[C320-list] exhaust mixing elbow

[Allan S. Field]

We make sure that every time we run the engine, we run at 3,000 rpm for at
least 5 minutes.  600 hours and no smoke although we intend to pull and
clean the elbow prophylactically this winter regardless.

Allan S. Field
Sea Shadow - #808
Columbia, MD

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Crosby Roper
Sent: Friday, September 19, 2008 5:42 PM
To: c320-list at catalina320.org
Subject: [C320-list] exhaust mixing elbow

Thought I'd pass this along for general lesson learned file. In july on my
way back from Catalina island to San Diego, I noticed that when I ran the
RPM's up to 3200, I got a bit of black/brown smoke from exhaust. Since water
tanks were full and there was a bunch of stuff on board, I figured probably
just overloading the engine was the problem. On my next trip to catalina on
Labor day, I noted smoke at 3000 RPM. To make a long story short, the
problem progressed rap[idly over the next 30 hrs of engine use to the point
where even at 2000 RPM i was seeing smoke. We limped back to the slip and
called mechanic ( to whom I had spoken while in Catalina and who had advised
me that problem was likely a clogged exhaust mixing elbow and OK to run
engine at low RPM as long as it was not producing smoke.) He came out on
Monday and problem was indeed exhaust mixing elbow. The engine is 3 years
old and has about 220 hrs on it. He admonished me for not using the boat
enough (in front of my wife, which should work out well for future sailing
schedule) and for babying the engine. So, for anyone else who tends to baby
their diesel, run it frequently and run it hard. But we already know
that!Crosby Roper, VMD
Tethys # 1054
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