white smoke

[Paddydog`1]

Hi
Crossing the channel 2 days ago I had to motor all the way (21 hours) and my 21 year old Volvo penta 2003 issued large amounts of white smoke (steam?). Otherwise running well with normal coolant and oil levels. Should I be worried?

 

[VicS]

Hi
Crossing the channel 2 days ago I had to motor all the way (21 hours) and my 21 year old Volvo penta 2003 issued large amounts of white smoke (steam?). Otherwise running well with normal coolant and oil levels. Should I be worried?

Water flow down a bit perhaps leading to slightly elevated exhaust temperature and higher than normal dewpoint of the gases..

Check strainer
Check/renew sea water pump impeller.
Check hoses for obstruction
Check heat exchanger tubes for obstruction
Check exhaust injection point for obstruction.

But may have been atmospheric conditions at the time.

 

[Rivers & creeks]

Just been through a big investigation on this subject. Follow the seawater flow around the engine, checking at each point for problems. We found debris in the sea strainer, the gearbox oil cooler stack half covered in weed, a cable tie obstructing the water injection pipe and a delaminating rubber pipe. Bear in mind that in many systems the majority of the circuit is negative pressure so it will suck air in preference to water.

 

[vyv_cox]

Raw water cooled? The perforated brass tube inside the cylinder head is notorious for building up carbonate deposits. Often OK for short journeys but could cause overheating on a long trip. Some owners have even enlarged the holes in the tube.

 

[charles_reed]

Raw water cooled? The perforated brass tube inside the cylinder head is notorious for building up carbonate deposits. Often OK for short journeys but could cause overheating on a long trip. Some owners have even enlarged the holes in the tube.

Try running a sulphamic acid solution through the whole unit.

Two buckets, one full of sulphamic acid, into which you put your inlet hose, the other to catch the exhaust. Leave it to stand between buckets for about 20' You'll have a polished cooling system, if carbonate build up is the problem.

 

[VicS]

Raw water cooled? The perforated brass tube inside the cylinder head is notorious for building up carbonate deposits. Often OK for short journeys but could cause overheating on a long trip. Some owners have even enlarged the holes in the tube.

The OP says "normal coolant and oil levels". I assumed, therefore, a freshwater cooled unit

 

[Paddydog`1]

Yes. Freshwater cooled folks

 

[Paddydog`1]

TY for your helpful advice folks