Merc/4.3/Alpha I cooling, cracked manifolds, looking for options/better way Summary – I have to replace everything cooling related, so now is the time to make mods, improvements, etc. I am thinking of buying new Barr exhaust manifolds and risers. Have a crack in outside of exhaust manifold on Mercruiser 3.0. Looked at block freeze plugs and all look good. Oil is a - Answered by a verified Marine Mechanic.
Even if you’re boat is running fine, this doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have a problem. Marine engines are ticking time bombs, which means that they stop functioning when you need them the most. If you notice water leaking out of the bottom outside part of the exhaust manifold, you can be sure that it is cracked. It’s essential to change the exhaust manifold immediately. The exhaust manifold has the key role in your boat’s exhaust system, so you can’t afford not having it replaced. There’s no doubt that this piece of equipment serves an important purpose and that you need to purchase Mercruiser Alpha 1 manifold parts. But what causes an exhaust manifold to crack in the first place? If you’re curious to find out, keep on reading. Why a marine exhaust manifold cracks
An exhaust manifold collects gases from multiple cylinders into one single pipe. As you can imagine, it is subject to a great deal of heat. That and contraction and expansion. With time, the intense heat leads to metal fatigue. If the metal is idle, the equipment will unquestionably develop cracks. What happens basically is that the manifold can’t stand the heat anymore and cracks begin to make their appearance. The cracks develop into small holes and the situation gets a lot worse from here. Another thing that causes the exhaust manifold to crack is the failure of the exhaust system hangers. This particular system is supported by a number of hangers, as the name clearly suggests. In the event that the hangers break off, then the weight becomes the responsibility of the exhaust manifold. What happens is that the equipment generally fails. All boat exhaust systems break down at some point or another, but for you it will be sooner.![Exhaust Exhaust](http://www.rmmoteur.com/images/ressources/moteur%20bateau%20marin%20collecteur%20admission%20fissure%20craque%20cracked%20manifold%20riser%20boat%20engine.jpg)
Problems associated with exhaust manifold cracks
Exhaust manifold cracks leads to major issues, if they are driven too long. What can happen next? you may ask. Well, since the gases won’t be sent through the exhaust pipe, the other components will break down, not to mention that the fumes will enter the boat’s cabin. What’s more, you’ll lose essential fuel readings. The crack won’t cause any serious problems as long as it’s taken care of. A good place to buy the boat parts that you need is a dealership.![Cracked Boat Exhaust Manifold Repair Cracked Boat Exhaust Manifold Repair](http://www.answerblip.com/gallery/what-causes-a-boat-exhaust-manifold-to-crack-pictures/What-causes-a-boat-exhaust-manifold-to-crack.jpg)