How can I reduce exhaust soot?

[ChrisP]

The only way to stop the soot getting on to the boat is to direct the exhaust the gasses in an area where the soot won't get sucked into the vortex created behind the boat when its moving. Due to the flat shape of modern boats this is almost impossible without complicated aerodynamics. Some underwater systems work to a limited extent but at the end of the day you need a rounded stearn or 50 yard exhaust pipes. It all comes down to putting up with the smoke or paying the marina fees for the exhaust extensions. Do what I do, get the wife and kids to clean the boat. Much cheaper.

CP.

 

[ChrisP]

Thats no way to talk about Mr B's wardrobe.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Re: How do Volvo get away with it?

Like cars, the prices that the great unwashed pay for Volvo engines bear no relation to those paid by the likes of Fairline et al; thats how Volvo keep their market. Plus the fact that all their current engines have a relatively high power to overall size ratio which means that builders can fit them in their boats easier which makes the accomodation bigger
I am told there are other reasons why Broom/Haines dont like to fit them. Firstly, a highly tuned high revving supercharged/turbocharged engine is not really suitable for river cruising and secondly, the power/torque characteristics dont suit the boats. Brooms are heavy old things and need engines with good low down torque to get onto the plane. Of course, this might just be a load of bollocks and the reason may be that they dont get as high a discount as Fairline!

 

[Guest]

Re: oh and afore ye sell

dnno if you were considring replacing boat at some pt...

If yes, quick clean up can up tiny qtys of bilge cleaner to rejuvente white plastic. but not on the sitting on bits or it'll wreck clothes. Better ideas below...

If not selling, need nice washable covers made. Towelling ones nice for uk, last 3 yrs+.

There is some amazing stuff call "Elbow Grease". No, not spoof, it is green liquid, essentially mega-detergent. I put a thrity-year old motorbike cylinder head in some for an hour and it cam out like a brand new casting. It is v strng so your hands will NOT be be soft and smooth if you don't have gloves. A small nailbrush may be needed for leatherette "grain" but proby not. Ask at a backstret garage bodgers, classic car or bike fixers.

 

[Guest]

Re: How do Volvo get away with it?

Your second reason must be nearer the mark. I understand that they "do deals" for higher volume manuafacturers: with failrine this was sometime like 1998. The targa 48 then had two engine options: 2x426 cats for which boat apparently designed, and heavier 2x 430 volvo. Duh?

 

[paulineb]

Don't be disgusting Marky Mark xxx

Pauline B

 

[paulineb]

Boston Red Sox

They're about a metre long, made from rubber and are on sale and all good chandlers and Ann Summers.

Pauline B

 

[jfm]

Re: Service required

Jollyjacktar, I have a sailboat. I do more sailing than motoring. But I like to motor sometimes

JFM

 

[markc]

Re: How do Volvo get away with it?

I have also heard a rumour that Volvo don't charge the builder for the engines until the boat is sold, that could really have an impact on cahflow.

 

[Guest]

Re: aha

That would indeed be a massive clincher.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Re: How do Volvo get away with it?

Yeah, I remember the MBY(MBM?) report on the T48. Which engines does/did yours have? Apparently Cat had shedloads of problems with that range of 6 cylinder engines?
Brooms build far less boats than Princeline so I guess you're right re. discounts but their offshore hulls are surprisingly deep-V and have a reasonable run of keel as well . Add in the fact that they're built like brick sh..houses and the average Broom owner is'nt interested in 35knot performance so Broom tend to fit torquey low revving engines like Sabres. The smaller Volvo engines are high revving screamers best suited to lighter sports boats IMHO

 

[Guest]

Re: volvo/cat/targa

Yes, I had a long go in a t43, engine quiet but screamy high-reving albeit at speed, tho I'm not an expert boat tester.

Fraid the t48 is a story of lovely styling job, unfortunately taken to production rather badly, then slow/little/no resort to resolving probs that a dolt could see on boat 1. Frexample it was boat #80 or later until the lethal high-gloss rear quarter where go up to foredeck had some non-slip put on from the factory. Most Ftargas incl t48 have easy-jamming much-too-heavy-10mm perspex rotaty shower curtains look great but should be less hannibal-proof lighter so they don't break from the roof and don't trap the wifey for three hours as hapened last year on another targa, and so on. Oh, and the bilge pumps aren't at the lowest point in the hull and there was the small matter of the tiny spraying leak from the primary hardly noticeable till all went bit rusty end of first season...

