[C320-list] Brown Smoke from Exhaust WAS caused by exhaust elbow

[Annie Bennett]

Hi Alan, not very technical - he cleaned it out with the end of a screw driver.  It came out in little black sooty chunks.  It must not have been so far gone that it had become rock hard.


On 25/09/2013, at 12:13 AM, Allan S Field <allan.field at verizon.net> wrote:

> Annie - Do you know how he cleaned out the exhaust elbow? - Allan
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Annie Bennett
> Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 8:47 AM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Brown Smoke from Exhaust WAS caused by exhaust
> elbow
> 
> Rick, you would have won your bet!  It WAS the exhaust elbow.  The mechanic
> was able to clean out the carbon and all is now fine - although I've ordered
> a new elbow for him to fit on the next service.
> Thank you very much to Rick and others who replied to my email.
> Kind regards
> Annie
> #1073
> 
> On 24/09/2013, at 12:11 PM, Rick From Inflate Co <rick at inflateco.com> wrote:
> 
>> My bet is 99% it is the exhaust elbow NOT the injectors . Those oil carbon
> like spots left in the water are called lily pads by experienced mechanics
> and a sure tell tale indication it's a $400 elbow repair instead of a $2500
> injector issue .  Only 4 bolts hold on the elbow, even I was able to remove,
> buy one and put back on. She started out like yours, just some black or
> brown smoke and some spotting on the water and over the next 4 weekends got
> enormously worse. Those elbows MUST be replaced as they clog with carbon
> that hardens like steel . If not old it can be sandblasted , but usually too
> much metal damage . 
>> 
>> I gained a 30% increase in power once I replaced it.
>> 
>> I hope that's all it is and I hope I was of some help
>> 
>> Rick
>> NEMO #235
>> Dana Point
>> 
>> Thank you and please excuse any grammatical and/or  typographical  as sent
> from iPhone.
>> 
>> Rick Portanova | President | CEO
>> INFLATE CO, INC.
>> www.InflateCo.com
>> 949-340-0104 Office
>> 
>> 
>> On Sep 23, 2013, at 4:11 PM, "Dingo Is Talent" <dingoistalent at bigpond.com>
> wrote:
>> 
>>> HI Annie
>>> I had exact same problem recently and it WAS the exhaust elbow where 
>>> sea water mix in ...corroded so bad put back pressure on exhaust 
>>> causing black brown smoke.
>>> Replaced...now perfect
>>> DINGO Down Under - Perth Western Australia
>>> 1150
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
>>> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Annie 
>>> Bennett
>>> Sent: Monday, 23 September 2013 9:08 PM
>>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Brown Smoke from Exhaust
>>> 
>>> Can anyone give me a pointer on the meaning of brown smoke from exhaust.
>>> 
>>> Today was my second day out on Topcat after a month overseas.  
>>> Topcat's engine was serviced just before we went away.  This morning 
>>> before going out I checked the oil and all was fine.  I thought the 
>>> coolant might be a bit low in the visible container and called the 
>>> mechanic to see if he could change it as I noticed in the engine log it
> hasn't been changed for a while.
>>> The wind was light so I motored for a couple of hours - all fine - 
>>> then sailed with the engine off for another hour and only turned the 
>>> engine back on for the last 15 minutes for getting the sails down and 
>>> coming into the mooring.  In the last 5 minutes I noticed some white 
>>> smoke.  It must be smoke not condensation as it was a very warm day and
> the engine was warm.
>>> There was no smoke earlier in the day.  
>>> 
>>> After my guests had gone ashore I decided to turn the engine back on 
>>> to test it, initially nothing, just the normal water, but then white 
>>> smoke came out
>>> - no smell.  Still In neutral I turned the revs up to 28 and then 
>>> brown smoke started coming out and there was a faint oily residue on 
>>> the water that I think but am not certain came from Topcat.  I turned the
> engine off.
>>> I wanted to double check before calling the mechanic that I really 
>>> had a problem and turned the engine back on, still in neutral revved 
>>> again.  First nothing, then  white smoke then quite a lot of brown 
>>> smoke again but this time a slight burning rubber smell.  I've turned 
>>> it off and the mechanic is hopefully coming tomorrow afternoon.  
>>> Plenty of water is coming out as normal.  The impeller was changed in 
>>> the service in August and today is only the second time I've been out 
>>> since the service.  Someone at the marina wondered if the smoke could 
>>> be caused by my fouling the propellor on something in the water but 
>>> he changed his mind when I said the brown smoke came out when revving 
>>> in neutral.  Does anyone have any ideas that might help the mechanic.  
>>> I've done about 1000 hours.  My googling suggests it might have 
>>> something to do with fuel injectors.  If so is this a big / difficult 
>>> / time consuming problem for a mechanic to fix?  I'm hoping not as I 
>>> have a charter booked for a birthday on Wednesday and I'm hoping I 
>>> won't have to cancel and let them down.  Ive never had a problem with
> smoke of any colour before.
>>> 
>>> Thanks in advance to anyone for their help / advice.
>>> 
>>> Kind regards
>>> Annie Bennett
>>> Topcat #1073
>>> 
>> 
> 

Kind regards
Annie Bennett
Sydney Private Sailing
www.sydneyprivatesailing.com.au
0413 217 114