Losing antifreeze

[Tom J]

Yes, Greg, I live on Maui, and I have sailed on that 50' Santa Cruz also. A whale surfaced just ahead of us and we sailed through the blow. I don't have a boat here, yet. My C310 is berthed in Quincy, MA, and we live aboard in the summer.
Lots of good suggestions on this thread, and I hope you find the coolant leak soon.

 

[Sailm8]

Fast / Woodster -

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I can find a copy of the Yanmar engine manual.

Looks like it just take time to find a slow leak.....

Thanks all for the suggestions and education.

Greg

The Yanmar manual is in the download section of this site.

 

[Tally Ho]

Yes, Greg, I live on Maui, and I have sailed on that 50' Santa Cruz also. A whale surfaced just ahead of us and we sailed through the blow. I don't have a boat here, yet. My C310 is berthed in Quincy, MA, and we live aboard in the summer.
Lots of good suggestions on this thread, and I hope you find the coolant leak soon.

Very nice Beneteau 373 for sale there in Lahaina. Was hoping to get on a "test sail" when I was out there, thought I would have a hard time convincing the broker I was a real buyer.

 

[Tally Ho]

Local auto parts stores rent let you borrow a pressure test tool and it comes with several Capps just like the one on your heat exchanger pressure capp normally goes on the radiator you pump it up and look- listen for leek

That sounds like a good approach. Thanks,

Greg

 

[Tally Ho]

Some time ago I was messing around with the heat exchanger of my Volvo MD2030 and I pushed the heat exchanger tube out of its correct place (there are two "rubber covers" holding it). The result was coolant finding its way in the exchaust hose with the sea water. It was only a matter of placing the tube in the correct position. No problem since then.

Sounds like I am going to open the heat exchanger. Have never torn one down before, but doesn't seem too complicated.

Thanks for the tip.

Greg

 

[Tom J]

Very nice Beneteau 373 for sale there in Lahaina. Was hoping to get on a "test sail" when I was out there, thought I would have a hard time convincing the broker I was a real buyer.

Yeah, Greg. He'd probably want to see your kamaaina (resident) ID. It's difficult finding a berth here on Maui. No marinas and the two small boat harbors are mostly commercial slips. Most people trailer their boats, even the 35' dive boats. There are some moorings in the Lahaina area, but the constant Pacific swells take a toll on the boat and mooring gear.

 

[jssailem]

My Perkins exhibited the same issue. All hoses and fittings looked ok. Noticed some fluid around the fan belt. Told the mechanic, he said its fine take the boat out. The missing fluid got worse till it all blew out the engine coolant water pump. Fired the Mechanic. Asked for help on the forum. Removed the water pump. The internal bearing was gone the seal was gone. Learned that the water pump has a seal and a seep hole. The fluid was leaking through the seep hole releasing over pressure, till the seal blew and coolant emptied. New water pump, new belt, aligned the alternator. No over heating, no expensive waste of a BMW calling him self a mechanic, bliss with the help of this forum.

Follow Stu's suggestion. Step be step inspection, isolation, repair/replacement. Happy Sailing.

 

[Tally Ho]

Thanks John. Appreciate the suggestion. I better find that Yanmar manual.

Greg

 

[jssailem]

Sounds good Greg.
I went on line and came back with this link. May be to your manual.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...sg=AFQjCNEbZhqocavdFWn3VmGVZ-MzDyIp9w&cad=rja

 

[Tally Ho]

Thanks John.

Our local yacht yard (Crowleys's) has an annual open house in March. Try put put on a few classes, including one on Diesel engine basics. I went today and "studied" the 3GM engine that have set to demonstrate bleeding the fuel system, etc. much easier to study one not in an engine compartment. Talked to the mechanic and have some good ideas where to look.

Will get out to the boat next week hopefully armed with more information, some good lighting and an engine diagram....hopefully that will help.

Greg

 

[jssailem]

You hit on an important idea. Good Lighting. My engine compartment is poorly lit with many shadows cast by the original lights. I have a couple of florescent work lights that I hang to help. I also have found that those battery powered head lamps are an essential tool when I am working on the boat. Illuminate many of the dark holes in the boat.

 

[Tally Ho]

Yeah. My engine compartment is pretty cramped, and was lined with black foam....made it very dark. I replaced the foam with silver foil covered insulation. Brightened it up a lot, provided you have some light.

Headlamp is a good idea. I keep a few on the boat during the season, but took them home for the winter. Will take them when I go out to trouble shoot. Also have a trouble light as long as I have AC power.

Greg

 

[John R]

I just posted on the periodic overheating of my Universal engine. The coolant hose that ran from the manifold to the thermostat housing was leaking, but it was not easy to find that leak. Just a thought.

 

[Tally Ho]

I just posted on the periodic overheating of my Universal engine. The coolant hose that ran from the manifold to the thermostat housing was leaking, but it was not easy to find that leak. Just a thought.

Thanks JR. I am going to spend some time investigating the engine on Saturday.

Greg

 

[Tally Ho]

Just wanted to give an update on my search for the cause of my antifreeze leak...

Was out at the boat yesterday (in a snow squall :-(), antifreeze was down a couple inches in the heat exchanger. Searched all over, but engine was very dirty with fan belt dust, which made it hard to see much. Finally degreased the engine and washed it down. Wiped everything as clean as I could. Topped off the heat exchanger again, and still could not see a leak. BUT most of the hose clamps were loose enough to tighten. Tightened clamp I could find. Would nice if it was that simple....guess I will see when I get out to the boat next.

I noticed that the primary belt was a toothed belt, and my spares were smooth. This is for a 2GM20F engine. Like I said, the engine compartment had a lot of black dust, so replaced the old belt for my new spare. Maybe that will cut down the dust. It has been that way since I purchased her 2 years ago.

Greg

 

[Stu Jackson]

antifreeze was down a couple inches in the heat exchanger.

TH,

Maybe it's just nomenclature, but how do you do that? HXs pass water through and are sealed.

 

[Tally Ho]

Sorry....the tank with the radiator cap.

 

[shemandr]

I had the 3GM and I would find anti freeze underneath the engine. The boatyard mechanic sail I had the wrong radiator cap and I needed the Yanmar one. It was pricy. But the leakage stopped. I don't know much about engines but I took the advice and the problem ended.

 

[Tally Ho]

I did replace the cap last year as it looked pretty rusty. Purchased the Yanmar cap.

Thanks,

Greg

 

[jssailem]

If the issue is not on the engine (be sure to check around the belt driven water pump). Do you have a water heater heated by the engine? Another possible suspect in the leak source mystery.