Does water come out of the exhaust

[midtower]

I have a SeaRay, 1987, with a chevy 5.7L. My question is, does the water come out of the propeller area exhaust? My engine is heating up so I put on the water ears to test it. The water is coming out of the stern in all places. Its not coming out of the exhaust/propeller area! Cobra stern drive. Your help will be highly appreciated. Thank you.

Note: I had it in shop and they take the stern apart. But can't remember if the water came out of the exhaust/propeller area?

[Corpus Skipper]

Yes, water should come out of the prop hub with the exhaust. I would take it back to the shop that worked on it last, they goofed something up , or your water pump has gone bad.

[midtower]

I thank you very much Skipper, for your information and taking the time to respond. I was looking at the manual and it says something about the "impeller". Do you think that it maybe damaged?

Thanks again.
P.S.:
The shop I speak of is not a reliable shop. They did many things wrong and now I don't trust them at all. But thank you for your advice. :(

[Tim B]

My advice is to get it out of the water, then plug a hose-pipe onto the coolant inlet and run the hose for a while to check there are no leaks. You might also open the water-pump and check it. It is usually obvious to see if an impeller is broken. If you can't see anything wrong with it (No leaks, good impeller) then your problems are slightly harder. Ask around the yard and then goto a recommended shop and talk to them.

Good luck,

Tim B.

[woodboat]

When testing with the "ears" the thermostat has to open to get full water flow.

[midtower]

Thank you for the information and taking the time to respond. The impeller is good and water is flushing from beneath the stern and squirting about six feet of water from the impeller cover release hole . I tried to remove the lower gear case, but could not get it off? There is a little flow from the exhuast prop area, but I don't now much is suppose to flow from that area. It appears that the water is not flowing through the exhaust manifolds? I have a closed cooling system. Thank you again.

[midtower]

Thank you too. This is great. I removed the thermostat to see if the water pump is working. I removed the cap, started the engine and looked into the coolent tank and it the water was flowing in the tank. I just replaced the exhuaust manifolds and risers. Thank you again.

[woodboat]

My boat has three thermostats, two in the risers restrict raw water flow until the manifolds are warm.

[midtower]

My just has one on a 350 chevy engine. Just better circulation would be the best result once I get it.

[marshmat]

A Cobra was mentioned.... this drive does indeed spew water out all around, but it should come out the prop too. Check your thermostat for sure and check for any clogged or missing links int he coolant system... and yes, have the shop check it as this could indicate trouble with the manifold coolers, but it's only a guess for now...

[midtower]

Thank you matt. I just installed brand new exhaust manifolds and risers. It is a closed cooling system. Water is coming from the underneath the stern and some now is coming out of the exhaust at idle. Maybe it snapped it self in working? I thank all of you that have given me advice. Its really appreciated.

Midtower :)

[midtower]

Just came back from testing my boat. It over-heated to 220. Just barely started it drove 200 yards and the temp gauage hit 220. It smoked but didn't burn up. I then removed the thermostat and that didn't do any good? My brother towed me back to dock. I am perplexed?

New oil, new filter, tune-up, new exhaust manifolds, new risers, new impeller. SeaRay, 1987, with a chevy 5.7L.(350). Closed cooling system. Anyone have an answer or suggestion, I sure would appreciate it. Can't afford to have it fixed. I am not a boat repairman. Thanks to anyone that can suggest a resolution.

[woodboat]

Well a perfectly running engine will overheat without proper coolant and terrible running engine will overheat even with proper cooling. So if it is too lean or the timing is way out it will overheat. With that said did you try removing the last coolant line on the exhaust manifold to check for proper water flow? You could have an obstruction on the bottom of the boat for the raw water.

[midtower]

Thank you woodboat. Well, I just came in from changing the impeller again. It appears not to heat up with "water ears" is what I call them. So, I will be ordering a impeller kit to insure that it is not the problem ever again, I hope or least to eliminate one possible problem. I did remove both exhaust manifold hose's on the front of the engine and ran water through them. The water spewed out of the impeller housing. Of course I removed impeller housing to see the water come out. I will be taking it out again in a couple of days and let all that are concerned the results. Thank you woodboat.

[midtower]

Well, take the boat and it over heated in seconds to 220 +. I think I have a frozen engine now. I hope not. Any suggestions, other then sinking it?

[woodboat]

Just so I am straight. This is a raw water cooled I/O correct?

[midtower]

Yes it is. Closed cooling system. Forgot, no water comes out of the propeller exhaust area.

Tomorrow I am going take off the water pump and put a new impeller kit, then try to start it. Hope it does. Thanks, and if your a Dad, Happy Fathers Day. :D

[woodboat]

Look here http://www.boatfix.com/how/cooling.html and here http://www.boatfix.com/how/cooling2.html

[midtower]

Thank you woodboat for your help.

Very informative and will be a great help to me and others who read this. Thank you very much!

I will let you know the results. :)

[marshmat]

Um.... This sounds bad.

Hit 220 in seconds from cold? I would take a look at the wires to the temp gauge, for one thing... It's nearly impossible to fry a motor THAT quickly.
Closed cooling, you say. So both pumps have to be working right, and either could be screwed up.
If both pumps are good and all lines clear: Also check all the engine gaskets (including head gaskets) as a damaged gasket can blow out into a cooling passage. Take the heat exchanger out and look inside it- is it rusted, cracked, clogged, bent?
Good luck, midtower. It's going to take a lot of patience and tedious inspection to figure out what's wrong here.

