Thread: why would it still run

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I have an interesting question that I've been kicking around with some friends and noone can give a good answer. I had a 53 merc flathead that had a cracked block where in the mornings you would have to pull some plugs out so the water that worked its way passed the water jackets could escape. Now the question is once you dried off the plugs the engiine would start and it would run fine except for alot a white smoke. Why would the engine keep runniing with all that water passing the water jackets and covering the spark plugs. I know alot was burned off but you would think it would have drowned the plugs. Just a interesting question some friend and I have been kicking around.

My guess would be it doesn't leak bad enough to foul the plugs. Sounds like you have a built in water injection system. Her He He

Your right on the water injection, should have improved on it. But honestly when I took the engine apart, two of the cylinders were cracked. I tried to weld it but I couldn't get one of the cylinders round to take a piston. If I took to much metal off the crack would still be there.

Makes sense now, but didn't when I did it. How about letting me know why it kept runniing?

Simple. You have an engine with air and fuel. water goes down, not up. unless youre leaking enough water to fill the sparkplug recession, it will still spark, and you will still get a firing cylinder.

and it will be a nice CLEAN cylinder too. He HE

What you say makes sense, but were talking about a lot of water. When I took a spark plug out, the water would hit me in the face. There was enough water so the engine wouldn't turn over without doing this every time I wanted to start it.

Originally posted by chevy 37
What you say makes sense, but were talking about a lot of water. When I took a spark plug out, the water would hit me in the face. There was enough water so the engine wouldn't turn over without doing this every time I wanted to start it.

Sounds like yer' johnson rods are misaligned. You may have to go to a vacuum radiator cap. But seriously folks, you can pull a peculator valve from a 1985 Mr. Coffee and install it on the rotary seal. If you run a fluid line from your low beams to the lower radiator hose and a return line from your high beams to the upper radiator hose. Dump every drop of water out of the system and refill it with halogen fluid, that will fix the problem I garownteeeee... it.
Sorry..... Been a long Day.......Sum'body stop me

Why wouldn't it run? The compression slows down the leak. The engine vacum isn't strong enough to suck in the water with the valve open. What water does get in is turned to steam and increases the compression on the leaking cylinders. Or mabe it is the Johnson rods.

Allright, comeon, were gonna confuse the kid. lay off the jhonson rod. you know they only work with plasma inducted grease fitting anyway

What kid? Do you mean that old guy in the 37 Chevy.

Originally posted by drg84
Allright, comeon, were gonna confuse the kid. lay off the jhonson rod. you know they only work with plasma inducted grease fitting anyway

MY bad.... This is a flathead so I jus' assumed plasma inducted grease fittings came along later like 55 or 56? Ya' know what they say.... Never assume anything.

That's sound advice.

I want to thank you for not trying to confuse this KID. This happened 42 years ago and remember they didn't have perculators back then. You know Pro you might have something though. fill the radiator with coffee run the mill till its boiling over, stop the vehicle and pull out a plug. Instant coffee!

Originally posted by chevy 37
I want to thank you for not trying to confuse this KID. This happened 42 years ago and remember they didn't have perculators back then. You know Pro you might have something though. fill the radiator with coffee run the mill till its boiling over, stop the vehicle and pull out a plug. Instant coffee!

Good to the last drop! He He He