'97 232 CC ingesting water in the engine

[ajuillerat]

Hello All,
I have had a continuing nightmare getting this boat fixed up and back to satifactory level.  The factory motor cracked a pistion and took out the headgasket wearing a grove betweed the 3 and 5 cylider rendering the motor worthless.  I just finished installing a Jasper engine.  Took it out and had a blast.  That night we beached it for a while went to start it and the start seemed to work hard and acted wierd then the engine started.  We headed back to the launch.  While idling around waiting for my buddy to bring the trailer done the engine just stopped.  Went to start it and nothing.  Once I got home I realized the entire starboard back was full of water and had water in the oil.

After thinking about the old engine.  The starboard headgasket had been replaced and the port side was the side destroyed.  I think this boat has had these issues all along.  It has Corsa exhaust.  Has anyone else had ingestion issues.  My next step is replace the shutters and hope that is the problem.  The manifolds check out good with no cracks.  It is a 5.7 LX with B3.

Thanks.

[frodo13056]

Water ingesting via the exhaust is not all that uncommon - the exhaust risers need to be a certain height (I think it is supposed to be at least 6" but I don't remember what that height is) above the water line to avoid this issue. You didn't mention what OEM engine manufacturer you had  (I'm guessing Merc based on the 5.7 LX description) but you can call them and ask what the specs are. I'm sure that Jasper will also tell you that the exhaust riser / elbows have to be a certain height above the water line to avoid ingestion. You didn't mention if the Corsa was installed via the factory or if it was installed by someone else. I didn't see what boat you have but Rinker usually had the Corsa exhaust going out the sides. I had two different Rinker 236's and one had the Corsa and the other had the Mercruiser Captain's Call exhaust and never had problems with either.
You didn't mention if you replaced the exhaust riser / elbows when you replaced engines, but if you have correct height exhaust risers, then I'd start to suspect that possibly the exhaust manifolds may have corroded through and have holes in them allowing cooling water to leak into the engine cylinders via the exhaust valves.

Steve

[ajuillerat]

Thanks Steve for the info.  It is a Mercruiser and the boat is a '97 Captiva 232 Cuddy.  I'll call Merc and see what they say.  We did have the boat loaded up that day.  Maybe it's marginal and will need risers.  I think the Corsa is factory, but I do not know for sure.  It does exit the sides.  Manifold or risers were not replaced, but did replace the gaskets.  I took the manifolds apart last night and visually inspected but do not see anything.  Actually they were in pretty good shape corrosion wise.  The local dealer can pressure test so I will have them do that. 

I think the problem is in the shutters.  Upon inspection the units were both laying open to almost vertical and were worn and pitted.  Hopefully that will do the trick.  Really was a shame that the previous motor was destroyed, it was very clean inside.  Probably had a lot of life left.  Not to mention my wallet is a lot lighter.  :)

[ajuillerat]

Well I found my problem.  As a result I am beginning to believe in curses.  The number 2 cylinder on the remanufactured engine has a verticle crack in the cylinder wall.  Jasper is standing by their warrenty and sending another engine to me.  This will be the 4th time taking the engine in and out for various issues since January.  Getting pretty good at it.