[midtower]

Thank you too. You guys are great. I am not to good at this. Well, it was about 5 minutes when it started heating, sorry. My son corrected me.

I just removed the water pump and heat exchanger, I really can't tell if it water pump is bad. I ordered another marine water pump and waiting for it to arrive.

The heat exchanger looks clean. I ran water through all inlets and outlets and it appears to be clear. I also flushed out the hose's, clear as well. I then flushed out the block and it was clear. Like you said,"It's going to take a lot of patience and tedious inspection to figure out what's wrong here."

I also have a new impeller kit that and will be replacing that as well. I jumped the battery in the boat and the engine barley turned, but it turned. I didn't go any further due to no water pump or heat exchanger not in place. Just wanted to see if the engine would move. It did!!!! Before it over heated the oil pressure was a 40 PSI, if that's correct jargon. But it did turn, I hope that is a good sign. When the water pump comes, I will put that the new impeller kit in and see what happens.

I thank you very much marshmat for your advice and information, I need it. I will let you know the results when I get it all back together.

[midtower]

Well, it looks bad. Pumped out 3/4 of water out of the oil pan. I think the motor has met its demise. Now it looks like I have to buy anothe engine, which will be awhile. Thanks to all that gave me advise and guidence, I trully appreciated all your help.

One more thing, how hard is it to remove and install another motor in my boat?

Thanks marshmat and everyone who support me in my dilemma.

[marshmat]

Don't give up on the old block yet- you might yet be able to hone it out and rebuild the thing. And replacing a motor's not particularly complex, just long and tedious.

[midtower]

Thanks again matt,
Wouldn't be better just to buy a long block, because the engine would have to be pulled any way? What do you think?

[marshmat]

Your call... the extra $$ for a new (and warranty-carrying) engine might be worth it to you, might not. And I suspect it's a fair chunk of money. Not sure what teh prognosis is on the old unit yet, but good luck.

[midtower]

Your very nice matt, thanks. Long blocks from what I see on the web is marine 350 are going for 1200 to 1300 dollars? Your right $$. You said, "might not" please explain.
Thank you and will keep you up date.

[midtower]

Matt, I am more perplexed now then ever. If I have a closed cooling system filled with coolent, how does clear water get into the oil pan? It has new exhuast manifolds and risers. Otherwise, where could fresh water get into the oil pan? Your help is really appreciated.
Midtower :confused:

[marshmat]

how does clear water get into the oil pan?

That I do not know. By all accounts, in a closed cooling system you only have raw water in the heat exchanger. The engine side would probably be filled with aqueous ethylene or propylene glycol (similar to car coolant). Or the engine side could also be plain water. But I cannot think of any way other than seriously damaged gaskets and internal components that water could get in the oil pan.

So it looks like it's either rebuild or replace. A good mechanic should be able to tell you if your block is rebuildable or if it's damaged beyond repair. Not much more we can help with here I think.

Good luck.

[midtower]

Matt,
You make an excellent point regarding your diagnosis. I think I will take it apart just to see where the problem is. It appears a rebuilt engine is the cards. You have been very generous with your knowledge and I really do appreciate your input. When I get the time and take it apart I will let you know exactly what caused water to get into the oil pan.
Thank you again.
Midtower

[midtower]

Just want to thank everyone that gave me advice on my boat problem. The boat is now in the shop and they are going to replace the engine. Don't know the price tag yet? Hope its not extraordinary, had that happen once already.
Funds are low and hope they have mercy?

Again, thank you guys. Your knowledge on boats is fantastic and your willingness to take the time to help is more then kind, its extraordinary. :D

Midtower

[midtower]

Update: 9/15/2005

Took my boat to another shop. The mechanic discovered the pipe in the stern was not installed right causing water to enter my engine through my exhaust destroying it. He rebuilt my engine and I had a new carburator put in because of water damage, new intake manifold, water pump, impeller, exhaust manifolds, risers, runs like a jewel now. Hope this helps someone else, like those that have help me on this forum. I sent a letter to the other shop demanding payment for shoddy work on my stern/boat. Let's see what happens? Again, thanks to all that have helped me on this forum.

[marshmat]

Well, looks like it's time for a round of Fun With Lawyers!
If the shop that screwed up your motor in the first place isn't eager to co-operate, you would do well to get your new mechanic's written opinion and file against the bad shop in small-claims court. I think you'd have a pretty solid case.
Glad to hear the boat's working.

[midtower]

Yep, the mechanic signed the worked order stating he discovered the problem. I sent the shop that worked on my boat a letter of demand for payment. Waiting for response. I really don't like doing it, but I tried to tell them the problem is not in the engine and they wouldn't listen to me. They kept telling me it was a cracked head or block or intake manifold. They took my stern apart and put it back together wrong. I found out the young mechanic who put it back together, just got out of Boat Mechanic School. Kinda of feel bad for him. Like I said, they wouldn't listen or even take the time to check it out.

Thanks Matt for all your support and advice. Maybe this will help someone, like I have been helped. It amazing how good it feels when someone gives a helping hand. Real good feeling.