Dear all,
Last week when replacing the exhaust riser, the technician installed the exhaust flange gasket wrongly, just the other way round. When adding coolant, I was amazed by the amount of coolant needed to fill the engine but the technician said it is normal...
when starting the engine it was quite difficult, after some trials, finally started with an amazing amount of white smoke coming trough the exhaust. After 2/3 minutes, the temp started to rise and I stop the engine. Checking the coolant level it was almost 0. So I concluded the engine flange gasket was wrongly mounted.
Indeed that was the case, gasket was installed correctly and everything became normal.
As a preventive measure, we decided to replace oil and filter.
I will appreciate any advice if something could have been damaged by this mistake. Should I take any preventive measures or check anything? In the time being I will not run the engine before getting your opinion/advice.
Best regards and thanks in advance!
Eladio Vallina
C-36 TR EUREKA II
Hull 1122 (1991)
Home port Barcelona (Spain).
My 2 cents.
This could have been a real bad deal. Many things can be damaged by allowing fluid into the cylinders. The fact that it started and ran is a plus. I have heard of bending rods by trying to compress a fluid.
Changing the oil and was good.
If it was mine I think I would turn the engine over several times by hand making sure there is no longer any fluid in the cylinders.
I would start the engine and listen for any problems. Let it get up to operating temp. If all seems good run motor under a load if possible. Foaming at oil fill is a sign that there is/was water/antifreeze in the oil.
I think I would change the oil and filter again. Not sure if the glow plugs could have been damaged. I'm sure it didn't do any good for the starter.
You may get lucky since engine was cold when fluid entered and it did start.
Chuck Lennox
97 MKii Ventura Ca
Island Girl Hull #1611
Thanks Chuck,
In fact I wonder if with the gasket wrongly installed, coolant can enter the cylinders trough the exhaust valves...
Because of the coolant reservoir inclination, it is my feeling the coolant went directly to the muffler, and the difficulty to start the engine was cause the muffler was full of water and engine was not able to push the water in the muffler...But this is just a thought. I will test the engine following your advices.
regards,
Eladio
Eladio Vallina
C-36 TR EUREKA II
Hull 1122 (1991)
Home port Barcelona (Spain).
I'm not sure? But I would think the fluid would take the easier path back into the Head. Isn't it up hill to the hump hose? I'm not at my boat, but thats how I remember it?
I know if you crank the engine too long without starting it is recommended to drain the muffler to prevent water from entering the engine.
I'm sure somebody will answer with better knowledge.
The white smoke still makes me believe that fluid was in the cylinder.
Chuck Lennox
97 MKii Ventura Ca
Island Girl Hull #1611
Been here done that. I looked at the gasket wrong as it tells you which way to install it. With mine what happened is I hydraulically locked up my cylinders as it did not even start. When I heard the starter as it was not a normal I stopped. Started thinking what could be wrong. I tried to turn the motor over with a ratchet and socket and a no go. I knew right then what had happened. I went back to the gasket I had just put on and looked and it was so obvious what had happened. I changed it back to the correct position So I changed it out with my spare I had. Then I removed all the injectors and then laid a few towels over the motor and rotated it with the socket and ratchet. This blew the anti freeze out of the cylinders. Then I shot WD40 in all the cylinders and rolled it a few times. After that I changed out the oil and filter. Put the injectors back in and started it. Ran it for about 5 min then changed out the oil and filter again. It has been running fine sense I did I did this last year.
Randy Sherwood
Mutualfun 1990 # 1057
T/R W/K M35a
Home. Charlotte, Mi.
Boat. St Augustine,Fl.
Thanks for your replays, indeed your comments are logical and the coolant most probably went into the head...the starter took a time to start the engine, and the white smoke was more than probably steam coming from the water inside the cylinders head.
Well, I guess now I can only cross fingers and hope no major damage has occurred. As here in the Mediterranean, boats are commissioned all year round, I will have the answer in the coming weeks.
Regards.
Eladio Vallina
C-36 TR EUREKA II
Hull 1122 (1991)
Home port Barcelona (Spain).
Now I'm getting nervous. I just did some work on the exhaust. Where is the flange gasket. Is it between the manifold and the elbow?
Enrique
Talisman
1998 36 MK2 Hull #1673
Tall Rig Wing Keel
M35BC engine
Old Saybrook, CT Summer
South Glastonbury, CT Winter
Enrique - for your '98 M35BC I don't think you need to worry, as the round gasket does not have a right or wrong side...
---- Howard & Linda Matwick ----
--- S/V "Silhouette" - Nanaimo, BC ----
--- 1999 C36 MkII #1776 M35BC ---
Enrique,
The gasket is between the flange and the exhaust manifold.
Eladio Vallina
C-36 TR EUREKA II
Hull 1122 (1991)
Home port Barcelona (Spain).