[C320-list] Overheating

[Jack McDonough]

Warren & Lew:

Yeh, I did check the heat exchanger, expecting to find that "aha"moment. 
But -- nothing there. I opened both the front and back. Now, however, the 
engine pumps raw water like a champ. I'm now in the "if it ain't broke don't 
fix it" frame of mind.

jack
#947


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Warren Updike" <wupdike at hotmail.com>
To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Friday, August 19, 2011 4:34 PM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Overheating


> So, you probably have a Yanmar. Ours is a Perkins. I'm not sure there is a
> difference re. lost impeller vanes.  Here is my story.  Bought the boat in
> '04. No problem for three years. Then, on a cruise, engine began to
> overheat, of course with a 20kt following wind. Turns out there were at
> least 4 blades in the front of the heat exchanger. None of them were from 
> my
> tenure. So, surely it is possible to have old blades in the heat exchange
> and not cause a problem until you are in the most inconvenient situation 
> for
> the problem to occur.
>
> Warren & Pattie Updike
> 1994 C320 #62 "Warr De Mar"
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dennis Harris [mailto:dharris02 at suddenlink.net]
> Sent: Monday, August 15, 2011 2:04 PM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Overheating
>
> Just a thought...could it be that a broken water pump vane or other debris
> is in the exit end of the heat exchanger?  It could be loose so it moves
> around but big enough to stop water flow out the exit if it stops across 
> the
>
> outlet opening.  On time, water turbulence moves it away from outlet 
> opening
>
> and you get normal pumping/water flow.  Next time, turbulence moves it so
> that it blocks the outlet, in which case, you get no flow and steam.
>
> Dennis Harris C320 694.
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jack McDonough" <mcdonough5 at verizon.net>
> To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
> Sent: Monday, August 15, 2011 11:50 AM
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Overheating
>
>
>> Dave:
>>
>> Yes, you may be right. The trouble may well be downstream. I was hoping I
>> could avoid pulling more stuff apart but I guess I'll have to bite the
>> bullet. Thanks for the suggestions.
>>
>> jack
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Utility Email" <kswanson123 at comcast.net>
>> To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
>> Sent: Monday, August 15, 2011 11:05 AM
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Overheating
>>
>>
>>> Could there be a partial blockage in the mixing elbow or a partial
>>> blockage upstream of the strainer?  It sounds like you have thoroughly
>>> checked upstream of the pump, perhaps checking downstream might find the
>>> culprit?  If it came on suddenly, that would point to some type of 
>>> marine
>
>>> life blockage was ingested, but of the strainer is clear, then it would
>>> have to be upstream from that. I am guessing:
>>>
>>> 1. That the mixing elbow may have carbon/corrosion build up.
>>> 2.  Water pump is not functioning adequately at low speeds.  I'm 
>>> guessing
>
>>> that the water pump is not providing enough head to force water through
>>> the system. Seems like there could e a easy way to test this buy
>>> connecting a long clear hose between the pump outlet and the engine.
>>>
>>> Dave Swanson
>>> S/V Emily Ann
>>> 2007 C320 MK II, No. 1107
>>> Mukilteo, WA
>>>
>>> On Aug 15, 2011, at 6:13 AM, hcreech at comcast.net wrote:
>>>
>>>> Jack,
>>>> Unless I am reading this wrong you are running your engine at too low a
>>>> rate of speed. This should not have any bearing on the water pump
>>>> situation but still way too low. If you continue to run at that low
>>>> speed you will only create a carbon build-up which is not good. I run
>>>> mine continuously while crusing a 2800 RPM and only lower speeds while
>>>> docking. When I took the initial diesel class they stressed that low
>>>> speeds are very detrimental to diesels. They went on to say you should
>>>> cruise at 2800-2900 RPM and can run at 3100 RPM for up to an hour
>>>> without causing any problems. The main point was to "Not Baby" the
>>>> diesel. Could be another problem, but regardless, if I am reading this
>>>> right, you need to crank it up.
>>>>
>>>> Herb Creech
>>>> Cloud Chaser 606
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "Jack McDonough" <mcdonough5 at verizon.net>
>>>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>>>> Sent: Monday, August 15, 2011 8:47:20 AM
>>>> Subject: [C320-list] Overheating
>>>>
>>>> A puzzling, intermittent overheating problem developed a couple of 
>>>> weeks
>
>>>> ago with the 3GM30F Yanmar in my 2003 C-320.
>>>>
>>>> While traveling at low speed from an anchorage to a newly available
>>>> mooring one morning (maybe 10 - 15 minutes running time), the engine
>>>> overheat alarm sounded. I managed to pick up the mooring, after which I
>>>> pulled the raw water intake hose at the seacock and determined that
>>>> water was, in fact, coming into the system. I then checked to see that
>>>> the strainer was clear and, finally, took apart the impeller housing 
>>>> and
>
>>>> inspected the impeller -- which was newly installed in May and which
>>>> looked fine. I started the engine again and still got only steam out of
>>>> the exhaust. A couple of tries later, however, the system once again
>>>> pumped out water like a champ.
>>>>
>>>> I made a three-hour passage to another harbor under power the next day
>>>> and everything was fine -- but the same problem occurred the following
>>>> day. Again it blew steam -- but the following morning I got a healthy
>>>> flow of water and headed home.
>>>>
>>>> Since then, I have again pulled the hose off the intake seacock but,
>>>> this time, I took my digital wire coat hanger and fed it down through
>>>> the intake passage to make sure there was nothing flopping around in
>>>> there. I disconnected the other end of the hose -- at the strainer --
>>>> and detemined that there was nothing in the hose. Then I removed the
>>>> hose between the strainer and the impeller and confirmed that it, too,
>>>> was clear.
>>>>
>>>> I have a sense that I'm more likely to be able to pump water if I
>>>> briefly goose the RPMs up to 2000 or a little more. But I've consulted
>>>> my diesel guy and he says that shouldn't make any difference. It should
>>>> pump water regardless.
>>>>
>>>> That's my story. Any ideas?
>>>>
>>>> Jack
>>>> #947
>>
>>
>
>
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