Exhaust through steering actuator

[Shaps]

@Aml327 and I have been speaking with mercruiser.
Their current thinking is they want more water going through the steering actuator. For our boats, that requires a 'clocking' of the FRP exhaust tube so that the exhaust hose going to the muffler is at the 8-830 position on the stbd side (and 3:30-4) on the port.

To clock my stbd side to the location mercruiser wants, I need to move my main fuse.

 

[bfernald0]

Why?

 

[Shaps]

Why does Merc suggest this?

More water through the actuator keeps it cooler and should increase the longevity of the seals.

Edit:
Think they are concerned about High Temperature Exhaust Gases going through the actuator without enough water to cool it. Turning the FRP pipe to allow more water to flow to the actuator at lower RPMs should alleviate the potential condition.

 

[bfernald0]

Why does Merc suggest this?

More water through the actuator keeps it cooler and should increase the longevity of the seals.

Edit:
Think they are concerned about High Temperature Exhaust Gases going through the actuator without enough water to cool it. Turning the FRP pipe to allow more water to flow to the actuator at lower RPMs should alleviate the potential condition.

Got it. Makes sense.

 

[JamesT]

Shap, I asked my Cummins mechanic about this last week and he said the FRP tubes should never get hot and suggested that if they were, there was another issue going on. Looks like you solved your issue; not enough water flow but I know for a fact mine don't get hot because I once had a high exhaust sensor alarm go off on me while at cruise speed on ocean, pointing me to the port FRP tube. I slowed down and I got my mechanic on the phone (love that he answered on a weekend!). He directed me to feel both FRP tubes with my hand and to see if the side with the fault was hot. I reported back they were both only lukewarm, exactly the same temp. He said problem solved, you have a bad sensor. He said if you want proof, switch the sensors and see if the fault follows the sensor and it did. But I digress, my point is mine don't get hot. That said, we may not have the same generation PODs and you definitely have larger engines than me. Your 48 Dancer is 4 feet longer than my 47.

 

[Shaps]

Shap, I asked my Cummins mechanic about this last week and he said the FRP tubes should never get hot and suggested that if they were, there was another issue going on. Looks like you solved your issue; not enough water flow but I know for a fact mine don't get hot because I once had a high exhaust sensor alarm go off on me while at cruise speed on ocean, pointing me to the port FRP tube. I slowed down and I got my mechanic on the phone (love that he answered on a weekend!). He directed me to feel both FRP tubes with my hand and to see if the side with the fault was hot. I reported back they were both only lukewarm, exactly the same temp. He said problem solved, you have a bad sensor. He said if you want proof, switch the sensors and see if the fault follows the sensor and it did. But I digress, my point is mine don't get hot. That said, we may not have the same generation PODs and you definitely have larger engines than me. Your 48 Dancer is 4 feet longer than my 47.

I agree, FRP tube isn't getting hot. As an aside, I had the same thing happen when I first got my boat. The port engine lit up with high exhaust gas temp. Throttled down, texted mechanic. He said same thing. Was cool to touch and wound up being bad sensor. I travel with a spare now.
This was a recommendation by Mercruiser. Came from Arnie @ MerCruiser Customer Service.

If you think about it, what could it hurt? The water is just going out the thru hull if not thru the pod.
I've got JH Pods.

 

[Shaps]

I agree, FRP tube isn't getting hot. As an aside, I had the same thing happen when I first got my boat. The port engine lit up with high exhaust gas temp. Throttled down, texted mechanic. He said same thing. Was cool to touch and wound up being bad sensor. I travel with a spare now.
This was a recommendation by Mercruiser. Came from Arnie @ MerCruiser Customer Service.

If you think about it, what could it hurt? The water is just going out the thru hull if not thru the pod.
I've got JH Pods.

Check out the position of the tube from the service bulletin

 

[JamesT]

Same JH pods here too. How many hours? I'm about to hit 1,400.

 

[Shaps]

Same JH pods here too. How many hours? I'm about to hit 1,400.

380 hrs