smokey Oops

[jruvelson@hotmail.com]

I'm very embarrased but I forgot to open the water intake on my 1980 30 foot and my engine over heated , well quit after producing a lot of grey smoke. I've changed the oil and it started again and sounds pretty good actually. It produces some smoke when accelerated and that worries me a lot. I can't rember if it made smoke before.I've run it at different speeds for over an hour out on the lake and the only problem would be smoke. So what do I do?

 

[Steve Dion]

Learn to listen to your engine.

I doubt that you have done any damage. I assume that the high temp buzzer went off. This usually happens before damage has been done.I know that our engine sounds different when water is being pump thru the exhaust and when there is no water. Without water there is usually a hollow sound. Just get in the habit of listening to the engine and checking the output while it is warming up. Even if you have you thru hull open, a raw water impeller can fail or some other thing can happen.

 

[Mark]

Keep going

Diesel engines as you would know are very expensive to repair however they are also very forgiving.We ran a diesel out of water a while ago and had our mechanic go over it. (boiled dry)My suggestion is to run it as normal and check to make sure there is no oil bleeding from the head etc. Check the oil for water comtamination. You will probably find it will continue to run for years to come.If there is a problem it will usually rear its ugly head within the next 5-10 hours of running.Ours is still running as sweet as ever which is great concidering it very nearly seized!

 

[Pete]

overheated diesels

I would also suggust that you replace the sea water impeller as it was run dry and may have been damaged due to lack of water lubrication.As far as the smoke when you rev up the engine most diesels smoke on aceleration and this is normal ( unless you have excessive)Other then that I doubt you damaged the engine and would not worry about it.

 

[Jim S]

You are good

at least three times I've done the same thing (same boat), either because my water intake plugged or I forgot to open the valve. The loud nasty sound and then smoke billowing from the lazarette is the alarm that gets me to stop the motor. Changing the impellor on the pump is all that I've ever had to do, if youve got a decennt water flow out the exhaust, that can probably wait til next season. I know of some folks who hang the engine key on the intake valve handle, I upgraded the quality of my hoses and clamps and leave the valve open.