Princess 41 smoking engines

[Princess1980]

Engines:

The twin Volvo Tamd60b engines on our 1980 Princess 41 both smoke terribly when we accelerate. We have tried to solve this by doing the following:

- Clean fuel tanks/fresh diesel
- New injector nozzles
- Complete overhaul of turbos
- Added piston wring sealant

After all of this, the problem is no better. At wits end! The good news is that the engines start without any hesitation and sound great. Just need to stop this excess amount of smoking.

Any help would be much appreciated!

 

[volvopaul]

Engines:

The twin Volvo Tamd60b engines on our 1980 Princess 41 both smoke terribly when we accelerate. We have tried to solve this by doing the following:

- Clean fuel tanks/fresh diesel
- New injector nozzles
- Complete overhaul of turbos
- Added piston wring sealant

After all of this, the problem is no better. At wits end! The good news is that the engines start without any hesitation and sound great. Just need to stop this excess amount of smoking.

Any help would be much appreciated!

That’s quite normal for the 60B. And C to smoke on start up , should be better when warm and under load .
Problem if you use it a river speed as the engines just don’t get hot enough.
Use it at a sea a different outcome .

 

[oldgit]

We have a Fairline Corniche with 41B in the club that would put a destroyer to shame on start up.
Once warmed up and underway not a whisper of smoke.
Owner long ago gave up trying to lessen problem, merely learned to adapt and cause least embarassment during any departure.

 

[kashurst]

once you are clear of the marina, drive on one engine. Puts a proper load on it and should smoke a lot less. Go one way on one engine, come back with the other.

 

[Princess1980]

Even when under load it smokes alot and is used in the sea at 12 knots plus. When the throttles are put from tick over to full speed a massive cloud of smoke appears. When at idle the smoke stings your eyes but everything seems to be ok with the engines.

 

[Princess1980]

My 60b's smoke most of the time unless under alot of load. Is this normal?

 

[Princess1980]

We have tried that in the past under alot of load and the problem did not get any better. Once the engines have been under nearly full power for 5 minutes they start to clear up. Is this normal?

 

[scottie]

Perhaps not trying to push the throttle faster than the boat will accelerate would minimise the unburnt fuel

 

[Princess1980]

The throttles are not put to full power quickly, more of a gradual build up.

 

[BruceK]

Man what I wouldn't give to have good old no apology diesels with that "feature". No better way to clear a tight anchorage of excess yotties than run the engines to warm the calorifier :encouragement:

 

[BruceK]

We have a Fairline Corniche with 41B in the club that would put a destroyer to shame on start up.
Once warmed up and underway not a whisper of smoke.
Owner long ago gave up trying to lessen problem, merely learned to adapt and cause least embarassment during any departure.

We have in our harbour an old Sunseeker on 41's that does the same. On a still morning he leaves a contrail the blind could follow 20 minutes later by nose alone. He doesn't need to chain his tender up in storage either.

 

[QBhoy]

Hi
All depends on what colour of smoke you mean.
Blue or light whispy smoke is of course a burning oil or leaking injector cause.

Black smoke is of course a lack of air or over fuelling.

We have the 61a. She always blows some smoke cold and until she warms up. These things take so much load on them to get up to temperature and burn efficiently.
Overhauled injectors made a huge difference and keep on top of those air filters too.

Reality is that until the turbo is spooled up, they are never burning efficiently and will blow a bit of black smoke below the range that the turbo comes in. The fuel pump is throwing a load of fuel in there in anticipation of the turbo providing the air to burn it efficiently. Until then, it will blow smoke under acceleration.
At idle and sitting at the mooring...you will wait hours for the engine to warm up, if at all. Will never be burning well.

I would encourage you to take her a run and give her the beans. Often a good occasional high load run is great for these things. They love to be pushed hard occasionaly. Clears out carbon build up. Love to be worked hard every now and then.

 

[Princess1980]

Im going to try that this weekend i think and try what you recommended! The engines have really had a good overhaul and everything possible checked so maybe ill just have to accept that that is just what they are like.

 

[BruceK]

Im going to try that this weekend i think and try what you recommended! The engines have really had a good overhaul and everything possible checked so maybe ill just have to accept that that is just what they are like.

Attitude is everything. Dont accept, celebrate :encouragement: