Unimeister

Earlier today i was crossing a river and found a deep hole, sucked in water and sand in the air intake. it died immediately and after a quick tug out i stupidly attempted to crank the engine. ended up getting trailered back home where i had real tools. pulled the spark plugs cranked it and a bit of water came out, reinstalled them and changed the oil. it looked muddy and brown almost like chocolate milk. I started it and let it run for a while and at first it sounded ok, but then it started running rougher and sounded weak. it was pouring white smoke from the exhaust and then died. What further steps can i take to get things back to normal?

scope103

Compression test. Combustion Leak Test. http://www.arrowheadradiator.com/hea..._leak_test.htm

If you actually suck water into a cylinder (it sounds like you did), the incompressible nature of water turns it into a jack hammer. It can bend piston rods, break pistons, and crack heads. If you're lucky, it just blew out the head gasket, so you are now sucking water out of the coolant into the cylinder, and that's showing up as white smoke (actually steam).

Since it won't run, it will probably show up as low compression. The combustion leak test looks for CO2 in the radiator head space, a sign of exhaust leaking into the coolant, but I think you're probably well beyond that.

I think all of your choices lead to removing the heads and taking a look. If it's just the head gasket, you'll be on your way.

Hugh_Mann

To my knowledge a true "hydrolock" occurs when the engine attempts to compress a cylinder filled with water. Seeing as water doesn't compress, the connecting rod bends instead. If you managed to get her running with a bent rod, I'm sure you'd know it.

The white smoke you saw is probably steam from all the leftover water evaporating. Lots of steam in the cylinders probably doesn't make it run well either. I'd just make double sure there isn't water in your oil so you don't wash your bearings, and fire her up and let her clear the rest of the water out.

I don't have a whole ton of experience with water in engines, this is just my two cents. Good luck!

Unimeister

I will try and borrow a compression tester from the parts store after work. Will there be any harm from taking this repair slowly due to lack of funds? This isn't my daily so it's just going to be sitting in my garage.

scope103

Water in the cylinders can (will) cause rust. A tiny bit doesn't matter, a little bit can be just scrubbed out with a scotch-brite, but I've heard from some who had to re-deck the block because rust-pitting wouldn't allow the head gasket to seal.

rattlewagon

White out the exhaust is loss of coolant into one of the cylinders. Did you check the coolant level after it died? sounds like a head gasket

Unimeister

im attempting to do the compression test but it isnt turning over. found instructions on internet for doing the test.
1 let it warm up
2 pull all the spark plugs
3 pull the efi relay
4 pull the power to the coil
5 attach compression tester to first cylinder
6 have someone turn the key

the needle isnt moving, but thats because the starter isnt cranking right? what am i doing wrong

Unimeister

i am an idiot. i forgot to push in the clutch.

rattlewagon

The engine needs to turn over several times to get a accurate reading.

Why isnt it turning over?

Unimeister

Compression test results are in.
cylinder psi
1 150
2 165
3 170
4 115
also, white smoke from exhaust seems very minimal. although there was a bit of moisture spitting from the exhaust. seemed to run much better. coolant was certainly low.

Unimeister

it wasn't turning over earlier because i wasn't pushing the clutch in while turning the key. stupid mistake that really stumped me before i figured it out
PS thats a dry test, should i add oil to each hole for a wet test?

Unimeister

i went ahead and did a wet test of number 4. it showed no change