maybe a picture would help.

 

[Guru5997]

Okay, cool. The water was spewing out of two holes. The first was on the bottom of the exhaust manifold and the second was on the side of the engine. The first picture shows about where on the engine they are located, and the second picture is of the two holes. When I briefly ran the engine on land no water came out, but once the sterndrive was immersed, the water came continuously spewing out of those two holes. The engine seemed to run fine while this was happening. The holes are threaded on the inside so perhaps something is supposed to go in there, but I ran it for two years just like it is, without this problem. Thanks again for any help or insight.

 

[Maclin]

Those sound like drain plug holes, should have something in them for sure. Those get removed for winterizing, maybe you forgot to put them back in. Now, the part where you say you have run it like this for 2 years sounds like a joke really. For one thing you say it has sat for 2 years. If it was winterized then those plugs would be removed. Did you winterize it? Did someone else? Need the rest of the story. BUT do not run it with those holes open.

 

[Guru5997]

You're completely right, Maclin, A little research into drain plugs has confirmed that that's what I'm missing. *facepalm*. I guess I must have pulled them out a couple of years ago and forgotten, or perhaps a mechanic pulled them out somewhere along the way. Thank you both so much.

 

[Bondo]

Okay, cool. The water was spewing out of two holes. The first was on the bottom of the exhaust manifold and the second was on the side of the engine. The first picture shows about where on the engine they are located, and the second picture is of the two holes. When I briefly ran the engine on land no water came out, but once the sterndrive was immersed, the water came continuously spewing out of those two holes. The engine seemed to run fine while this was happening. The holes are threaded on the inside so perhaps something is supposed to go in there, but I ran it for two years just like it is, without this problem. Thanks again for any help or insight.

Ayuh,.... Were you supplin' water to the impeller pump when ya started it on land,..??

My guess is, it needs a new impeller,...