blown head gasket or something else?

[gazza2006au]

i took my tinny out today and it seem like it was running on one cylinder i got home removed the spark plugs and this is what i found (pics below) i removed the head gasket a few days ago without changing it as i hear of alot of people reusing the same gasket could it be leaking from this?

[Pazz01]

That's what it looks like to me. But I'm no engine mechanic. But you've got water in your oil somewhere and that sounds like a probable cause.

Pazz

[Steeler]

Water ingress yep,Not that uncommon for those old OMC's to rot around the heads.

[BM]

Hang on,


Did you say you removed the head gasket (ie removed the head) and then refitted the head without 'flatting' it off and fitting a new head gasket?

You definitely can't do that.

Whip the head off it again and have a good look inside. You may be lucky as the water leak would be an upper cylinder leak and the water pushed out the exhaust. Pull it down asap and you will/should be able to save the engine.

cheers

[Kleyny]

Yes you can reuse some gaskets but a head gasket is NOT one you can reuse.

I personally wouldn't reuse a gasket unless i was desperate or they stopped making them.

Take it back off and have a squiz you might be lucky enough to not damaged anything.

neil

[black runner]

Why did you need to remove the head a few days ago. Did you have a problem then?

Cheers

[Stik-ugly]

You need to remove the head and have it faced then renew the head gasket. Clean the mating surface of the block making sure you remove all traces of the old gasket and clean up with emery. tape until it is nice and shiny and clean. This is only fixing the problem of the blown head gasket but it also could be from a corrosion problem in the head region.

[gazza2006au]

Why did you need to remove the head a few days ago. Did you have a problem then?

Cheers

yeah mate my cousin had this motor sitting in the shed for 2 years unstarted the piston ring seized to the cylinder wall common problem when outboards are stored incorectly so i removed the head to unsieze the engine however i didnt replace the head gasket as i wasnt sure if the motor was salvageable than i got it running good replaced the water pump impeller and totally forgot about the head gasket im replacing this tomorrow than i will get the motor running on the trailer i will check plugs before going out to see if the problem persist if not i will take it out to the river or lake for a decent WOT trip to clean the salty gray oil out so no parts rust i may even goto the jet ski shop and buy a can of fogging oil just so the main bearings dont rust and fog the engine untill i can get a chance to run atlease 20 litres of fuel through the engine

[Steeler]

Next time trying to unstick a frozen one,tip it up spray some inox down each cylinder through the plug hole and leave for a few days stick a socket on the flywheel nut get a long crowbar and pull in a clockwise direction

Steve

[gazza2006au]

thanks Steeler this thing was really stuck i used a socket and a breaker bar still wouldnt budge i thought i was getting close to sheering off the flywheel nut snapping the crankshaft so i opted to push the piston down as both were mid cylinder with a hammer,extension and a padding inbetween piston and extension caused no damage

[Noelm]

I think you might be surprised how much damage a hammer on top of a piston can do when you have roller big ends.

[gazza2006au]

i read the americans doing it alot and still reviving the engine with no damage just think a hammer hammering a piston wouldnt be near as harsh as the explosion when the fuel ignites in the combustion chamber on the bearings so they can handle it it was either i try this or do a complete rebuild or get rid of the motor seized what option would u have takin?

[Kleyny]

IMO hitting the top of the piston would not hurt the bearings IF you knew it was the rings had grown onto the sleeve and you were banging he right piston.

But if was seized somewhere else then you could damage the bearings as a blow from a hammer is allot sharper than when the engine is running. I hope this makes sense.

What would have i had done? after trying soaking it in a better penetrating chemical than inox for at least a few days. I would have tried a slow pressure like from a jack and a piece of wood the exact same size as the piston so i eliminate any undue pressure on the top of the piston.

But you have got it free ( hopefully without damage) You just need to get a new gasket and have another crack.

Good on you for having a go anyway.

neil

[gazza2006au]

well it didnt end up being the head gasket i pulled the exhaust cover off and it was full of salt and yes there is a hole right through the block from the water passage into the exhaust about 1/3rd the size of a 5c piece