How Long to Spray Water

[Kelly]

I just bought a 1979 Cat 30' w/ a Universal 54/11 engine. It takes it a good 10-15 minutes at idle speed before it starts spraying water from the exhaust. The previous owner told me this is b/c the thermostat triggers the sea water pump (ie the boat will not draw water thru the engine until she heats up a little. Does this sounds normal?I found another turn valve on the side of the engine that is suppose to be for winterizing the engine (running anti-freeze thru it). When this "winterization" valve is closed the boat sprays water immediatly, even before warming up. When it is open, she doesn't spray water till she hits about 160 degrees (takes 15 min.)Any thoughts on whether I should close or open this valve.

 

[jamie]

litle water

Hi i to have a 5411 raw water cooled and it does not spray much exhast water.It is true that the thermo does open and allow the water to be directed into the muffler and mixed with the exhaust at a certain temp.The line you refer to I think comes from the bottom part of the thermo and is a return line to the y at the intake thru hull this enables the water recirculate and heat up to operating temp at that point the thermo opens and you will notice a greater flow from the exhaust.If you close off the return line the pump is still pumping and it will ingrease the pressure and you may blow some seals some where a line the line.I think also that 160 is a little hot and from what I have learned that a range from 140-150max is good maybe some one else good help here and I will know for sure

 

[Ron]

5411

I also have a Universal 5411.Check the temperature of your thermostat. Mine is 135 degrees. It runs at that temperature unless I put a big load on it. Until it warms up it "spits" very little water from the exhaust. Even when warm it does not flow like other engines that have a (closed system). Because the 5411 is raw water cooled it keeps the water circulating inside the engine until it is up to operating temperature, then the thermostat opens up allowing fresh cool water to enter and hot exhaust water to exit. (this is what you see coming out)Here on the Great Salt Lake when water temps are down in the low 40 degree range. It does not need much water to keep cool. Also along the California coast in winter it uses very little water.If you are really concerned check your impeller.I am not sure about your valve. If you have a diagram of the cooling system, available in the 5411 manual, you can follow the water flow back to the mixing valve. If your "winterizing valve" is in this loop I would leave it open so that the engine can maintain it's operating temperature. I installed a "tee" coming from the mixing tee to the water pump. With an additional line and valve. I just stick this in a bucket of 50/50 mix antifreeze, open the valve, close the intake valve below the mix-tee and let the engine suck it up until I see color out the exhaust. This way salt water is not inside the engine all the time. Make sure you use the (environmentally safe antifreeze! Not the green kind!)The 5411 is a GREAT LITTLE ENGINE, it does not need much water to run but, it also does not use much fuel either!

 

[Dave]

Agreed, little water, little fuel, lots of steam!

All of the other posts are right. I get flagged down by other "helpful" boaters all the time because "I'm not pumting any water!" Every once in a while a spit ot two of water pops out. It's completely normal. Other "helpful" people point out that I've "got problems because it's blowing white smoke." It's not white smoke, it's steam and it's normal to see it from the exhaust of the 5411. If it's whispy and disapears quickly after exiting the exhaust, it's steam and is normal... I agree that the 5411 is a great little engine, as long as you don't have to power into a gale or 5 foot chop.

 

[Bob Camarena]

Temp Fluctuation

The prior responses are correct as to the peculiarities of the 5411 cooling system. Another thing I've noticed is that the temp will flucuate +/- 10 degrees or so until the engine block heats up and stabilizes. This is especially noticable in colder water.