2000 310 water ingestion problem

P

Pakmule

Member
Mar 18, 2007
674
St. Albans, VT
Boat Info
310 Sundancer 2000
Engines
350 Mercruiser w/V-Drives
Can anyone point me to the details of this problem? Like on the Sea Ray site?

Thanks
 
Here are pictures of the exhaust arrangements in the 310 dancers. The first is the BAD exhaust, the second is the upgraded exhaust that corrected the problem. Check with Mercruiser for details as it was their ineffective system that caused the issue.
 
Last edited:
I doubt you will find anything on the Sea Ray web site, as they were reluctant to admit to a problem. There once was a tech bulletin of some sort, but it sounded like an excuse to put the blame on the operator.

Anyway, there is lots of anecdotal evidence around on the web. Try searching here, or using google. Owners who had extended maintenance contracts were usually given replacement engine long blocks, entended exhaust risers, and waterlift mufflers to replace the horizontal log shaped originals. I bought my 310DA after all this was done for the original owner, and have had no problems. Odds are that any boat still with the original exchaust setup would be at risk for water ingestion.
 
Some good news though. A dockmate of mine said Mercruiser paid for new engines this year on his 2001 310DA. He had to pay for labor but since it was no longer under any warranty and he wasn't the original owner he thought Mercruiser came though for him.
 
I had the water ingestion problem too. Merc came through with two new long blocks, FWC systems, and labor included. Mine was the first that they did for the 350 Horizon so I guess they treated me ok.

2001 310 v-drive Horizon
 
Warning!! Reed me!! Re: 2000 310 water ingestion problem

When my engines were replaced due to the water ingestion problem, Merc installed a wiring harness jumper between the ECM and the engine wiring harness. It is big and ugly and is crammed into a tight area which placed undo stresses on the pins inside. This spring I diagnosed for three full days a no-spark problem (all spark components were ok...:huh:) which then changed to a rich burn problem magically (figured it was the TPS when reading a code 20). So I replaced the TPS from the starboard engine to test it... and no change. (strange) So, while it was spewing black crud, a mechanic moved (touched) the jumper harness and the engine rev'd up and started to run normally for about 30 minutes. Then back to the rich burn condition. Obviously, the harness was bad. Calling in the mechanic that replaced the engines 4 years ago... on May 15... he just today got the replacement harness from Merc!!! The boat went in the water May 20!!!! He'll be installing it and checking the boat out tomorrow.

So, all of you with a wiring harness jumper installed when the engines were replaced beware! It will cause you problems and you should immediately contact Merc and have them design and change out the entire wiring harness for the engine. I will be contacting them after I hear from the mechanic that the jumper harness was the problem.

Poor design in my opinion. They should have replaced the entire engine harness.

Hope that this makes sense to you.
-Rick
 
Was this ingestion issue with the inboards only, or did it happen with the I/O's as well?
 
Rick,

I can't imagine what this jumper looks like. Maybe I don't have the same setup. I have had no such problems in four years, although the engine has had plenty of other routine services and some repairs. Any pictures to post? I sure would have liked the FWC.
 
RonF said:
Rick,

I can't imagine what this jumper looks like. Maybe I don't have the same setup. I have had no such problems in four years, although the engine has had plenty of other routine services and some repairs. Any pictures to post? I sure would have liked the FWC.
Click to expand...

I do not have any pictures of the jumpers, but if you can imagine... two pigtail plugs with about 6 to 8 maybe 10 inches of ALL BLACK WIRING! between them then that is what they look like. just look at the two huge connectors that plug the wiring harness into the ECM and you can imagine the mass. Basically, Merc introduced two points of failure which I am steaming about right now. I took the boat for a trial run yesterday and with the replacement jumper it runs ok.

I would sure would like to know from other boat owners if they have the same setup.
 
Water injestion was caused by the risers being too short on the manifolds. The suction created during the combustion cycle was (is) strong enough to pull water through the exhausts and ruin your day. Engineers found that the magic height for overcoming the situation is the top of the riser must be at least 13" above the static line.

I have no knowledge of the log exhaust being an issue, but appreciate the heads up. I shall contact mercruiser regarding that as my new 6.2's have the log exhaust.
 
Another issue that they also fixed in mine was to replace the thermostat with a 170 (or so) instead of the stock thermostat that was only about 120. My engines run much hotter after the replacement. He said the extra heat assists in evaporation of any residual water that MAY have collected above the valves.
 
Hello everyone i am new to the group and I'm looking for help. We purchased a 2001 sundancer 310with 5.7 mpi's with a v-drive's in July, boat repowered in 2015 with quick silver long blocks 50 hrs when we purchased it. Port motor had water ingestion. Manifolders were preasure tested n failed. Top was rebuild with new heads. Since then i have ingesting water into both motors, port side twice n checked starboard and valves have rust. I have new mercruiser manifolds and barr 3in spaces and risers. The boat has the water lift mufflers system. My guess is that im getting water through the exhaust. Are there flappers in the system? I don't see them on the exterior side ports. Is anyone using the plastic resonators that goes in a few inches past the elbow? From what I have read the bigger motors had this problem. I currently have both motors apart redoing the heads. Before I run them is anyone has any information I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you all.
 
I had the exact problem with my 2000 310. Spent a lot of time on the phone with Mercruiser techs and did finally get a solution. Let me know if you want to compare notes.
 
slwnstdy said:
I had the exact problem with my 2000 310. Spent a lot of time on the phone with Mercruiser techs and did finally get a solution. Let me know if you want to compare notes.
Click to expand...
Please share comments
I am interested to hear the outcome
Manyvthx
 
I have a 01 290 DA with twin 5.7
Efi and B3’s the that experienced reversion .
Resolution was found by going from 3” spacers to 6”. No problems in 100+ hrs.
Additionally, on each manifold there is a plug for EGR that when removed will allow a visual check for water in the exhaust side of the manifold.
Finally, avoid extended idle or rpm’s below 1500 and always rev to 2000 rpm for 15-20 seconds before shutting down to expel any water.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,123
Messages
1,426,634
Members
61,037
Latest member
wojozobl
Back
Top