VP 2003 Intake silencer (aka air filter) gets heavier at each cleaning

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RIBW

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When the boat would not rev above 2000rpm under load, we first checked that the prop spins freely, which it did (a day spent drying out!) thoughts turned to fuel or air starvation.
As air starvation was the easiest to eliminate, we took off the intake silencer and, yes, we reached full revs under load. Thinking that cleaning the (sealed) unit would be easy, I took the precaution of weighing it dirty(553g). After dousing with gunk and drying it, it weighed 5% more. Next I tried white spirit and dried it out and, lo, it weighed yet another 5% heavier (596g).

Has anyone had one of these apart or know what is inside? What stupidity have I performed?

Luckily I have a spare so all is not lost!

All suggestions welcome.
 
I always thought that silencer had metal gauze stuff inside, as the operating manual says to wash it in diesel oil periodically. Perhaps the answer is to fit the spare!

My 2003T has a different silencer which is basically just a plastic box with foam rubber inside.
 
RIBW said:
When the boat would not rev above 2000rpm under load, we first checked that the prop spins freely, which it did (a day spent drying out!) thoughts turned to fuel or air starvation.
As air starvation was the easiest to eliminate, we took off the intake silencer and, yes, we reached full revs under load. Thinking that cleaning the (sealed) unit would be easy, I took the precaution of weighing it dirty(553g). After dousing with gunk and drying it, it weighed 5% more. Next I tried white spirit and dried it out and, lo, it weighed yet another 5% heavier (596g).

Has anyone had one of these apart or know what is inside? What stupidity have I performed?

Luckily I have a spare so all is not lost!

All suggestions welcome.
Click to expand...

Is your filter definitely the wire mesh sort??? If not then cleaning may be a no go.

I would clean as the manual says if a wire filter! See PVB's post.

Did you use the Gunk something like this or just spray/soak and let dry. It does require the washing stage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lORPwC0HLr0
 
Last edited:
Yes,
It is the wire mesh type - some is visible through the engine collar. I did the non-spray gunk & wash. I have a feeling that there may be a long term build up (we have had the boat just 4 months - past cleaning may not have happened) so maybe I'll have another go with diesel. Unfortunately, the seal is not complete and there is slight seepage from the join, otherwise I could fill it and leave overnight. The engine compartment is lined with anechoic type foam - maybe some of that has been ingested.

Cheers
Bob
 
RIBW said:
Yes,
It is the wire mesh type - some is visible through the engine collar. I did the non-spray gunk & wash. I have a feeling that there may be a long term build up (we have had the boat just 4 months - past cleaning may not have happened) so maybe I'll have another go with diesel. Unfortunately, the seal is not complete and there is slight seepage from the join, otherwise I could fill it and leave overnight. The engine compartment is lined with anechoic type foam - maybe some of that has been ingested.

Cheers
Bob
Click to expand...


I usually stick mine in a tin or small bucket of diesel or paraffin ane then swoosh it about from time to time.

There could be a good mixture of dust and oil residue. May be a bit of steam might help if you can find a friendly owner of a steam cleaner....a proper one and not a surface cleaner like those advertised on TV
:)
 
Lakesailor said:
Your problem is that you weighed it. I have never weighed an air filter. I've never had your problem.
Click to expand...

Yes, with an interest in facts, trends and evidence, I learnt very early on I would never make it as a politician.

The latest is that after a second 'gunk' treatment and wash out followed by an 24hour immersion in diesel (with the occasional swish around) and a further 24hr draining and drying, the weight remains at 595g - 40g heavier than before cleaning. My spare silencer weighs 538g. Tomorrow an inspection camera goes up its orifice!

Has no one had one of these apart?
Bob
 
RIBW said:
Yes, with an interest in facts, trends and evidence, I learnt very early on I would never make it as a politician.

The latest is that after a second 'gunk' treatment and wash out followed by an 24hour immersion in diesel (with the occasional swish around) and a further 24hr draining and drying, the weight remains at 595g - 40g heavier than before cleaning. My spare silencer weighs 538g. Tomorrow an inspection camera goes up its orifice!

Has no one had one of these apart?
Bob
Click to expand...

Mine would need a very heavy duty tin opener:)
 
Bilgediver said:
Mine would need a very heavy duty tin opener:)
Click to expand...

I have now wielded the 'very heavy duty tin opener' around the outer edge thus separating the 'horn' from the mesh. There was no solid blockage visible but the fine wire mesh (held bundled by a sharks-tooth perforated disc on both sides was well clogged with thick goo. The reduced size has allowed me to put the main body of the filter into a sealable container with diesel for shaking/immersion/shaking etc. Loads of bits were extracted on the first iteration, so I'll keep at it until no more bits appear.

The spare goes on the engine tomorrow!

Bob
 
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