5411 White Smoke at tailpipe

[vmaks]

https://goo.gl/photos/6K4rJyWxdHGP8s8t8
I have read the numerous forums and I can not decipher if the behaviors of my 5411 is normal,or not. 1983, 28' O'Day
What it is doing: wet water is coming out of the muffler but not in volumes as I see with other boat brands. A white smoke appears,heavier as I throttle up.

History: Hours on engine are just over 1k, I am the 3rd owner and it passed inspection with flying colors,use the boat in the Great Lakes (fresh water), fresh water cooled engine-not a closed system, diesel, fuel always bought at reputable marinas who treat their fuels, fuel always topped off to keep full and lessen the condensation, I change the o rings yearly on my fuel cap, I treat the fuel with Cetone Boost and Star Tron fuel treatment, change the fuel filter yearly in the fall when winterizing,change the fuel separator, change the impeller e/o yr but have it ck'd yrly, engine operates near 135, I routinely run the engine at 1/2 throttle (I do not have a tachometer) after it is warm as many articles have suggested, 2 blade prop.

Is the white smoke indicative of moisture being in the fuel? Does anyone suggest using Soltron to rid of possible moisture? I have read all possibilities for this white smoke & lack of large water volume secretion...poor fuel injectors, clogged muffler, need to get my fuel polished,etc. Seriously, the engine seems to run fine and temps fine but....are these signs of a more serious problem, when I will REALLY need the engine in a Lake Michigan small craft situation. Suggestions?
**Picture inserted if the above video link does not work. The video is the best but...I had trouble getting it to embed.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Relax. It's stream. The 5411 does not pump water in the volume you typically see from other boats. Normal op produces is indicated if it spits water coupled with some steam condensate.

 

[Bill Roosa]

Well first and for most you need to get rid of that wet water and start using dry water.
Seriously, there are three kinds of white smoke, Steam like you get from a car on a cold morning during warm up (what your pic shows), antifreeze which is VERY white and dense and smells sweet, (no mistaking the smell), and unburned fuel (smell also unmistakable). The latter two do not dissipate into thin air but hang around for quite some time leaving a trail.

 

[vmaks]

Thank you for the replies. I have had people call me on my phone while sailing to tell me I should get it looked at b/c the white smoke is there even on warm days. Perhaps the problem is, the engine is water cooled(no antifreeze,etc) and Lk Mich rt now is 38+ degrees and doesn't get drastically warmer by summer end. I just don't see other boats with the same smoke and I started worrying that I have a bigger problem than I am addressing with my yearly maintenance. When we have an aft wind I certainly smell diesel, I am guessing that is from un-burnt fuel,normal??? Most boats my size in the area are using outboards and the bigger boats that use a Universal have closed systems,so.....I can not compare apples to apples.

 

[Bill Roosa]

The cloud of steam is caused by a cool exhaust pipe. That would seem to be a better thing than a hot one IMHO. It will go away as the exhaust pipe warms up. Cold raw water and smallish engine compared to raw water flow = cool exhaust. Try running at max cruise speed and see if it goes away after a while.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Thank you for the replies. I have had people call me on my phone while sailing to tell me I should get it looked at b/c the white smoke is there even on warm days.

Used to get the same concerned comments with an E27 we used to own which had the raw water cooled 5411. After a few years of it, I just smiled and said thanks but it's a steam engine. The expressions I saw were priceless.

 

[Capt jgw]

That's all normal for the 5411. The only water coming out is what passes through the little bypass holes in the thermostat, then more when the stat opens. That small amount of water is not enough to fully cool the exhaust so some of it changes to steam. On other engines you might still get steam but it recondenses back to water before it gets to the outlet. I've been tempted to drill more bypass holes holes in my thermostat, but that thing is real expensive so I'm hesitant to do it.

