what are the other possibilities?

[PowerAddict]

Well, I thought I had a cracked manifild on my 73 merc, however, I could not see anything thats visible today.

When I started it yesterday I got a lot of water in the oil. I was searching through old posts and found mercury service bulletin saying that with that much water its almost always cracked manifold. However, I talked to a guy that worked at a marine place, and he says that is rarely the case.

When I took off the manifold there was water in the ports. Could that be a cracked block, or at the most would it be a cracked head?

 

[EricR]

Re: what are the other possibilities?

You can take the manifold and pour water in the water inlet nipple, see if any appears in one of the ports. You may need to figure out a means of pressure testing the thing. I'd test the manifold before I tore into the engine.

 

[ziggy]

Re: what are the other possibilities?

if it's the original manifold. it's time to replace it on general principls. both my 75 and 72 L6's were in need of replacement. one had be welded, the other rusted thru. to confirm it leaked. on the bench, i filled up the waterjacket. next morning it was empty and the exhust runner was full.
ya could pressure test it to see or hear where it's leaking at. i don't think a visual inspection will always let ya in on the facts. ya can't see the inside of the waterjackets. only the outside.
ya need to get the water out of it asap.......it'll ruin the inside of yer engine.....

 

[PowerAddict]

Re: what are the other possibilities?

so my type of combination intake can cause a lot of water in the oil?

 

[ziggy]

Re: what are the other possibilities?

that little trickle was enough to get water in my oil........this is the manifold that i filled up with water and the next day the water side was empty, the exhust runner was full...
the pic is just after i filled it on the bench. i don't know about a lot of water. but enough that my oil chaged to chocolate milk color and i knew i had problems......a new manifold cured my blues. along with several oil changes.......

 

[PowerAddict]

Re: what are the other possibilities?

well, after draining everything there wasn't near as much water as I thought, so it probably is just the manifold.

Does it matter what year engine I get an intake from?

 

[Bondo]

Re: what are the other possibilities?

Ayuh,.........

A Newer 1 won't have the linkage bolt holes, or ports in the right places.......

 

[PowerAddict]

Re: what are the other possibilities?

how new are we talking?

 

[Bondo]

Re: what are the other possibilities?

Just Guessing,....... about 81/83 was a major change......