scooper321
Well-Known Member
So I have what is likely a simple question. I boat in the Chesapeake Bay. And water temperatures in the Bay are 85 to 87 degrees right now. On my dash, my port engine usually runs reliably at 170°. My starboard engine runs just a shade higher (likely dash error - the engine gauges show fine). I am seeing a difference in what the dash gauges are showing now versus where they normally sit. That is, I am seeing higher temps – especially on the starboard engine.
What I'm seeing is that both engines are running a little warmer. The port engine is at about 175 - which I do think could be attributed to the water temps. But the starboard engine is showing close to 180. That is a little higher than normal, even for warm bay water.
I have cleaned both strainers and neither had anything significant. I also checked the impeller on the starboard side. That's the easy one! It was in good shape with all its' fins. I have good water flow out of the exhaust. I did notice my SB coolant overflow container was very low (cold engine) so I filled it up to a little over half. The port side overflow was a little over half full (also on a cold engine). I haven't had a chance to take her out of the slip and run her up to temperature since adding coolant to the Sb side.
My coolant system was flushed, and the coolant replaced, about a month ago. Since then I took a nice voyage where we put about 20 hours on the engines in calm and snotty conditions so the engines got a workout. I didn't notice any temperature issues. Then I didn't use the boat for about three weeks. I'm wondering if this is a factor?
The starboard engine temperature drops from 180 to about 160 when I come off plane into no wake zones(idle speed) It elevates again once I get back up on plane. Another thing I noticed was that my idle speed was not getting me six knots. It usually does. A lot of things can cause that (wind, tide, flow, etc.) and one of those could be a dirty bottom. The boat did feel a little sluggish this weekend. So I'm wondering if that three weeks of non use may have resulted in marine growth. My bottom paint is in good shape, but this is the time of year where that's crap grows fast! So I have a short haul scheduled this week to clean the bottom and the running gear just to make sure that's not overloading the engines.
Once the short haul is done, I think I will have ruled out the easy stuff. Any other ideas? One other thing I am wondering is if my SB thermostat might be on the way out? If it's not opening fully it could be restricting coolant flow. This is my fifth season owning the boat and I have never replaced the thermostats.
I realize I have said a lot. But any other ideas would be appreciated.
What I'm seeing is that both engines are running a little warmer. The port engine is at about 175 - which I do think could be attributed to the water temps. But the starboard engine is showing close to 180. That is a little higher than normal, even for warm bay water.
I have cleaned both strainers and neither had anything significant. I also checked the impeller on the starboard side. That's the easy one! It was in good shape with all its' fins. I have good water flow out of the exhaust. I did notice my SB coolant overflow container was very low (cold engine) so I filled it up to a little over half. The port side overflow was a little over half full (also on a cold engine). I haven't had a chance to take her out of the slip and run her up to temperature since adding coolant to the Sb side.
My coolant system was flushed, and the coolant replaced, about a month ago. Since then I took a nice voyage where we put about 20 hours on the engines in calm and snotty conditions so the engines got a workout. I didn't notice any temperature issues. Then I didn't use the boat for about three weeks. I'm wondering if this is a factor?
The starboard engine temperature drops from 180 to about 160 when I come off plane into no wake zones(idle speed) It elevates again once I get back up on plane. Another thing I noticed was that my idle speed was not getting me six knots. It usually does. A lot of things can cause that (wind, tide, flow, etc.) and one of those could be a dirty bottom. The boat did feel a little sluggish this weekend. So I'm wondering if that three weeks of non use may have resulted in marine growth. My bottom paint is in good shape, but this is the time of year where that's crap grows fast! So I have a short haul scheduled this week to clean the bottom and the running gear just to make sure that's not overloading the engines.
Once the short haul is done, I think I will have ruled out the easy stuff. Any other ideas? One other thing I am wondering is if my SB thermostat might be on the way out? If it's not opening fully it could be restricting coolant flow. This is my fifth season owning the boat and I have never replaced the thermostats.
I realize I have said a lot. But any other ideas would be appreciated.