A lot of white smoke in exhaust?

[noswellplease]

I have what seems to me excessive white smoke in my exhaust combined with what appears to be above average uncombustible diesel in the exhaust raw water. There was a problem last month first launching when water in the diesel caused me problems but I have since cleaned out tank, learned all about 1st and 2nd filters changed both and at least got engine running. The engine is a Beta 25 hp and just 2 y.o. so I would not expect problems to be age or wear related. Power seems to be more or less the same as last year. When the engine cut out last month I thought possibly I may have been driving it too hard as the weather on that occasion was closing in and a bit nasty and I was trying to make port asap. There was no alarm for overheating but I could not swear the alarm works correctly as the tacko on the control panel has stopped working. On that occasion I just had to use sail to get me home and then started the investigation of fuel filters and tank. I found a slightly damaged impellor which I replaced but did not notice any loss of fresh water in the header tank due to overheating or any impurity. Thats about all I can say, the engine runs ok now just seems to be a lot of white smoke around especially when throttled up a bit and a good trace of diesel in the exhaust.Perhaps I'm overacting but if any forumites had suggestions as to other areas I might look at I would be grateful.

"I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure!"

 

[Iota]

White smoke is normally burning engine oil, is it using more than usual? Might be worth doing a compression test as a ring might have failed in one of the pots

 

[Chris_Robb]

White smoke is normally burning engine oil, is it using more than usual? Might be worth doing a compression test as a ring might have failed in one of the pots

I am not sure I agree that it is burning oil, that has more of a blue haze to it, and a definite smell..... I did a quick search and this is probably the most relevant

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=208903&highlight=white+smoke

Perhaps, the water contamination, has made the injectors dirty, which would then account for poor atomisation of the fuel, and consequent incomplete combustion.

I am glad you bothered to clean the tank properly, as wate in the tank will lead to fuel bugs etc.

 

[Iota]

apologies brain not in gear from my engine course notes many many years ago

White Smoke
White smoke is indicative of one or more cylinders misfiring, water or air in the fuel, or water in thecylinders (most likely from a blown head gasket or cracked cylinder head). If the smoke occurs on start up and at light loads but clears when the engine warms, it maybe due to condensation or water vapour formed in combustion and is acceptable, but then again one or more cylinders also may have a compression problem and be failing to reach ignition temperatures until the engine warms up. If the smoke develops during normal operating, generally accompanied by erratic misfiring, the engine is running out of diesel or has water in the fuel.

 

[boatmike]

Are you sure this is white smoke and not steam? The former usually smells and leaves a permanent pall behing the boat. The latter dissipates quickly. It may be if it's steam that that damaged impellor is the clue. Sometimes bits break off the impellor and clog the pipes, often downstream of the pump at the next junction. Is there plenty of water getting through and coming out of the exhaust or is it reduced from what it was?

 

[tel1]

apologies brain not in gear from my engine course notes many many years ago

White Smoke
White smoke is indicative of one or more cylinders misfiring, water or air in the fuel, or water in thecylinders (most likely from a blown head gasket or cracked cylinder head). If the smoke occurs on start up and at light loads but clears when the engine warms, it maybe due to condensation or water vapour formed in combustion and is acceptable, but then again one or more cylinders also may have a compression problem and be failing to reach ignition temperatures until the engine warms up. If the smoke develops during normal operating, generally accompanied by erratic misfiring, the engine is running out of diesel or has water in the fuel.

id have to agree with iota, im haveing problems with my perkins (some of you may have read my threads) until my engineer looks at it ive either got a cracked head or blown head gasket, im hopeing its just the head gasket! but prior to all this mine did chug out lots of white/blue smoke at the point of engine start up, once the engine was warm the smoke would diassapear albeit a little was left over but nothing id worry about. im starting to think that if my head gasket has gone or was starting to go then this would more than likely be the problem of my white smoke due to water in my cylindeers. hope this is of some help?

 

[Manuel]

From your original post, given that your engine failed as sea, and you have only just got to grips with the concept of fuel filters you need to call a diesel mechanic. Trying to diagnose the problem here and tell you how to fix it would not be in your best interests. Then go on a diesel course.

 

[noswellplease]

White smoke

Thanks for all the suggestions and Boatmike I think you may be near the mark in calling it stem and I will look further into this. Manuel I had a mechanic look at the engine and he said it was fine, but then he installed it so perhaps he is a little biased. I think though I will get a second opinion on what the problem may be. I still don't see other boats trailing the white stuff off their stern that i do. Will report back again any positive developments.

 

[rhumlady]

Does it come and go during motoring? My Bukh will steam when the thermostat is closed(I think its that way round) but stops when it opens. As Boatmike says It disperses quickly but not in damp conditions though.

 

[noswellplease]

White smoke

Did not think of the thermostat Rhumlady but its something that maybe could be responsible. The smoke is there all the time and most noticable when revs increased. Can't see why injectors could be the problem or even the head gasket as the engine is only two years old so surely they can last a bit longer than that before creating problems. Thanks again for suggestions.

 

[noswellplease]

There seems to be about the same amount of water being discharged Boatmike, although the impellor was damaged it was just one vane that was cracked but still intact. I replaced this. Only thing I have some reservations about is the amount of water being discharged, I put a slightly larger engine in the boat and maybe it could benefit from a slightly larger pipe at the sea water inlet which supplies the raw water filter.