[OFC605]

A few weeks ago I purchased a 1994 Z212 Shabah with the 5.7L Alpha One motor . The previous owner had the boat in storage for about the past year. When I looked at the boat to purchase, the engine fired up and sounded great. No issues that I noticed at the time. I’ve had it out to the Lake twice now and it runs like a champ. No knocking and no problems starting it up. I decided it was a good idea to change out the fluids. I changed the out drive lube with no problem. I got the water fuel filtered changed and all was good. Now when I went to change the engine oil, it was a creamy tan color. I removed all the old oil and filter and replaced it with new oil along with some engine cleaner leak stop. I then ran the boat for about ten minutes with the muffs on. I then removed the new oil and filter. The oil cake out that milky cream color again. I put on a new filter and filled it up with the quicksilver synthetic blend oil. I haven’t ran it again yet due to the time but I’m afraid it’s going to be milky again. Does anyone have any tips or ideas as to what may be causing the issue besides a blown head gasket? I assumed if the head gasket was the leaking then the spark plugs would have issues and the engine would not run good. Any information would be helpful. This is my first boat but I’m not afraid to take on a project if necessary.

[Hudson River Steve]

The boat could run absolutely fine if the head gasket leak were between a cooling passage and an oil passage, spark plugs would be perfect. In addition to a head gasket you could potentially have a cracked head, cracked block or a leaking intake manifold gasket. In any case, I am sorry to say, a top end tear down and inspection is in your future.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[OFC605]

I think I’ve gotten very lucky. I ran the boat today with my new synthetic oil for about ten minutes with the water turned on pretty high. Was surprised to find the new oil was still clean and showed no signs of having any water in it.

[pole trick]

Where are you located weather wise..there lot of conditions that can cause water indigestion in a inboard. Frozen engine..cracked or rusted out manifolds..water dripped from top hatch in to carb..left out in rain or snow with plug in and bilge filled up, Head or intake gaskets..used boat many things that could be wrong..baffles missing in exhaust. Reverb...watch it close..next time ran could show water problems..will ruin your engine quick...if unchecked and fixed..

We bought really nice 180 4.3 with water damaged engine...for scrap price do to cost of new engine and install. 6000.00 boat with 5000.00 needed for new engine and install = 600.00 boat and trailer...used boat with bad engine is worth about as much as honey wagon full of s%?@;

[pole trick]

I did split a head on a new engine on dyno once. It did take 2 back to back oil changes to get all the water our of engine. You may be good just watch it close.