Help with a 1980 Hunter 27 Engine

[hunterowner]

Good afternoon,I have several problems i'm hoping someone can help me with. I have a 1980 hunter 27 and the engine is doing a few different things. The first thing I need to do is to change the oil but can't seem to find any literature on how to do that, how much oil, etc etc.Second problem i have just started yesterday. Yesterday was the first time I took the boat out with all the batteries connected to the alternator. I'm not sure if that has any bearing or not. Once the engine ran for about 10 minutes (under way) it started to smoke veyr very bad and just got worse as time progressed. The engine started to get hot (temp gauge just under 8) i'm not sure if thats normal operating temprature or not. I can't see but I could hear that water was still being pumped out. If anyone could help I would be eternally grateful!Thank you.

 

[Dan Bryant]

Which engine?

My 1980 H27 is a Renault RCD8 Couch - is that the same as yours? I have all the info you need on that one, including the engine manual.To change the oil, just pump it out through the fill hole and add enough 10-30 weight oil until it reads OK on the dipstick (about 3/4 of a quart). Also check the transmission oil: open the 9/16" plastic plug on port side on the tranny (the inspection hole) and add 10-30 to the fill hole on the top (again, a plastic 7/8" plug)until it comes out the inspection hole (about 1/2 quart).The overheating most likely is not related to the battery charging, but could be a big issue. Could be your intake is clogged; that causes overheating fast. Hang over the side and feel the exhaust water - if its scalding you got an issue; should be like warm bath water. Its pretty easy to ingest junk in the water like jellyfish or plastic. Impellar failure is also commonThe smoke is concerning to me - never had that one, so I'm not much help.Dan

 

[Howard]

Been there done that

I agree, check the water intake and impeller. Next check that all of the water hoses on the engine are not kinked or constricted by anything like a misplaced panel. On my H 27 the side panel of the step can dislodge and press on the raw water intake hose. For the smoke it's important to know it it's white or blue. IF it's white is's probably steam from the overheating. If it's black and sooty it's incomplete combustion. Bad Fuel? Bad Injector? Many possibilities. Desiels don't like to run to hot or too cold but running an engine to hot will do major damage. If you have an Yanmar (on the 1980 boats I think that's what you have), I've got the Yanmar 8 manual has which has a pretty good diagnostic tree. If you do have a yanmar email me and I'll either email or fax you a copy of the diagnostic tree. It may help you figure out what's going on.Howard NelsonNelsonhow@netscape.net