KAMD 300 Smoking & Poor Fuel Economy

[Dazzajohm]

Evening,

Posted this easrlier on another forum and someone suggested I post it on here...

Afternoon all,

Seem to be having an issue with my engine in two regards, firstly it is chucking out so much smoke the whole of the transom is black after just a couple of hours run. I can't say I notice too much smoke on startup - a little bit of grey first of all but certainly not billowing out, however I had the other half watch while I did some mucking about in the marina today and she said when I put any amount of power on there was a dark cloud of exhaust behind the boat.

Secondly, it seems to be drinking diesel - last week I had two runs of around 12 miles a round trip. Was on nice calm days and wasn't going mad, just cruising along around 20kts both times yet used over two thirds of my 60ltr tank of fuel.

In the process of trying to get someone locally to have a look, but thought I'd try and see if any of you knowledgable bunch have any ideas of what this could Be and whether I'm going to need to re-mortgage the house to get it fixed?

Cheers

 

[omega2]

Not up on vilevoes, but I suspect the charge air canister is full of carp, take it apart and clean it. You are lacking air.

 

[Momac]

If you say what make/model of boat it is that might help attract some interest.
I am curious about the 60 litre tank , which seems very small. Is the engine a non standard installation in your boat?
Fuel consumption of 35 to 40 litres /hr at 20 knots would be expected, I think.
Is there any overheating or other issues? Have the air and fuel filters been changed recently? Is there any oil escape under the intercooler?
Where are you getting your fuel? Not using heating oil ?

 

[Dazzajohm]

If you say what make/model of boat it is that might help attract some interest.
I am curious about the 60 litre tank , which seems very small. Is the engine a non standard installation in your boat?
Fuel consumption of 35 to 40 litres /hr at 20 knots would be expected, I think.
Is there any overheating or other issues? Have the air and fuel filters been changed recently? Is there any oil escape under the intercooler?
Where are you getting your fuel? Not using heating oil ?

It's a Princess 266. Obviously was re-engined with the diesel by the dealer I bought her from a few months ago (as the 266 originaly has twin petrols) I queried the small fuel tank and apparently as it's a diesel and so economical it wasn't necessary to put a bigger one in.

Bearing in mind I've only had it a little over three months I was told the engine was fully serviced and whatever else it required before I took delivery, so I'd like to think all filters etc were new as of 4 months ago.

Other than the issue of the smoking and the sudden drop in fuel economy no other issues at all.

I fill it up from the fuel berth at Dover so decent fuel in it too.

 

[Boat2016]

It's a Princess 266. Obviously was re-engined with the diesel by the dealer I bought her from a few months ago (as the 266 originaly has twin petrols) I queried the small fuel tank and apparently as it's a diesel and so economical it wasn't necessary to put a bigger one in.

That comment rather concerns me, that will not give you a very safe range at all

 

[[2068]]

Princess 266 should have a 70 Gallon tank, or thereabouts, = 330 Litres.
Fuel gauges are unreliable at the best of times...

 

[Momac]

As said it would have had 335litre tanks a s standard like the one on the following advert
http://portsolent.boatshed.com/princess_266_riviera-boat-70067.html
I can only guess the original tanks have been removed to allow the large diesel engine to be fitted.

Presumably it's on a sterndrive and has been modified considerably to convert from twin petrols to a single diesel. (If on a sterndrive its a kad300 not kamd300 )

Probably best to assume the engine and drive have not been thoroughly serviced.

 

[Dazzajohm]

As said it would have had 335litre tanks a s standard like the one on the following advert
http://portsolent.boatshed.com/princess_266_riviera-boat-70067.html
I can only guess the original tanks have been removed to allow the large diesel engine to be fitted.

Presumably it's on a sterndrive and has been modified considerably to convert from twin petrols to a single diesel. (If on a sterndrive its a kad300 not kamd300 )

Probably best to assume the engine and drive have not been thoroughly serviced.

I was told the engine and drive was completely reconditioned prior to taking delivery of it - it took three months from me paying the deposit to take delivery because They apparently went through the boat doing this along wi other bits and pieces like rewiring, replacing sea cocks etc.

The engine - Its got KAMD 300 actually written on it which is where I'm getting that detail from, but yes it's on a dpe stern drive.

