Kohler generator overheating

The Unicorn

Member
Dec 14, 2018
80
NJ
Boat Info
2008 280 Sundancer
Kohler 5K
Engines
Twin 4.3 A1 Drives
New to this site and im not sure where to ask this question, so here I am. Fired up the generator for the first time since our sea trial last fall. It was pumping water out the starboard side as expected. Then it shut down on its own showing an overheating code. The coolant overflow was bubbling and overflowing. Did I allow air into the system when I previously opened the radiator cap. Is there a bleeder valve? Or any other thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks, Mike
 
Sublime, thanks for the quick response. I'll run that by my friend/mechanic and see what he thinks.
I'm trying to set him up so he can chime in on this conversation from his own computer at work.
Thanks again
 
Thanks ducky, I'll look into that as well.
 
do some searching common problem.. what model?

is a bleeder screw on top.. any air in system will make overheat fault

heat tube exchanger portion may have built up scaling..
 
Not just a fault code, he said it was bubbling----sign of no circulation of either anti-freeze, or no raw water to cool the heat exchanger. He also said in op that water was coming out from side of boat, indicating that he is getting circulation thru H.E. but it is not cooling the anti-freeze, which leads me to believe that it is not circulating the anti-freeze into the H.E.... And as mentioned it could be the H.E. all clogged up.
 
do some searching common problem.. what model?

is a bleeder screw on top.. any air in system will make overheat fault

heat tube exchanger portion may have built up scaling..
It's the 5k system. So maybe we just need to bleed the system. I'll look for that when I'm at the boat.
All good suggestions.
Thanks so much
 

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do some searching common problem.. what model?

is a bleeder screw on top.. any air in system will make overheat fault

heat tube exchanger portion may have built up scaling..

Not just a fault code, he said it was bubbling----sign of no circulation of either anti-freeze, or no raw water to cool the heat exchanger. He also said in op that water was coming out from side of boat, indicating that he is getting circulation thru H.E. but it is not cooling the anti-freeze, which leads me to believe that it is not circulating the anti-freeze into the H.E.... And as mentioned it could be the H.E. all clogged up.
Really appreciate the feed back. Sounds like it might be any or these issues you guys have men
Not just a fault code, he said it was bubbling----sign of no circulation of either anti-freeze, or no raw water to cool the heat exchanger. He also said in op that water was coming out from side of boat, indicating that he is getting circulation thru H.E. but it is not cooling the anti-freeze, which leads me to believe that it is not circulating the anti-freeze into the H.E.... And as mentioned it could be the H.E. all clogged up.
Also, the oil seemed to be clean and free of any water. So I'm hoping that means the head gaskets are good, and thats not the problem
 
i had scaling in my HE on my 07 5E, let it sit in CLR overnight, stuff came out.. it still would shut off..

had to get every bubble out of the system...

now runs great and will run overnight (i have 4 CO detectors so dont go there) but always a fingers crossed event....lol
 
i had scaling in my HE on my 07 5E, let it sit in CLR overnight, stuff came out.. it still would shut off..

had to get every bubble out of the system...

now runs great and will run overnight (i have 4 CO detectors so dont go there) but always a fingers crossed event....lol
Just wanted to give a big thanks to all of you who took the time to give me advice on the generator issue. Winds up it was a simple fix. We loosened the bleeder valve at the top of the exchanger and the radiator cap. Topped off with coolant and added more to the overflow. She is purring like a kitten..... yes time add a few more co detectors to the cabin. Probably just a few from home store that ill just discretely place around the cabin.Thanks again!!
On a separate similar note. The a.c. wasn't pumping water out the port side. So assuming(hoping) it just needed to be, "burped" as the admiral puts it. We took the cap off the rop of the strainer/filter, closed seacock, put a garden hose over it and purged the line with fresh water......thats working perfectly now too...
 
ac pump...
the original owner had a tee installed with a ball valve after the pump that I can open to purge the air out...
 

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