As we prepare to close the boat for the season, we bring home several items of bath and bed linens. We have been noticing that these materials appear to have picked up an odor we think is coming from the operation of our engine. This is not the first time we have noticed it, just the first time that we have chosen to pursue it. It is a sort of residual fuel smell. Has anyone else experienced this? Is it an indication of a possible engine malfunction?
Engine odor...
- Thread starter Doug/Karen
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I have the same issue with my boat. The aft cabin has a engine odor, it's not diesel but a combination of hot metal, hot rubber, and hot oil. I run the blower while the engine is running and about a half hour after it's shut off and that helps eliminate the odor and makes that area better to sleep in.
Similar problem
Doug/Karen, We have a fuel smell in the aft cabin of our 356, and have never been able to find the source, though no engine fumes or oil smell at all. I suspect that it is fuel leeching through the fuel tank as I have replaced everything else. Nonetheless, like Ron, I installed a blower that sucks air from the compartments under the aft bunk and exhausts into the aft cockpit, which solves the smell problem as long as I run it before shutting the engine down and 30 minutes afterwards.
However we do not have any smell in the salon, ever, (he says with fingers crossed) because I installed solar-powered ventialating fans in the hatch above the V berth and above the aft berth, which continuously freshen the air in the boat 24/7/365. I would recommend that if you don't have such ventilation that you install same. At the least they will prevent mildew. And you may not have to look further.
Doug/Karen, We have a fuel smell in the aft cabin of our 356, and have never been able to find the source, though no engine fumes or oil smell at all. I suspect that it is fuel leeching through the fuel tank as I have replaced everything else. Nonetheless, like Ron, I installed a blower that sucks air from the compartments under the aft bunk and exhausts into the aft cockpit, which solves the smell problem as long as I run it before shutting the engine down and 30 minutes afterwards.
However we do not have any smell in the salon, ever, (he says with fingers crossed) because I installed solar-powered ventialating fans in the hatch above the V berth and above the aft berth, which continuously freshen the air in the boat 24/7/365. I would recommend that if you don't have such ventilation that you install same. At the least they will prevent mildew. And you may not have to look further.
There are usually two engine smells: oil and fuel. If it's fuel, be ruthless and find the source and fix it. Many engines have oil bypasses, like the Universal M25 series engines. Many skippers have rerouted that bypass, which just dumps the oil into the engine compartment, back directly to the air intake filter. Problem solved.
You need to get to the source, which ventilation assist with but doesn't cure. A good engine cleaning wouldn't hurt, either.
You need to get to the source, which ventilation assist with but doesn't cure. A good engine cleaning wouldn't hurt, either.
Deisel can be seeping from bleed screws on the engine...
...and be almost impossible to see. Take a clean white rag and go wiping all areas on the engine around the pumps and bleed screws. I had diesel odor from a seeping bleed screw that I only found that way.
...and be almost impossible to see. Take a clean white rag and go wiping all areas on the engine around the pumps and bleed screws. I had diesel odor from a seeping bleed screw that I only found that way.
Clean & Clean & Clean
My wife can smell anything and everything in our boat and so one thing i use on our 2007 H-36 is the exhaust blower any time and all the time when motoring to exhaust any heat or odor which I don't have and no leaks for sure and it also helps a check on all things from going bad,keeping our new boat fresh and clean here in Florida is a full time job I don't mind as long as the wife keeps enjoying cruising with me on our boat.
You may need to clean and check your engine and fuel tank regularly until you find the problem,it's a full time job owning a boat and some times it's fun and some times not so much for sure.
Nick
My wife can smell anything and everything in our boat and so one thing i use on our 2007 H-36 is the exhaust blower any time and all the time when motoring to exhaust any heat or odor which I don't have and no leaks for sure and it also helps a check on all things from going bad,keeping our new boat fresh and clean here in Florida is a full time job I don't mind as long as the wife keeps enjoying cruising with me on our boat.
You may need to clean and check your engine and fuel tank regularly until you find the problem,it's a full time job owning a boat and some times it's fun and some times not so much for sure.
Nick
We have a 2000 H340 and have noticed the smell in the aft cabin from time to time. Very faint but more like diesel to me than oil. Also I'd say closer to where the tank is than then engine. I've pulled the panel off the bulkhead in between (while doing some new wiring runs to cockpit) but no sign of any leaks. Another search is on the list for the spring...
Question tho....sounds like a number of boats have an engine blower (we don't). I thought these were only for gas engines unless installed post-factory??
Question tho....sounds like a number of boats have an engine blower (we don't). I thought these were only for gas engines unless installed post-factory??
Blower
My 2007 H-36 has a blower and was installed by factory and my old 2001 290 also had a blower.
Yes the blower is not needed like in gas engine boats but they do a nice job pulling any engine heat related odor and helps for making cooler rear berth after doing any long motoring.
On the 356/36 and sure other models there is storage compartments under the bed that I wipe down with cleaning solutions like mix of water and bleach or vinegar and waterr mix for most other area's of the boat and do this 1 or 2 times a year to help keep the boat clean and smelling fresh,engine compartment is harder to keep clean but I do it to keep a eye on any leaks or other problems and the blower helps to suck out heat or any odors.
Nick
My 2007 H-36 has a blower and was installed by factory and my old 2001 290 also had a blower.
Yes the blower is not needed like in gas engine boats but they do a nice job pulling any engine heat related odor and helps for making cooler rear berth after doing any long motoring.
On the 356/36 and sure other models there is storage compartments under the bed that I wipe down with cleaning solutions like mix of water and bleach or vinegar and waterr mix for most other area's of the boat and do this 1 or 2 times a year to help keep the boat clean and smelling fresh,engine compartment is harder to keep clean but I do it to keep a eye on any leaks or other problems and the blower helps to suck out heat or any odors.
Nick
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