Ours had the cats. Soem people (ex volvo) say ooh lovely no problem with cats, others sed ooh dodgy, but their was no choice -which I think is a good idea for a pure sea boat otherwise there are the "rubbish ones tb avoided ". We never had any prob with the engines, cept for broken cable after 600hrs. However, I spoke to a guy who has a t48 + cats in balearics, and he sed his wdn't do more than 24 knots. So i sed clean bottom etc .. But no. It never puilled more than 24knots, even new, even after fline went over it. However eventually fline did sort it out using the modern method of writing him a cheque. We did manage 36 knots for 5 secs with the wind, flat sea, empty water, no hood up, having not been in the water, but any barnackles at all meant nearer 30knots tops, or (usually) 22 knots for using less than half the juice?

 

[jollyjacktar]

Good to hear.

I have done most types of boating and now I am sailing motorless. Restricts one a little, but with care and planning things are very enjoyableand quiet however you can not have a busy schedule. Check air filters first of all then get the motor serviced by someone who knows what he is doing.

 

[jfm]

Re: volvo/cat/targa

That is quite amazing. The power developed to push t48 at 24kts must be half that req to push it at say 32 or 33. So you wonder about the reason. If the 'gines were bust you wd think they could measure fuel flow rate and exhaust composition and know for sure the gines were bust. Unlikely though. If there was friction etc in the drive train then it would be hot, cuz 300hp lost means a lot of heat. If the boat was heavy or lopsided you would think that could be measured/known too. Just seems strange.

Personally if buying new I would look hard at Cats (or German stuff, if bigger) instead of Volvo. But I do not like some of the software in these EDC systems, the stuff that decides there's a prob like low oil and automatically limits the gine to 1000rpm or whatever. I would rather the gizmo told me what the problem is, and I'll decide wevver to stay at 1000rpm as recommended or continue thrashing the motor, praps totally knackering it but at least not drowning on a lee shore or summat

JFM

 

[Guest]

after reading the whole post nobody has mentioned the air filters, check them, also have you changed the crankcase breathers filters, if these are blocked then fumes will be present in the engine room and will be breathed in blocking the air filters, hence not enough air to the engines,I see from previous posts you are moored in Berthons marina, I am moored in the Yachthaven, good luck Paul

 

[DepSol]

Sorry I must stop laughing before I can type properly.....ahhh thats better...I have never seen so many medievil cures for reducing soot in my life. How about standing on one leg whilst you turn the key!!!!

In a word folks SOLTRON how people have never heard of this product is beyond me. I know so many people who swear by it as it does more than just reduce emissions. Stick it in your tank you will never go without it once you have used it I promise you. If you dont beleive me go to this link.... www.spirit-of-cardiff.com/news/20010627.htm or www.soltron.co.uk to find out more. Ask for it in your chandlers and if they dont have it go to the website and they will tell you who has.

You may post your thank you's if you wish as this advice is free!

Dom

 

[jfm]

Re: thanks. More detail on soltron if poss

Depsol thanks for solton input. I do not think there is a prob with my engines producing too much soot, they're newish and well-serviced by main agent, my prob is the estate car effect whereby the transom and cockpit get dirty unless the exhaust is virtually 100% soot free.

I see from your profile that you do fuel related stuff for a living, so I'm very inclined to try soltron per your recommendation. Can you provide a bit more tech info about how it actually works? Is the concentration important (their website seemed to give a wide range of acceptable concentrations)? Wife's car is diesel, should it be used in a car too? Any adjustment needed to the car, and will it damage the catalyser (it's 6mth old merc 270ML)? Are there any other competing brands that do basically the same job as soltron? Do you have any commercial connection with soltron? Thanks for any furhter detail you can provide

JFM

 

[DepSol]

Re: thanks. More detail on soltron if poss

So many questions but I understand the reasons as humans are sceptical in
nature!

I have a brand new Volvo KAD43 230HP in My Jeanneau Leader 805. I was aware
of Soltron and slightly ceptical so I gave it a try to ensure I did not get
the bug. After reading what it says on the bottle I was sceptical that it
could do all that so I put it to the test.

