Problems are still not resolved. At least I got home to my own slip and can relax a bit before tackling these issues. I had to wait a few days in Atlantic City for new injectors and fuel lines to be delivered. I removed the old injectors on Friday and, indeed, the middle one had failed internally, so I'm not sorry I replaced the set of 3. I installed the new injectors and the engine ran perfectly at all rpm levels ... in the slip. I took the boat out to trial in the harbor and rpm dropped off as before. I can't even describe how frustrated I felt and to add to the pressure, the forecast indicated that starting Monday (today) the conditions would be unsuitable for at least a week to move the boat home via the Atlantic (Hurricane Erin approaching). With no alternative, I set out Saturday with disabled engine to sail north to Barnegat Inlet and count on towing service to get inside to my slip. With that accomplished I'm now going to tackle what appears to be fuel delivery issues.
I will start by examining every component starting at the fuel tank to the injector pressure pump. I do not believe there is any malfunction in the pressurized system. It appears to me that under load I am either sucking air into the fuel or water in the fuel is getting sucked into the delivery while underway. I'll even consider pumping out the tank contents entirely.
I have a couple of questions. A mechanic recommended that I replace my 200 series Racor Filter (the type with a spin on filter element in a metal casing) with a another Racor model that uses replaceable filter elements. The Racor on my boat is original and 26 years old. The location makes it difficult to observe and service. I read a Catalina 320 Association article that described replacing it with a 500 series filter and locating it right next to the fuel tank at a far better location. I also read some SBO posts with various recommendations, some also recommending the 500 series even though the capacity of that model FAR exceeds the needs of our small engines. Those posts were from 2017. Any new opinions for the Racor replacement?
Second question is about a foamy-looking brown liquid I found in a small puddle under the engine both when I arrived in Atlantic City and again when I arrived home on Saturday (I ran the engine enough to limp out of Atlantic City and get far enough from land to sail in one direction to Barnegat). The gunk was more watery than oily and it may be related to the coolant - I will have to see. I am going to change my oil first thing - but I did change it earlier this season. I have not had any issue with overheating. Operating temps have always been normal and coolant levels are normal and never changed in the bottle. Any thoughts on what it could be? I suspect that it could be liquid hiding out in recesses of the bottom that only was revealed as the boat moves through the rougher-than-normal wave patterns.
I will start by examining every component starting at the fuel tank to the injector pressure pump. I do not believe there is any malfunction in the pressurized system. It appears to me that under load I am either sucking air into the fuel or water in the fuel is getting sucked into the delivery while underway. I'll even consider pumping out the tank contents entirely.
I have a couple of questions. A mechanic recommended that I replace my 200 series Racor Filter (the type with a spin on filter element in a metal casing) with a another Racor model that uses replaceable filter elements. The Racor on my boat is original and 26 years old. The location makes it difficult to observe and service. I read a Catalina 320 Association article that described replacing it with a 500 series filter and locating it right next to the fuel tank at a far better location. I also read some SBO posts with various recommendations, some also recommending the 500 series even though the capacity of that model FAR exceeds the needs of our small engines. Those posts were from 2017. Any new opinions for the Racor replacement?
Second question is about a foamy-looking brown liquid I found in a small puddle under the engine both when I arrived in Atlantic City and again when I arrived home on Saturday (I ran the engine enough to limp out of Atlantic City and get far enough from land to sail in one direction to Barnegat). The gunk was more watery than oily and it may be related to the coolant - I will have to see. I am going to change my oil first thing - but I did change it earlier this season. I have not had any issue with overheating. Operating temps have always been normal and coolant levels are normal and never changed in the bottle. Any thoughts on what it could be? I suspect that it could be liquid hiding out in recesses of the bottom that only was revealed as the boat moves through the rougher-than-normal wave patterns.
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