www.iFourWinns.com

So i have been dealing with this for the last week. Found out i have 0 compression in my #6 cylinder and have had a leak down test performed and there is 100% leakage is what i have been told by our marina. I have been told it it is the top end and the heads (both) should be removed and sent to the machine shop for inspection/repair.
My question is so far does this sound right and what should i expect for hours by the marina on this task? Also is there any thing else i need to have done if they the determine that it was a faulty valve.
Oh and they took the valve cover off to ensure there was no easy fix like a bad spring.

Just looking for info and input.

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2001 328 Vista "Nauta Dream 2"
AB Inflatable 10AL "Little Dreamer"
2000 248 Vista
1997 225 Sundowner


Mike

My question would be WHY?..........did you have a manifold leak raw water into the exhaust port?..........If so, you will need manifolds as well..........

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2005 Four Winns Funship 214 VP 5.7/Duo Prop

My question as well. To my knowledge so far this is not the case. I have been told by several auto mechanics so far that it is not uncommon to loose a valve in a 350. Before we purchased the boat it was laid up for almost 1 year. Maybe they did not fog the engine?

_________________
2001 328 Vista "Nauta Dream 2"
AB Inflatable 10AL "Little Dreamer"
2000 248 Vista
1997 225 Sundowner


Mike

What was the original symptom?

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Rough idle at 600 rpm no signs of lack of power. Always had a little smoke on the port engine at start up not dark but maybe blueish in color

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2001 328 Vista "Nauta Dream 2"
AB Inflatable 10AL "Little Dreamer"
2000 248 Vista
1997 225 Sundowner


Mike

Sorry to hear of your engine issue Mike.

How many hours have you logged on your boat since purchase?

Did it achieve the specified WOT RPM and corresponding MPH when you purchased your 328?

Mike.

_________________

Current Boat
- 2001 Four Winns 328 Vista "Hour Decision"
- 2010 310 Mercury Inflatable

Previous Boats
- 30' Doral Prestancia
- 25' Doral Citation

Sounds like it could just be a bad valve seal.

_________________


Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

I have 550 hours on that engine and have never had any issues making power wot rpm was always in range at 4800. I have put roughly 45 hrs on it since last Sept

I suspect it is a stuck valve and with the smoke at startup that would correspond to a valve not seating and oil drping into the combustion chamber and smoking a little at start up

_________________
2001 328 Vista "Nauta Dream 2"
AB Inflatable 10AL "Little Dreamer"
2000 248 Vista
1997 225 Sundowner


Mike

I would have the valve cover pulled in the boat before the head is removed because if its just a broken valve spring it can be replaced without pulling the head..

at the same time you can replace all the valve seals also without pulling head

_________________
"Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes "

1996 238 Vista dlx "Casper's Toy Too"
2006 5.0GXI w/closed cooling, DP-sm 1.95 drive
Previous boat:
1998 Sundowner 205

Yes, blue smoke on startup indicates bad valve seal. Not a big deal by itself.

Your compression problem is likely to be a "Tuliped" Valve. Not unheard of at 500 hours. This article blames it on being overpropped for the load condition:
http://www.perfprotech.com/blog/articles/marine-engine-condition-2#

I don't know what price you are looking at, but a valve job is a whole lot better than having to remove the whole engine. The way to save the most money is to remove/reinstall the heads yourself, if you are so inclined, and you could have the heads rebuilt by an automotive machine shop instead of a marina.

I suggest sending a PM to DaleG. He has been through this recently, and used upgraded valves when he had the heads rebuilt. Maybe he could give you suggestions

Ray

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"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

This can be cause also by a small leak from the exhaust system down the manifold which collects in a exhaust port, you can actually see a trail of water stains and it can corrode the valve stem which makes it stick.
I think the dry joint manifolds that Merc came up with, or a one piece design like OMC used to use, is superior to the 2 piece design used on most I/Os and inboards. There is only a 1/4" or so wide sealing surface between the cooling passage and the exhaust passage and when it gets corroded, that gasket starts to leak.
The next time I replace the manifolds on this boat I'd like to see if I can adapt the Merc dry joint system. One less thing to worry about. I like the OMC one piece manifolds but you can't get them any more.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Update:

Had both heads removed and sent to the machine shop. They did find a tuliped valve. I am having all the intake valves replaced also had a bad head gasket on the 1 side. The machine shop will strip both down and blast them, magnaflux, resurface and new gaskets and also I have decided to replace the spring since it will be all apart. I am told there are no issues with the exhaust valves! Should all be done in time for our long weekend next week!!!

_________________
2001 328 Vista "Nauta Dream 2"
AB Inflatable 10AL "Little Dreamer"
2000 248 Vista
1997 225 Sundowner


Mike

Thats good news sort of. Glad to hear you will be back out soon.

_________________
"Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes "

1996 238 Vista dlx "Casper's Toy Too"
2006 5.0GXI w/closed cooling, DP-sm 1.95 drive
Previous boat:
1998 Sundowner 205

Great to hear you will be back up and running for the long weekend next weekend.

We are going to get a early start to the long weekend be leaving for the boat on Wednesday evening.

Hope the engine repair meets your full expectation.

Mike.

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Current Boat
- 2001 Four Winns 328 Vista "Hour Decision"
- 2010 310 Mercury Inflatable

Previous Boats
- 30' Doral Prestancia
- 25' Doral Citation

Yes i guess that's better than having bottom end issues. Like I've said before
" It's nothing money can't fix" just need to find the money tree. To add salt to the wound the wife's washer and dryer gave up the ghost they were on there last legs and gave out this week. It's getting expensive real fast around here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

_________________
2001 328 Vista "Nauta Dream 2"
AB Inflatable 10AL "Little Dreamer"
2000 248 Vista
1997 225 Sundowner


Mike