Increase of economy by 8.2% over 3months. less smoke on start up and no
smoke effect when running, but I am doing over 30 knots! Fumes were not as
harsh when talking by the transom whilst engine warming up. Extra 3 knots
on fastest ever run!! Sent fuel tests to trondheim, soltron had improved
fuel quality/burn (ROHR and other values which get technical). Transom can
now be cleaned by wiping your hand ye your bare hand, over grey areas
(personally I use a light cloth) removing any trace of 'estate car effect'.
Fuel filter bowl has and always is clean now and had no need to change
filters for 14 months!

Soltron is an enzyme which works 500 times faster than a chemical, it goes
to work on entering the tank. You should see a visible reduction within 3
hours of running if not sooner. Dosage from the liteature is 1litre Soltron
to 500 litres of Fuel. If you look at the Spirit of Cardiff website you
will see that they had an economy increase of 8% in rough weather so cut
that out of your cost for the product and what the product does in terms of
service saving and cleaning and you are quids in. I dont run any vehicle of
mine without it now even my 2 stroke motorcycle and oil fired central
heating (have you seen the price of nozzles these days!!) get a dosage.

Your Merc will be fine, it will cut down costs on MOT and your CAT willl be
ok too. Catalytic converters do not work properly until up to operating
temperature (approx 7 miles) so for the first part of your journey you are
clogging your cat (thats why they need to be replaced from time to time) and
then you are running within normal parameters. Soltron will give you a
cleaner burn therefore, ensuring your CAT stays cleaner in the initial
stages and not sooting your exhaust sender either.

I remeber reading somewhere about the MTU saying it does no damage to
engines as far as they are aware and they build Daimler, Chrysler, Merc,
BMW, Smart car etc etc engines dont they?

Closest related product is Fuel Set which is a chemical and does not have
all the properties Soltron has and takes alot longer to work. Soltron as I
said before is an enzyme and as far as I know the only enzyme 'additive' on
the market. I heard BP tried to produce a similar product but failed quite
a few million £ down the line.

Obviously I have a connection with it as in my line of work when you come
across a product this good you'd be stupid not to get involved further. I
have seen Soltron turn an Algae messin a sample jar into clean fuel in 72
hours!

Most trouble I have is mechanics / technicians saying that 'I have been in
the business 30 years and there is nothing wrong with my servicing'! Dont
ask an ice cream maker what's the cornet is made of! What I am saying is he
services the engine well but has no real knowledge of fuel grade quality
degredation etc and the impact each product has on it, also how you use it
etc etc.

Another handy tip for people that have had the bug is that there is an awful
sludge left over when you kill it (this blocks the filters) with whatever
product you use, however, Soltron eats that up and spits out the peices it
dont like out of the exhaust. And another thing (I am writing an essay here
and should be on commission!!) it keeps the cylinder heads clean which
reduces 'blow by gas' past your pistons to the oil in the sump. This blow
by gas contains the sulphur in the fuel which breaks down your engine oil
meaning more wear and tear down below!

If you travel to the Channel Islands it is widely available, however, if you
go to the website or phone the company they can advise you of your nearest
stockist. I hope this helps and let me know the results, I know it works
'cos it does exactly what it says on the tin!

 

[Geoffs]

Re: I Wonder...

If Soltron is that good, why oil companies don’t include it their additive pack.

I worked for an oil company R & D and I know millions ware spent on researching fuel and lubricant additives, in order to gain product differentiation, ie ours is better than yours. As Dom will know, modern fuels and lubricants are a chemical cocktail.

Any additive that would give a 5% fuel economy, plus all the other benefits, would be jumped at. We tested countless additives on engine test beds, and in the lab., can’t recall Soltron though, most didn’t live up to the claims the suppliers made.

I’ll give it a try though! In diesel car & boat

 

[DepSol]

Re: I Wonder...

Hi Geoff,

Thanks for the responce. I have heard that oil companies are interested in Soltron but as you know an oil company is not going to announce anything until the deal they have done is tried and tested so may be we will hear something in the future.

I would like to chat to you more Geoff about your R & D etc for the oil company if you dont mind you can e-mail me privately Kingdom@themutual.net.

Remember though what you have tested were chemicals Soltron is an enzyme! Your quite right and even Alan Priddy (Spirit of Cardiff) has said that he has tested loads of additives with big claims but Soltron did actually work. See previous e-mail for the link.

I love introducing people to the product as I always get a big thank you for it!