After sailing, the engine sometimes does not start. There are water droplets on all four spark plugs. After drying off the plugs, the engine starts. Oil is turning milky-white gray. Any comments?
Atomic 4 engine in 69 Bristol Sloop 32
- Thread starter Robert Brand
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If not head gasket ....
.... then pin-hole in exhaust manifold. The exhaust manifold is water jacketed and if a pin hole (corrosion) develops between the two sides of the manifold then when the engine cools down it will suck water into the combustion chambers. My bet is also a head gasket; but, its easier to check the manifold first. If it is a head gasket, use a 'stud-puller' (Snap-on Tools sells them) to remove the engine head studs ... instead of whacking hell out of the head with wooden wedges, etc. for parts, etc. www.moyermarine.com
.... then pin-hole in exhaust manifold. The exhaust manifold is water jacketed and if a pin hole (corrosion) develops between the two sides of the manifold then when the engine cools down it will suck water into the combustion chambers. My bet is also a head gasket; but, its easier to check the manifold first. If it is a head gasket, use a 'stud-puller' (Snap-on Tools sells them) to remove the engine head studs ... instead of whacking hell out of the head with wooden wedges, etc. for parts, etc. www.moyermarine.com
Exhaust Backflow
Bob: I have a Catalina 27 and had this problem for the past five years of owing the boat. This summer I was on a 200 mile race and finally worked enough data to understand and SOLVE the problem. In my case when tacking I got the problem you describe. When running (boat flat) it would crank up with no problem. I worked the problem with Don at Moyer and what it amounted to was with the Cat 27 exhaust there is an inverted standpipe in the system. This was holding water and back flushing into the engine. To solve the problem I raised the exhaust hight to greater than 9 inches above the manifold exit. From there it drops about 6 inches and water is injected for cooling. The exhaust line then slopes to the exhaust port which is covered with a flap. Result is that I have heeled the boat to extremes and no backflow problem. You may want to chat with Don at Moyer and he can help you out with the design of your exhaust system. In my case he went back to the original designs by Catalina to get the dimensions needed. Good luck! P.S. Recommend that you change oil to get the water out. Also, I found that running the engine hard (several hours) helped evaporate the water from the oil.
Bob: I have a Catalina 27 and had this problem for the past five years of owing the boat. This summer I was on a 200 mile race and finally worked enough data to understand and SOLVE the problem. In my case when tacking I got the problem you describe. When running (boat flat) it would crank up with no problem. I worked the problem with Don at Moyer and what it amounted to was with the Cat 27 exhaust there is an inverted standpipe in the system. This was holding water and back flushing into the engine. To solve the problem I raised the exhaust hight to greater than 9 inches above the manifold exit. From there it drops about 6 inches and water is injected for cooling. The exhaust line then slopes to the exhaust port which is covered with a flap. Result is that I have heeled the boat to extremes and no backflow problem. You may want to chat with Don at Moyer and he can help you out with the design of your exhaust system. In my case he went back to the original designs by Catalina to get the dimensions needed. Good luck! P.S. Recommend that you change oil to get the water out. Also, I found that running the engine hard (several hours) helped evaporate the water from the oil.
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