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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    14

    Default Blown Head Gaskets? Somthing else?

    We have a 2011 Moomba Mobius XLV with ~120 hours on it. The boat has been running perfect until yesterday. I don't know if this is coincidence or not, but when my son was emptying one of the ballast bags, the fitting came loose so instead of pumping the water out of the boat, the water went into the hull. Not realizing this, he drove the boat home (not far) and as he got close to the lift at our place, the motor starting running rough.

    So tonight I pulled all the plugs, and on each side, the front two (nearest the transom) were perfect. However, the back two were wet, and not with fuel. I dis-connected the coil and turned the motor over and particularly out of the third cylender on EACH side, a bunch of what appears to be water pumped out. The last cylinder was not as bad.

    We dried off the plugs, fired the motor up, and everything seemed to run pretty well. However, the check engine light was on, and as we got back to the lift, the motor started running rough again. Pulled the plugs, same thing....

    My initial thought was that we either cracked a block, cylinder head, or blew a head gasket. However, it just seemed strange that it would affect the SAME cylinder on EACH side of the motor?

    Next step is to take it into the dealer and prep the checkbook for a very big bill. However, I thought I'd reach out and see if anyone has heard of anything similar with Indmar motors? Bad timing, we're in the NW and we're going to miss the best month of the year!

    Thanks in advance for any insight.

    Scott

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    160

    Default Blown Head Gaskets? Somthing else?

    Quote Originally Posted by scottg View Post
    We have a 2011 Moomba Mobius XLV with ~120 hours on it. The boat has been running perfect until yesterday. I don't know if this is coincidence or not, but when my son was emptying one of the ballast bags, the fitting came loose so instead of pumping the water out of the boat, the water went into the hull. Not realizing this, he drove the boat home (not far) and as he got close to the lift at our place, the motor starting running rough.

    So tonight I pulled all the plugs, and on each side, the front two (nearest the transom) were perfect. However, the back two were wet, and not with fuel. I dis-connected the coil and turned the motor over and particularly out of the third cylender on EACH side, a bunch of what appears to be water pumped out. The last cylinder was not as bad.

    We dried off the plugs, fired the motor up, and everything seemed to run pretty well. However, the check engine light was on, and as we got back to the lift, the motor started running rough again. Pulled the plugs, same thing....

    My initial thought was that we either cracked a block, cylinder head, or blew a head gasket. However, it just seemed strange that it would affect the SAME cylinder on EACH side of the motor?

    Next step is to take it into the dealer and prep the checkbook for a very big bill. However, I thought I'd reach out and see if anyone has heard of anything similar with Indmar motors? Bad timing, we're in the NW and we're going to miss the best month of the year!

    Thanks in advance for any insight.

    Scott
    Sounds a lot like the water is coming in through the exhaust.
    Are you missing your flappers?
    Nate

    2008 XLV GG (sold)
    2013 LSV

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    14

    Default

    Didn't even think of that, will have to check that! Thanks for the idea...

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    14

    Default

    Well, that wasn't it, both are still there. Besides, if any water did get through, it has a pretty long climb to get up into the motor. The water that did get into the engine compartment could not have gotten much more than above the oil pan. I checked the dipstick, and it does appear to have water in oil pan. So water is definitely getting into the motor, just not sure if it's a block, the heads, a head gasket, or something else?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Orillia, Ontario< Canada
    Posts
    39

    Default

    Is there water in the oil?

    Brian

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    14

    Default

    Yes, there is also water in the oil pan. So water is getting into the motor, just not sure how or where from. Worried about the big things like cracked blocks, cylinder heads, or blown gaskets, but HOPING for something simpler!

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Pensacola, FL
    Posts
    1,585

    Default

    When the boat is running rough and the engine light is on, what are the reading for temp and oil press? It is possible that you have a problem with your exhaust risers, allowing water back down through the exhaust. However, it sounds more engine related. Since you can pull the plugs, get a compression tester and check the compression on the cylinders. Autozone type stores rent them and harbor freight sells one cheap.
    1997 MasterCraft 205

    2008 Moomba Outback
    1999 MasterCraft Sportstar OB
    1992 MasterCraft 205
    1999 Malibu Response LX
    1987 Marlin Magnum Skier

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    14

    Default

    What seems to strange, at least to me, is that I have water in the oil pan and the rear (away from the transom) two cylinders on EACH side of the motor, but the front two cylinders look great (the plugs are dry and the color is perfect). They worst cylinder on each side is third cylinder away from the transom. It just doesn't make sense that same two cylinders on each side would be good and the same two cylinders on each side would be bad.

    When we ran the boat last night, the water temp never seemed to climb above the lowest level on the guage, although we didn't run it long once we saw the "check engine" light on. Oil pressure is above 14 psi, so I don't think that is the issue.

    I'm not familiar with the exhaust risers, but would they BOTH be bad, and would water typically creep into one or two cylinders only?

    Appreciate your time and thoughts on this!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    160

    Default

    The risers are essentially a set of headers inside of a big cooling jacket. If the header pipes crack, water will drip down in the exhaust valve when it opens.

    No, it wouldn't make sense that both would crack in the same place at the same time.

    They also last about 10 years in salt water, so it really wouldn't make sense in your case.

    Head gasket doesn't fit the bill either. Inboards run 20 degrees cooler than car engines and the cooling system isn't pressurized. Head gaskets won't fail unless you overhead and deform the head, or unless you have a ton of hours.

    It sounds like exhaust, or intake. Did the spilled bag spill on the air filter? Have you recently gone from forward to a hard reverse? I know you said the flappers are way below the exhaust manifolds, but when you are in the water, the level in the exhaust is the same as water level. With ballast, its not a very big cilmb for the water.

    Have you had the intake off recently?

    I do not believe it is a head gasket.
    Nate

    2008 XLV GG (sold)
    2013 LSV

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    14

    Default

    I don't think the spilled water got much above the oil pan, given that the floor of the boat is even with the lower portion of the block. So I would think any excess water would just go up forward in the hull, right? As for a hard forward / reverse, I can ask my son (he was driving - I wasn't there), but before he emptied the bag, he was just surfing (10 - 11 mph), so I'm not sure that would really be considered a hard forward / reverse action? If the water DID come through the flappers / exhaust, would it be normal to have the water fill only two cylinders on each side? Would something like that trigger the "check engine" light, or do you think that is simply a by-product of it (and if so, what might THAT be)?

    I have not had the intake off the boat. Up until Tuesday, everything was working perfect.

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