 

[Boat2016]

I was told the engine and drive was completely reconditioned prior to taking delivery of it - it took three months from me paying the deposit to take delivery because They apparently went through the boat doing this along wi other bits and pieces like rewiring, replacing sea cocks etc.

The engine - Its got KAMD 300 actually written on it which is where I'm getting that detail from, but yes it's on a dpe stern drive.

Something here possibly not right, I always thought the 300 was fitted to a DPG? Or was on a boat I had a few years back, sounds like a few parts they had were put together for this and not a complete package

 

[Dazzajohm]

Something here possibly not right, I always thought the 300 was fitted to a DPG? Or was on a boat I had a few years back, sounds like a few parts they had were put together for this and not a complete package

That's also more than likely - I don't want to get in to running down the company I got the boat from on here, but they have been terrible. There have been problem with the boat one way or another ever since I got it. I was suppose To have a 3 month warranty on it and it took me three months of constantly badgering to get them to come and fix it ( bearing in mind my boat is in Dover and they too are based in Dover marina so not really any hassle). The engineer came last week, spent a day and a half on there and still half the things he was supposed to fix are again not working.

I'm now in the process of trying to get someone else local to come and have a look. I'm peed off that I'm going to have to pay someone to sort this issue when not only should it not have happened on a boat that's been fully serviced etc but it should also be covered on the warranty, but I guess it's getting to the point where I'd just much rather have peace of mind now.

 

[volvopaul]

I'm only having one thought . If it's a DPE it won't last long on the back of a 300 , and who fitted it localally?
Are the prop sizes correct , was a calculation done?

 

[omega2]

cr?

 

[Dazzajohm]

I'm only having one thought . If it's a DPE it won't last long on the back of a 300 , and who fitted it localally?
Are the prop sizes correct , was a calculation done?

I don't really want to say on here who fitted the engine and drive, but it was done by the dealer who I purchased to boat from. Regarding the prop sizes, I'd like to think they did do the calculations etc, but of course I don't know this for sure.

 

[Dazzajohm]

cr?

Yes!

 

[omega2]

nuff said

 

[Chris_d]

Unfortunately you have potentially bought a bit of a project.
P266 was never fitted with that engine, although I think some had single AD41's. It has probably been converted from twin petrol's so has had extensive structural work done on the transom and engine room to convert it. The fuel system will have been petrol so all new fuel filtration and return lines installed. A KAMD300 is the shaft drive version so was probably second-hand and converted to stern drive spec, The stern drive was not supposed to be mated to that engine, so the extra torque will overstress it unless you drive it very carefully.. The list could go on and on and its a 25+ year old boat with all the usual problems old boats normally have.
Not a good buy for a boating newbie, and also a dealer with one of the worst reputations for service in the UK.

If it was me I would cut my losses and get somebody else competent onto it and pay whatever it needs to get it sorted, sorry to be so blunt

 

[[2068]]

Noooo!

Oh Dear.

 

[omega2]

ASK them to take it back? unfit for purpose, if that fails try the ombudsman.

 

[Dazzajohm]

Unfortunately you have potentially bought a bit of a project.
P266 was never fitted with that engine, although I think some had single AD41's. It has probably been converted from twin petrol's so has had extensive structural work done on the transom and engine room to convert it. The fuel system will have been petrol so all new fuel filtration and return lines installed. A KAMD300 is the shaft drive version so was probably second-hand and converted to stern drive spec, The stern drive was not supposed to be mated to that engine, so the extra torque will overstress it unless you drive it very carefully.. The list could go on and on and its a 25+ year old boat with all the usual problems old boats normally have.
Not a good buy for a boating newbie, and also a dealer with one of the worst reputations for service in the UK.

If it was me I would cut my losses and get somebody else competent onto it and pay whatever it needs to get it sorted, sorry to be so blunt

Yes, I know some of the history of the boat and that obviously it was twin petrol as standard from the builders. The dealer adjusted the transom and installed the recon engine and outdrive and to an untrained eye it looked like they had done a good job. I know a couple of commercial boatie people who gave it the once over before purchase who also didn't raise any issues about it either.

Hopefully they will sort the issues, but if not I have someone from Ramsgate on standby to come and have a look.

 

[Chris_d]

On the upside the 266 is supposed to have an excellent hull and capable of over 40knots with the right engines. So if the installation is properly sorted it could be a cracking boat. But I wouldn't waste anymore time with that dealer, they will just not be interested in it anymore.