 

[woodster]

I've been tempted to drill more bypass holes holes in my thermostat, but that thing is real expensive so I'm hesitant to do it

it also defeats the purpose of the thermostat

 

[sailnewbie]

I don't know your engine per say but if you don't smell antifreeze or fuel your probably fine. Fuel smell and it has a bad injector and is dumping to much fuel and could wipe the cylinder, or anti freeze smell and could be a blown head gasket, Id get it checked out

 

[vmaks]

Comment to sail newbie, as noted, not a closed system,therefore, fresh water cooled....no antifreeze exists.
OK, I am relaxed by the amount of water exiting the tailpipe, especially since my thermostat and temp operate EXACTLY within manual specs, 135+. I am convinced by the vast knowledge of many of you that this is "characteristic of the 5411".
Re: the smoke..... yes, it was a cool morning (as you can tell by the way my sail are was dressed and my post indicated the water temp, very chilly at 38 degrees). I am feeling more relaxed that the white smoke is most likely steam. When the weather warms I will pay closer attention to see if the smoke disappears. I will tell you that my past experience is that the smoke never disappears completely, black residue (assuming it is diesel yuk) accumulates on my stern and...with an aft wind on a fairly "too calm to sail day" when we must start her up, we do get that typical diesel smell that we used to get from older diesel trucks. I always figured that was from an older engine and not having the newest and greatest gadgets that new diesels have for air pollution control. So....if those of you who have older diesels, do you experience the same smell/residue? If all seems normal, I can quit being a "worry wart" and spend my thoughts on yard work. Oil checked EVERYTIME I start up the 5411=perfect,no loss of oil and clean; mileage=at 1/2-3/4 throttle we are getting HOURS per gal(if I can remember from last season,near 6 hrs/gal...we have trouble burning 1/4 tank in a season)
Again, anyone use Soltron for their fuel? I have read forums on it and it sounds promising. However, propaganda it may be??? S'posedly, the stuff cures all smoke in the fuel that may be attributed to moisture or other impurities. Unfortunately, my boat does not have a viewing bowl for the water separator and I just had it changed as the boat was commissioned. I would wait until the end of the season to add anything that would loosen any gunk.
Again, thanks to all of you who take the time to reply. I am sure you lives are very busy and you still take the time to pass on your wealth of knowledge. How can I pay forward any info or contribute?

 

[JohnVTX]

Black residue indicates you probably need new fuel injectors, That is what you get when running too rich. I have never had residue on back of boat. I get black residue in my truck when I turn up my tuner to dump too much fuel in it, but increase HP by 200.

 

[Capt jgw]

As to the soot on the transom, pretty much all older diesels do that, maybe when they were brand new too. A modern electronically controlled diesel won't do it, but that's a whole different animal. Sounds to me like you're in good shape, that little motor is doing exactly what is supposed to.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

I second that. What you have described is a perfectly functioning and normal 5411.

 

[seadaddler]

I don't have experience with your model but I must say I understand why people are calling you and really think that that is a lot of white smoke,a little is OK but your photo is telling me that is way too much white smoke.
I belong to a big sailing club and cruise with a lot of different types of sailboats and power boats and have never seen that much white smoke out any of them while cruising.
One time one of our sailboats called me to tell me he was slowing down becuse he was getting too much white smoke out his exhaust and I must tell you it the white smoke was not any wheres what I see in your photo.
I would first check the temperature and maybe the mixing elbo.
Nick

 

[alexco38]

http://www.costeffective.com.au/News/9/diesel-smoke-tells-you-a-story


WHITE SMOKE occurs when raw diesel comes through the exhaust completely intact and unburned. Some causes of this include

• Faulty or damaged injectors
• Incorrect injection timing (could be a worn timing gear or damaged crankshaft keyway).
• Low cylinder compression (eg caused by leaking or broken valves, piston ring sticking, cylinder and/or ring wear, or cylinder glaze)

When white smoke occurs at cold start, and then disappears as the engine warms up, the most common causes are fouling deposits around piston rings and/or cylinder glazing. Use of our Flushing Oil Concentrate and FTC Decarbonizer address these respective problems.

Water entering combustion spaces will also create white smoke. Faulty head gaskets and cracked cylinder heads or blocks are a common cause of water entry, and are often to blame. Unfortunately, expensive mechanical repair is the only proper solution here.

 

[alexco38]

I guess it gets cold in Suttons Bay, Michigan (if thar's your home port).
I found that most people don't remove the thermostat during winterizing. You run the engine to suck in anti-freeze but if the thermostat is not open (i.e. engine is cool) there is no anti-freeze going into the cylinder head. When water freezes it could fracture the head gasket or worst the cylinder head.