On Sun, 3 May 2009 05:52:55 -0700 (PDT), Heimskr
wrote:

Yesterday when I was running it to adjust the idle, before putting it
in the water today :-( , everything was fine then, all of the sudden
quite a bit of black smoke came out and it started blowing steam. Did
I just witness a head gasket letting loose?
I'm really hoping that's the case instead of a cracked head or block.
I checked the oil this morning and it has a green hue with the level
way up, about an inch above full. I didn't bother checking the coolant
as I figure it went up in steam or is currently sitting in the oil
pan.

Thanks

The bad news is that when you overheat an engine both the head and the
block warp. This causes the blown gasket. The parts don't necessarily
unwarp when they cool, in which case you can blow any number of head
gaskets, one after the other. I bought a 22 ft sterndrive fish/ski for
two grand with a blown head gasket. Cost a grand to put in a new one,
and I am hoping it lasts. It seems like a good boat for the dough. How
much can an aluminum fresh water trailer boat deteriorate?

Casady