Water in Bell Housing

[Hansjorg]

Hi There:
I have a Perkins 4.326 engine in my Formosa 47. Engine was not running for two years (medical problem and boat in Mexico). Now I am back and ready to sail again. Engine starts and runs great. Problem!! cooling water spurts out of the starter mounting area. Water is in the Bell Housing.
Is there a Freeze Plug on that side of the engine block.
Any other ideas!

Thank you,

Hans

 

[kloudie1]

Not familiar with that engine, but the Yanmar Gm series and many Westerbekes do have a "freeze plug" or core plug inside the bell housing. It would be difficult to cast the cooling water passages for the cylinders without putting a plug there. Not a fun one to get at. The transmission, dampener plate, flywheel and the bell housing usually all have to come off to get at it. After you've fixed that one, closely inspect the others and check your heat exchanger to make sure seawater is not being pulled back into the coolant when the engine is shut down. Since that plug should never see anything but corrosion protecting coolant on the inside, be suspicious of what caused it to leak. Good Luck !