Engine smoking

goober · Jan-10-2006, 10:19 AM

i/7/06
Baja 188 18ft

Just as we're leaving the harbor out of dana point, we noticed smoke coming out of the boat. I opened up the engine compartment and a huge amount of smoke came out. The temp gauge was pinned. Well we made it back safely, but now satrt the repairs.

I've been told, its the manifold, wter pump or impeller, or the riser. This is gonna be my first time working on the boat, and I want to get familiar with it.
Any suggestions? I'm on my way to a boat repair place in pomona, to see if they have any books.

thanks

gabe

ILove2Fish · Jan-10-2006, 10:50 AM

There are a number of resources online as well, and many of them sell service manuals too. Just google your engine make and model, you'll get a boatload of references.

Weazel · Jan-10-2006, 12:24 PM

What type of motor? Year? Displacement? Raw water cooled or freshwater cooled?

radarman · Jan-10-2006, 03:18 PM

I had a similar problem wit the gasket between the riser and manifold. Leaked the fresh water into the cylinders. Lucky for me! SHIT. But I never had the engine compartment fill with steam-or smoke. It would go out the exhaust. If the engine compartment is steaming sounds like a hose.

1. Pull the plugs and check for water. If you have wet plugs you have water (hopefully fresh) in the cylinders. This is bad but not disastorous if fresh water. Water can leak in from the riser gasket. Sometimes you can change manifolds and risers and get new gaskets and the engine will be okay. If it's saltwater cooled you're doomed.

2. Got rust around the riser and manifold? Probably time to replace the risers and manifold. They can spring a leak due to corrosion and you're doomed. Saltwater will run into the cylinders and bye-bye!

3. If you're compartment is filled with steam (not smoke) you've got a busted hose and the water is hitting the hot surfaces causing steam. I'd pull the plugs first and if they're dry fill the water again and look around for a leak. It ain't fun and it ain't pretty and you're back will be sore from humping that engine. But, I hope you get off cheap. Those valve jobs and engine overhauls are pricey even when you do them yourself!

goober · Jan-11-2006, 09:18 AM

Thanks guys.
The engine is a Yamaha V8j 5.7
The engine was filled with smoke, not steam. It looks like the water is not circulating at all. I put the rabbit ears on, turned the water on, and ran the boat. It ran maybe 4-5 minutes and I could start to smell the hose burning. There is no kncoking in the engine so I think the cylinders are o.k.
I kinda think its the water pump, or the manifolds.
The motor is an inboard so its hard to get to everything. I tried calling diffrent places, but a lot of these places do not work on this type of boat.

thanks for your help once again
Gabe

Weazel · Jan-11-2006, 09:24 AM

Sounds like you lost the water pump. If the engine compartment is filling with smoke, I wonder if you also have an exhaust leak? Maybe a manifolds got a hole in it.

Wideopen · Jan-13-2006, 08:36 PM

Exactly, I'm tinking Exhaust as well!

Kapdan · Jan-17-2006, 09:58 AM

The exhaust manifolds are made from cast iron and do not last long when water is not flowing through them with the engine running. They will start to warp and then crack. After you fix your water circulating problem, you will probably find cracked manifolds. You can check this without the engine running. First locate your water pump outlet hose. Make a fitting which will include a shutoff valve and attach your fresh water hose to this engine hose. Back off the 6 bolts on each exhaust manifold about 1/2 inch. Just enough to see a space between the manifold and the cylinder head. Slowly open the valve on the water house and see if any water comes out of the exhaust ports on the manifold. Water should be coming out of the lower unit also. If it is not, trace back your hoses and disconnect them one at a time and find your blockage. Good luck.

Dan

goober · Feb-05-2006, 11:31 AM

Thanks guys. I just replaced the impeller which was completely worn. I ran the boat for 4 minutes before it started to overheat. I will check the manifolds and exhaust.
As troublesome as this may be, it is a learning experience and its making me learn my boat. Thanks for all your help, and I'll let you guys know what the final deal is

gabe