black smoke, low power....

[rmadaris]

could this be bad fuel, water in fuel, or a clogged up fuel filter? any help appreciated....

 

[SevenTeas]

Black smoke from a diesel is usually a really bad sign. sorry think you need a rebuild...

 

[Four Suns]

Black smoke from a diesel is usually a really bad sign. sorry think you need a rebuild...

Yep... best advice I've seen on CSR in a long time... like a whole day.

Rip out the engines and get them REBUILT!!!! HURRY!!!!

Need more info for a proper diagnoses... Black smoke means fuel is not being burned completely that is being dumped in. Several things can cause this.

 

[ImpulseIII]

Black smoke from a diesel is usually a really bad sign. sorry think you need a rebuild...

Ah good, another diesel genius.

 

[Dave S]

Ah good, another diesel genius.

............with a gas powered boat. :smt013

 

[Four Suns]

Reminds me of w!ngless.

 

[osd9]

Nah...that's just a Cummins thing....

 

[tobnpr]

Forget the irresponsible reply...could be very innocuous....

Very first (and easiest) thing I would check is the air cleaner element (whatever type you have).

As Four Suns stated, black smoke is the result of incomplete combustion.
Same thing that happens if you firewall the throttles-too much fuel gets dumped, and is not completely burned= black smoke.

A dirty/oily/clogged air filter element will do the same thing.

Three primary causes for black smoke:
Engine overloading
Dirty or fouled bottom/gear
Incorrect prop size

Insufficient air
Intake filter as I already mentioned
Some other type of air restriction. Engine room vents, etc. Lift a hatch and see if it makes a difference. Diesels use ALOT of combustion air!

Too much fuel
Bad injector(s)
Bad or incorrect setting on injector pump.

Hope this helps.

 

[fwebster]

He's in the Southeast............it is August, so he could just have a dirty bottom too.

 

[Four Suns]

He's in the Southeast............it is August, so he could just have a dirty bottom too.

Very true.... 7 days here without movement is producing pencil sized barnacles on the running gear.

But then again... he might need the whole bottom of the boat re-glassed.

 

[Four Suns]

and he needs a complete set of new marine electronics.

 

[jrirvine1]

The problem is that he has a bridge boat. Sundancers do not do that smoke thing.

Seriously, I had the same issue exactly one year ago with excessive smoke and low power above about 2100 RPM. A short haul with a good power wash and the boat resumed running great.

 

[Turtlesboat]

Reminds me of w!ngless.

No, he would have recommended spraying brake cleaner on your air filter while it's mounted.

 

[trit21]

and he needs a complete set of new marine electronics.

Electronics, engines, and bottom re-glassed. I think he needs a new boat, that thing is destroyed.

I don't even own a diesel and I was cracking up at that first post. What an idiot.

 

[Boatingnut]

Did the problem show up overnight, or has this been slowly getting worse?

 

[OldSkool]

tobnpr, Great answer. You have hit the nail on the head on black smoke discharge. :thumbsup:
Most likley air filters are plugged but any of your answers would cause the affect.

We have twin 700hp D16 diesels we could install if he wants to eliminate the black smoke issue. May need a shoe horn to get them in. :smt043:smt043

 

[ImpulseIII]

tobnpr, Great answer. You have hit the nail on the head on black smoke discharge. :thumbsup:
Most likley air filters are plugged but any of your answers would cause the affect.

\. :smt043:smt043

How can you make this statement (air filters plugged) when you do not know the condition of the bottom or whether the props are properly configured?

 

[OldSkool]

How can you make this statement (air filters plugged) when you do not know the condition of the bottom or whether the props are properly configured?

Absolutly right. Thats why I said ALL the answers tobnpr mentioned were great including bottom gear and prop check. It sure is a lot easier to check the air filters than check the gear and bottom don't you think? Or should we just throw new props and gear under it right now?

If the props were misconfigured don't you think the problem would have been evident early on? This is a 2004 boat. Has it been burning black from new? Did they just change props? How long from the last bottom cleaning? When was it serviced last? Many question, yes? Few answers, yes.

 

[OldSkool]

RMADARIS, What did you find out about the black smoke?

 

[fwebster]

Props don't just wake up one morning and be "misconfigured". Even if they are a little out based on the owners final loads, Sea Ray tweaks the props close enough that there would but no noticeable black smoke on acceleration.

The condition concern relates to bottom growth and slime which is hardly a reason to go replacing props, etc., but it remains the most logical (but not the only) cause for the OP's concern give his description.