Honda problems

[Barnyard]

Just took the head off my 8 horse Honda..(I've got water in the oil) The head gasket looked fine.Anyone have an idea what the problem might be...Had good oil pressure but ine cylinder was about 15 psi less than the other...Rings, Lower seal????Help....Thanks...Barn

[Bait O' Eggs]

Barnyard - I got the same problem with my 10hp honda. I changed the oil in the motor and the lower unit a few months ago and it looked good. Recently I noticed some fishing line wrapped around my prop. I had to remove the prop to get the fishing line off I had picked up somewhere. I see a little oil on the prop shaft. I checked the lower end oil and it now has water in it, as the oil is milky looking now. I believe the line may have taken out the seal. I change the oil to get the water out. While I am doing service I decide to change the oil in the motor also. It is now milky also I drained it, filled it and drained it again and refilled again trying to flush out all the water. I ran the motor about 2 hours at F4 and it is really milky now I only paid $700 for the motor. I doubt I can get both the upper and lower end repaired for that at a shop. Looks like I might be getting a manual and trying it myself, gaskets and seals are cheap compared to the labor for some outboard mechanic to work on it.

Now where did I put my outboard mechanics hat [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]

[Herring Impaired]

The shop manual for my BF7.5 says;

It could be Faulty Gasket or seal,
Loose cylinder, (?),
Or a long run in cold weather with a faulty thermostat.

Don't know if this applies to the 8, but worth a look I suppose....

[Barnyard]

BOE...That's exactlly what my oil looks like...

Leroy...My thermostat looks terrible..I wonder how that would allow water in the oil though...

[Bait O' Eggs]

I changed my themostat a few years ago, and that wasnt to bad of a job. I did pay somebody else to put in a new water pump though a couple years ago.

I would assume a bad themostat would create back pressure which may make a seal/gasket leak ??? I dont really know.

I may know once I tear this thing apart and see how it really works. [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img]

[Barnyard]

Just talked to a guy at the Honda shop in Olympia and he told me the only thing it could be is a head gasket...Sure would think it could be a couple other things...Geesh I hate being a wrench turner...

[Pilar]

Water condensation is a problem in 4 stroke motors. My mercruiser manual recommends an oil change on a 25 hour, 30 day schedule.

A cold thermostat would prevent the motor from getting warmed up and boiling off the water trapped in the oil.

After 4 years of use my Merc 2 stroke just got repaired. The thermostat was hashed due to salt contamination and the tiller handle cables were rusted out.

If it's not black, it's not a boat motor.

[rhuber]

I had the same problem with an '86 10hp. Had the seals replaced 3 times and was told by the shop that it must have a cracked head. Sold the motor to a "friend" who later told me that he noticed when I ran the motor fast and then slowed down, that water was coming up to the cowling and the water was going into the crankcase vent. If your motar is mounted low on the transom you might want to look for that.

[Barnyard]

Thanks guys, when or "if" I figure it out I'll post...

[Tanner]

I know exactly what the problem is. Its a HONDA :tongue:

[Vinny]

Also, while the head is off, get it pressure tested and checked for warpage.

If it leaks, cracks in many heads can be welded. It's usually cheaper than a new head.

If not flat (my guess is one or two thousanths of an inch maximum) the head gasket will leak.

[TideRunner]

There's a couple things that could cause water to enter the crankcase. Obviously, the head gasket is one, but, that is pretty uncommon for a Honda. More often it is the small case cover where you pour in the motor oil. Especially on the older ones where it was made out of plastic. The newer ones are made of metal, but, they too can warp and let in water. That little cover not only is the oil filler tube, but, it is a water passage way too. The water pump pushes water thru this piece into the block. The older ones can be retrofitted with the new metal one, but, you have to pull the powerhead off. Yep, not easy.
As good as a Honda is, this is a little downside to them.
Any of you who run in salt water.....Regardless of how well you flush it, that thermostat cavity will fill up with salt/corrosion and plug up the whole thing. Have it checked every other year. My .02 anyhow.

:smile:

[Alligator]

Here's a possible answer.

I also had water in my engine oil of my 1986 10 hp honda. I went to the marina in OC last weekend and the mechanic told me it positivily was the thermostat or a leaky gasket at the thermostat. He showed me the cover that holds it and sold me the two gaskets and thrermostat. It took me 30 minutes to complete the job. I tested the motor for twenty minutes in the Clackamas and couldn't see any water in the oil. The cost was around $45 for gaskets and thermostat. If you do the job your self make sure you remove all of the old gasket material from cover,center plate and engine, or it will leak again.

If you need help, send me an e-mail.

I also think its possible some water maybe coming up through the cowling and into the crankcase vent. (it's a driftboat thing!)

les

[love2fish]

Ditto what alligator said. I just did the same thing to my 7.5 horse. Changed the thermostat and the problem was solved.

love2fish