My 1995 Hunter 29.5 has always had a moderate amount of black smoke at startup, which I've been told is OK. Now there is black staining of the transom intermittently. There doesn't seem to be a correlation between wind direction, duration of motoring, or temperature. Any thoughts?
- Status
My experience
In my limited experience and answers to my questions (some from Gordon T) I have been told that starting engine with throttle will cause smoke as engine tries to catch up to rpm dictated by throttle position. Built in governer is set to allow starting in idle throttle position. Should reduce smoke at start up if you are starting with high throttle setting. As far as transom soot. The only thing that I have read that would lead me to believe there is something to do about that is get a boat with black painted topsides to mask it. Ha ha. Kidding, kind of. there has been much talk about this and no real solutions unless your engine has problems with injectors, timing, compression, valves or those types of serious problems. Doug
In my limited experience and answers to my questions (some from Gordon T) I have been told that starting engine with throttle will cause smoke as engine tries to catch up to rpm dictated by throttle position. Built in governer is set to allow starting in idle throttle position. Should reduce smoke at start up if you are starting with high throttle setting. As far as transom soot. The only thing that I have read that would lead me to believe there is something to do about that is get a boat with black painted topsides to mask it. Ha ha. Kidding, kind of. there has been much talk about this and no real solutions unless your engine has problems with injectors, timing, compression, valves or those types of serious problems. Doug
Just a thought on that smoke
Do you know if perhaps your injectors are a little dirty? A dose of diesel fuel injector cleaner may help to clean up the injectors and promote better (cleaner) combustion, with less smoke. Some don't like using any additives in their fuel, but I've used an occasional fuel treatment in both my boat's Universal diesel as well as my diesel car, with good results. Randy
Do you know if perhaps your injectors are a little dirty? A dose of diesel fuel injector cleaner may help to clean up the injectors and promote better (cleaner) combustion, with less smoke. Some don't like using any additives in their fuel, but I've used an occasional fuel treatment in both my boat's Universal diesel as well as my diesel car, with good results. Randy
smoke at start-up
Our O'Day 272 is powered by a Westerbeke 10-2, and the manual states that the throttle should be set at 3/4 throttle at start. For a long time, I started the engine at idle until I read that information in the manual. I do notice black smoke when the engine first fires. Should I go back to the idle setting. It doesn't seem to start any easier that way. Thanks
Our O'Day 272 is powered by a Westerbeke 10-2, and the manual states that the throttle should be set at 3/4 throttle at start. For a long time, I started the engine at idle until I read that information in the manual. I do notice black smoke when the engine first fires. Should I go back to the idle setting. It doesn't seem to start any easier that way. Thanks
Start up smoke
Most diesel engine governors are designed to have the engine start at idle. There are some, not by design, that may start better with a certain tweek or squeezing your left ear lobe. Having the engine rev up when first started does more than generate black smoke, considering that the lube oil has been leaving bearings and other important places while the engine has been shut down. Start up, and the first few minutes of running, should be made as gently as possible.
Most diesel engine governors are designed to have the engine start at idle. There are some, not by design, that may start better with a certain tweek or squeezing your left ear lobe. Having the engine rev up when first started does more than generate black smoke, considering that the lube oil has been leaving bearings and other important places while the engine has been shut down. Start up, and the first few minutes of running, should be made as gently as possible.
Smoke-Thanks, Gordon
Makes sense to me, Gordon, but why would Westerbeke put that in the engine manual?? Thanks
Makes sense to me, Gordon, but why would Westerbeke put that in the engine manual?? Thanks
.- Status