Cummins 480 CE Maintenance

[Johnny1954]

I have a 2005 420 Sedan Bridge, with about 525 hours on its Cummins 480 CE's. Bought it four years ago when it had about 400 +/- hours. It has always had a white exhaust, especially when started, and even more so when the water is colder. I have been told by the dock friends that I need to have the engines serviced at 500 hours, and that this servicing will eliminate the white exhaust. Two questions: do you agree that a 500 hour servicing will improve the volume of white exhaust? About how much should I budget for this service? Friends have estimated anywhere between $1,200 to $5,000 (total for both engines). Thanks for the help.

 

[swaterhouse]

Technically there is a 500 hour service due by the manual, but other than the normal yearly (in your case due to the low hours) service of oil and filter changes, and zinc changes, the extra is a valve adjustment. The adjustment takes a couple of hours per engine max and is primarily labor and a gasket.

What you REALLY need to have checked is you aftercoolers, heat exchangers and fuel/gear coolers. I assume your in fresh water but you still should open up all three for a close inspection, in salt water aftercoolers should be serviced every 2-3 years, heat exchangers and fuel coolers every 5ish. A full raw water system service will run about $2500/engine. Its about $500 in parts, and easily 10 hours labor per engine.

I suggest you do some reading on BoatDiesel.com and sbmar.com for some great advice.

Finally, the sbmar.com expert is Tony Athens, his recommendation on the 480CE is to prop it like a 450.

 

[Johnny1954]

Thanks swaterhouse. I truly appreciate your guidance.

 

[fr8dog]

I have read that the white smoke is caused by cold intake air. Living in south Florida I have my intake heaters disconnected. I will see some limited white smoke on start up in the winter but that’s it. The tip about Tony Athens is spot on.

 

[Johnny1954]

Thanks fr8dog!

 

[1000islander]

I have a 480ce on a 2005 420. I have a small amount of smoke when I first start the engines. The heaters do prevent most of it. Check your switches on the engines for failure, mine did melt. The smoke is visible in the early part of the season when the water is still in the 40's or 50's. We boat up here in the north east, and drop the boat in on tax day April 15. I also had an issue with my port engine failing, I re-pitched(per Tony) my boat to the high side of 450 specs, which is the low side of 480 specs, I think it is a good compromise and it fluctuates in and out of 450/480 spec's through out the RPM range. My props are at 24 X 25.5.

 

[becnme]

I too re-pitched my props on my 05 420 Sundancer with 480CEs. This helped a lot with smoke underway. As to the cold start smoke the valve adjustment made a difference there but did not eliminate it. Mine were way off so I highly recommend having it done. These engines will smoke more than the Q's but I have noticed water/air temp makes a difference. Boating in Florida it smokes very little in the summer on start up.