Bukh DV20 clouds of steam!!

[Guest]

Hi There
I have a Bukh DV20M installed in a 31ft sailing cruiser (Sea water cooled). The engine runs fine but occassionally (without losing power) will blow out a large amount of steam. The temp. gauge increases but never into the red, then the engine settles down again. Does anyone know if this is a known fault, or is it normal, or a sign of problems developing? Any help you can give greatly appreciated.
KLind Regards
Colin Wright
Galago
Brighton
South Coast
UK

 

[ccscott49]

Sounds like you are getting a blockage, which allows the engine to heat up higher than normal, then as the pressure increases, it blows past the blockage, releases the pressure, then starts all over gaian, I would inspect the whole system for salt buildup and slight blockages.

 

[vyv_cox]

Two points here. All Bukh 20s blow out steam at a constant level. Seems to be a combination of the coolant circuit/thermostat design and the relatively low coolant throughput. You seem to have an additional factor, probably blockage of the water injector into the block. This is a short, perforated tube rather like a gas poker (if you are old enough to remember one of them!) that is located behind the flywheel. You may be lucky enough to be able to get this off without removing the flywheel first but more often the Allen screws will be corroded and you will need to do the full job. This injector tube tends to form hard deposits of calcified seawater and needs cleaning occasionally. It might also be worth looking at the thermostat, which I suspect may be sticking occasionally.

 

[Guest]

Colin,
This is a common problem with Bukh engines and one which features regularly in this Forum and as far afield as America and Holland.I have a Bukh 24 in my Westerly Fulmar and have experienced this phenomenon for over 12 years with no ill effects other than occasional embarrassment when other skippers think you have forgotten to open the raw water stopcock! The intermittent nature of the steam is probably due to the operation of the thermostat.
I have tried several methods to reduce the steam but with very little success. Ensuring your impeller is in prime condition may help a little as will flushing the engine with fresh water during winter maintenance. Bukh themselves do not see the steam as a problem. Hope this is reassuring.

Stewart.