My 25xp taking up smoking.....

jhnewsome17

jhnewsome17

.
Dec 25, 2008
90
Catalina 34 St. Simons Island
Smoke or Steam

WestIslandJohnny said:
After dealing with old engines that smoke, make a ton of noise and SMELL, I've decided to go electric. A complete re-fit can be expensive, but I found a company that is pretty reasonable. Changing out just the power head for my OMC saildrive. Electric motor with a controller that will compensate torque to accommodate my existing outdrive. I will NOT miss the smell of an engine, or the fuel, grease and oil associated with it.

I know it's not an immediate remedy, but it will definitely get rid of the white smoke!
Click to expand
Do you have white smoke or steam? I think white smoke would actually be a little on the grayish tone thus indicative of burning oil. On the other hand, white steam is a totally different creature. Steam will dissipate rather quickly into the atmosphere. White smoke will leave a trail.

If the issue is determined to be steam then you need to start at the through hull for the fresh water intake and work through the water pump, heat exchange, and mixing rise.

A problem I recently discovered was a worn surface plate on the Oberdorfer Water Pump thus reducing the efficiency of the water pump. The inside of the plate needs to be flat without wear marks. I replaced my Oderdorfer pump and all is well.
 
N

Neilhoh

.
Feb 15, 2015
3
Beneteau 393 Brisbane
Re: Smoke or Steam

Wow. Have recently purchased first boat with 40hp Volvo. In early runs noticed steam from the exhaust that had now dissipated. Since first run have (had to) change both fuel filters, drain and clean best I could the tank and include a fair dose of additive in about 60 litres of diesel. I dismissed the steam when I first saw it and didn't think of it again until now. The bio treatment I used is from Lucas and is supposed to dissolve water and contaminates, algae, that then pass through filters and is burned off. After a few hours running filters appear still as new and no water in primary filter bowl. Will definately be tracing cooling water line from impeller to hull through to be sure. Thanks for the heads up.
 
colinhulse

colinhulse

.
Feb 18, 2011
93
Catalina 42 42 Windsor
same problem

My mileage dropped and I had the tell tale black stain on the transom. Over the winter I took the air cleaner off (Which on the 16HP is a teardrop shaped casting in the front of the engine.) There was a small metal screen at the bottom which was clogged completely. I cleaned and sandblasted the casting and then removed the rivets from the screen and replaced them with removable screws. I just motored for three hours on Sat and it ran great, no stain! boat2015 (1).jpgboat2015 (1).jpg
 
B

Bella Nave

.
May 11, 2015
4
Passport 40 Poulsbo
My 25xp taking up smoking

Try these links

http://www.dieselsmoke.com.au/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NbPN91plIE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4E28hDgXCw

Did you change or add Diesel in the off season?
start simple, what has changed from when you noticed this change?

Diesels need air and fuel. Checking the air filter is a great idea. Anything clog it in the off season. Mice, birds, bugs?

Any changes to the fuel - additives, change in type, brand, condensation from winter storage? Diesel primary pumps are rock solid so don't even mess with it. Injectors can be rebuild fairly inexpensively and if you have an older boat that's never had them pulled and tested you likely have one that is not spraying efficiently and dumping raw fuel in a cylinder.

I'm thinking the bottom didn't grow - It's May, the valves didn't "jump" out of adjustment - assume it sat over the winter, the impeller didn't just go bad - but always good to check, nothing to do with white smoke but ok, you don't need to convert to electric but wow how helpful was that for your question. What other useless information did people suggest that I'm missing?

John
 
C

Capt jgw

.
Feb 8, 2014
1,300
Columbia 36 Muskegon
I would start by checking the valve clearances, can't hurt and of its never been done they're probably a little loose by now. That could throw the timing off a little and certainly would account for increased noise. Next would be injection timing, which may or may not be difficult depending on your access to the timing port at the rear of the engine. Not easy on many installations. After that I'd check the injectors. You can pull them out and take to a diesel injection shop to get pop tested. Usually costs about $20 each to do that. Or just replace them, and no, they are NOT expensive, unless you get them from Westerbeke. The 25XP is really a Kubota D950 engine from a B1750 tractor. All the smaller Kubotas use the same injector nozzles, and they're only about $45 each. Westerbeke wants over $400 each, for the exact same part with their label on it. Real expensive label. Make sure you replace the thick copper crush washers that go under the nozzles, they're about a dollar.
The only part you should ever need to get from Westerbeke is the exhaust manifold, and if you ever need one you're just screwed. It would be cheaper to have one custom made, and you'd end up with a better part. Everything else can be gotten from your local or online Kubota tractor shop. The raw water pump is the only other marine-only part on the engine, and it is available from other sources much cheaper than 'Beke.
 
M

Morgan donor

.
Sep 17, 2012
115
Morgan 383 Fairhaven, NY
Rpell,
My 2 cents: Use your nose to determine if white smoke is steam (go after cooling system/elbow) or if it smells like your oil burner in the basement is dying... chase fuel system.

When injectors need a rebuild they "bleed down" allowing unburnt fuel in and smoke white on start up especially. Are you adding biocide on fillups? Bio- bor or Standyne are good names. A fuel injector cleaner additive (Standyne) and a long engine run might help with minor issues. Injector rebuilds are $40/ea on my old school Perkins 4-108. Not bad if you can pull them out yourself.
A lubricity additive is good for older diesel's pumps & injectors given modern low sulphur fuels. Depending how old your Cat 30 is, you may/may not need long term.
Good luck!
 
N

Nelsonhow

.
Jan 4, 2007
406
Hunter 30 Centerport
Make sure you're not running hot. Are you getting the exhaust water splash?

I started getting more white smoke than normal but the engine temp light and buzzer DID NOT GO OFF!. The last sail of the season while running against the tide and wind I started to overheat. I descaled the motor over the winter using an acid solution and replaced the raw water pump cover plate , gasket and impeller and the problem was solved.
 
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