White smoke

[Bob]

I have white smoke coming from my exhaust. Universal 5411 diesel. I assume this is from a blown head gasket. Any verifying comments? How much trouble to change the replace the head gasket?

 

[Jack Swords]

5411 engine "smoke"

Be certain that the "smoke" is not steam. One characteristic of the 5411 is that it can blow steam out the stern under certain conditions. We have had this engine for over 15 years in a Cat 30 and have had many people point out this steam and, at times, small amount of water and assume we have a problem with the raw water pump, etc. This engine has been flawless for 15 years. She really steamed in the early AM in the cold Pacific in CA. Here in La Paz, still will, at times. Check the oil for water, compression, injectors, etc. for other symptoms of a blown headgasket. You may be OK. Good luck and let us know what you find out.

 

[Jim Hamilton]

my m25

My engine will smoke fairly heavily at startup and then once the engine temp comes up, it all goes away to just the faintest hint of smoke which may very well be steam.My engine had some head-work done previous to my ownership, and near as I can figure the smoke is part unburned fuel and part oil getting past the rings when the engine is off. I don't worry about it since there's no noticable oil loss and the smoke stops one the engine warms up.Fair winds!JimmyD

 

[Mic]

smokeing 5411

Bob, What Jack and Jim say is very true as to the smoke on the 5411. I went thru the cooling system on my (new to me) Catalina 27 and I was also worried about what I thought was smoke.Jack informed me that untill the engine warms up to 135 to 150 degrees the exhaust looks like white smoke but it is a very fine mist of water. The smoke on yours maybe oil but if it is it will show up on the water out the exhaust pipe. If you are not getting any water in your oil which will show up on the dip stick (oil line will be higher than the full mark) Hope this helps.  Thanks jack you can teach an old dog new tricks. "MIC"

 

[Windwalker]

More on the 5411

The previous comments are correct on the 5411. That engine is raw water cooled so the water that exits through the exhaust is the same stuff that absorbs the engine block heat (no freshwater heat exchanger) add in a second exposure to cool/muffle the exhaust. The result is that the temp of the water exiting is a bit warmer than the engines equipped with a heat exchanger. Consequence - conciencious folks will pull up alongside & warn you of a blown head gasket when they see all the steam exiting your exhaust...But DO check you dipstick for brown sludge just to make sure water did not, in fact, enter your engine. Enjoy!