Compression: front 4 around 180, back 2 190.

Plugs: All look the same. Blacker than plugs from a car but I imagine
a carbureted boat runs richer than a fuel injected car.

Didn't remove the oil filter but I'm sure it has water in it; new oil
run for less than a minute comes out close to white.

Visual inspection: Cannot see any cracks, nothing is leaking from any
part of the engine.

History:
1997 4.3L Volvo, 275 hours. Never had a problem with it.
Last thing done in the fall was drain water and change oil. Oil that I
drained out in the fall looked fine.
Started in the driveway last weekend for the first time this season.
After running engine for a couple minutes (seemed fine) I looked in
the valve cover through the oil cap hole. I don't remember any reason
for doing that, but I noticed there was no oil up there. Totally dry.
Thinking that was odd I decided to change the oil again, just to be
sure. Milky white oil came out (had only been in the engine sitting
over the winter, then run for a couple minutes). Changed the oil
again. Ran for a minute or less. Drained oil. Milky white.

How can I isolate where the water is coming from? I'd like to fix it
myself if possible but understand some things are better left to a
pro. I guess right now I'm at the stage of deciding whether to just
take it to the shop or see what I can do.

Where to go from here?

Thanks for the help,

Terry

On Sat, 08 May 2004 03:45:36 GMT, "Proxy"
wrote:

1. compression test, depending on the engine it shold be around (above) 150
on all cyl. anything below and vastly different then other cyl. may indicate
blown head gasket, worn rings, bad valves. To verify for ring issue squirt
less then tablespoon of oil into the suspected cyl. and redo the test, if
better then rings are worn
2. cooling system pressure test
3. vacuum test, may reveal head gasket, valve issue etc.
4. cylinder pressure test
5. thorough ispection of s.plugs (if different then others = suspect,
especially if cleaner (washed) or rusty

Inspect the engine block for cracks (rust, pealing paint) around the block
drain plugs, remove the oil filter and check for water.
Possible reasons:
cracked engine block
damaged head gasket (or loose)
damaged intake gaskets
water entering through the carb/intake (rain water)
internally cracked raisers/exhaust manifolds
bad raiser or its gasket

Keep an open mind, it doesn't have to be the most expensive (to repair)
reason.


wrote in message
.. .

I checked out my Volvo 4.3L (275 hours) for the first time this
season. Ran the engine for a few minutes and checked the oil. It was
milky white, apparently mixed with water. The last thing I did at the
end of the season was change the oil, haven't run it since then.

Changed the oil, ran for a minute, checked again. Milky white.

My guess is something froze over the winter. Is there anything I can
check that I could possibly fix myself, or should I just bite the
bullet and take to a mechanic?

A friend suggested a running compression test. It's too dark now, I'll
do that in the morning.

Any other diagnostic suggestions?

Thanks,

Terry