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  #1   IP: 99.224.51.94
Old 07-11-2018, 07:47 PM
heinzb heinzb is offline
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Do I have a cracked block?

Over the years there have been many posts regarding the issue of having water in the oil.
I also have this problem.
I found the comments and suggestions very interesting and was hoping some would work for me.
I changed the oil several times but the problem did not go away.
I started to check areas mentioned in the forum to determine the cause. I began by doing a pressure test of the manifold and the block.
I tested the manifold first and found that it retained most of the pressure. It lost only about 10% over one hour.
Unfortunately I was not that lucky with the block.
Testing the block with the thermostat in the pressure was gone after half an hour. When I removed the thermostat the reading got a lot worse. It almost immediately lost all of the pressure. I double checked all the fittings to make sure there were no leaks.
Am I correct in presuming that I have a crack in the block?
I did not think it was the head since I changed the head gaskets last year. Perhaps I can remove the head again but how do I test the head for a crack?
Any suggestion/comments are greatly appreciated.
heinz
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  #2   IP: 172.95.97.58
Old 07-12-2018, 11:42 AM
Dave Neptune Dave Neptune is online now
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Heinze, when you get the head off many things will become apparent. Once the head is clean a close inspection with a magnifying glass may do the trick. If you find nothing in the block especially at the bottom of the cylinders where they sometimes rust through, look for a pin hole.

If the block is OK and you "SEE" nothing cracked on the head have it magnafluxed at an engine shop. Cracks often form around the alternator bracket!!!!

DO pressure check the manifold again!

Dave Neptune
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  #3   IP: 99.30.185.198
Old 07-12-2018, 12:10 PM
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Heinze, Welcome aboard. When doing a pressure test of the block and head, it is a good idea to "not" include the water-pump in the plumbing setup. This is because you will be relying on the condition of the pump seals to hold pressure.
Tom
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Old 07-12-2018, 06:24 PM
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When you retest have a spray bottle on hand filled with diluted liquid dish soap (3:1 water to soap). With the block/head under pressure spray the exterior with the solution. Any external leaks will develop soap bubbles at their source.

This helps resolve gasket and fitting leaks that could result in a poor casting integrity test.
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Old 07-14-2018, 05:53 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Neptune View Post

If the block is OK and you "SEE" nothing cracked on the head have it magnafluxed at an engine shop. Cracks often form around the alternator bracket!!!!

Dave Neptune
Heinz is my neighbor at the yacht club - next dock over. He reached out to me a few weeks back (since he saw my posts on water in oil) and I went over to observe his engine in operation.

Actually ran pretty well - BUT darned interesting observation from Dave Neptune. Upon start up - water seeped out of head right at alternator bracket. Not a gush but a strong trickle.

What are odds that another shot at reinstalling head will fix it? Is Heinz looking at engine removal for further tests? (Heinz I will be in town in a few weeks and can give a hand if I can)
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Old 07-14-2018, 06:48 PM
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If the water is seeping out of the stud it may be resealed however if it is leaking from a crack in the head just the head needs to be reset and gasketed.

Dave Neptune
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Old 07-17-2018, 08:18 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Neptune View Post
If the water is seeping out of the stud it may be resealed however if it is leaking from a crack in the head just the head needs to be reset and gasketed.

Dave Neptune
Another victim of auto spellcheck? Shouldn't this read "replaced" ?
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Old 07-17-2018, 12:01 PM
Dave Neptune Dave Neptune is online now
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Edward, "and gasketed" for the gasket and reset for the process.

Dave Neptune
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