I recently got a 89 bayliner with an OMC 2.3. The owner before me had the engine completely rebuilt. The engine only had 2 hours on it since being rebuilt.
When I got home I put on some muffs, ran it for a few minutes and then took it to a local launch. After driving around for a few minutes there was a huge bang and then the engine idled down and wouldn't start.
After getting home I walked around the back and saw that the muffs were still on. Yes, I know, I don't know how I missed that.
I took it to a local shop and had a new head gasket put on, an automotive one. Now the dilemma...
They don't make a marine head gasket for that motor anymore. Most of my boating activity is in salt water. My original thought was putting a fresh water cooling system on it to help the gasket last longer. When I tried to order one, the guy I talked to made it sound like that was a bad idea. His concern was (because of the age of the motor) the water channels may not be clear enough to support a heat exchanger setup. He also mentioned that the pump may not support a fresh water system, since it wasn't designed to do that. He spent a lot of time telling me all the things that could go wrong.
My goal now is to get this motor to last as long as possible. Am I better off just leaving it alone (raw water) and thoroughly flush after each use? Am I better off putting in a fresh water system?
Thanks!
When I got home I put on some muffs, ran it for a few minutes and then took it to a local launch. After driving around for a few minutes there was a huge bang and then the engine idled down and wouldn't start.
After getting home I walked around the back and saw that the muffs were still on. Yes, I know, I don't know how I missed that.
I took it to a local shop and had a new head gasket put on, an automotive one. Now the dilemma...
They don't make a marine head gasket for that motor anymore. Most of my boating activity is in salt water. My original thought was putting a fresh water cooling system on it to help the gasket last longer. When I tried to order one, the guy I talked to made it sound like that was a bad idea. His concern was (because of the age of the motor) the water channels may not be clear enough to support a heat exchanger setup. He also mentioned that the pump may not support a fresh water system, since it wasn't designed to do that. He spent a lot of time telling me all the things that could go wrong.
My goal now is to get this motor to last as long as possible. Am I better off just leaving it alone (raw water) and thoroughly flush after each use? Am I better off putting in a fresh water system?
Thanks!
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