Generator Water Ingestion

wyrman

Well-Known Member
Jul 12, 2012
1,917
Tri-Cities, Wa
Boat Info
2007 310 Sundancer
Engines
Twin 350's, V drives
2003 Fisher 17 aluminum
90hp Honda 4 stroke
My Kohler EC5 has water in both cylinders. It's river water, if I close the seacock, I can get the water out, but once I open it, it fills back up.
There's not water in the oil, and the compression is 195 and 210.
Any suggestions?
 
I was doing a little reading, and someone had theirs fill up from running with the seacock open. Said something about a bad pick up.
I hadn't started mine this season, just opened up the seacock, and have gone out once or twice since.
 
Check the vacuum breaker on the cooling water hose, its located between where it enters the exhaust elbow.
 
Are you saying the cylinders fill with water while sitting at the dock or when underway? I know that Westerbeke states in their owners manual to "NOT" install a scoop style pickup on the intake for this very reason.
 
Are you saying the cylinders fill with water while sitting at the dock or when underway? I know that Westerbeke states in their owners manual to "NOT" install a scoop style pickup on the intake for this very reason.
I really don't know. I opened the seacock, and have been out once since then.
I didn't try starting it until later.
 
Is this boat new to you? Is this a recent development or have you owned the boat for a while and this just developed recently?
 
This is my second season with it.
The plugs fouled last year because the batteries were bad, and I had a no start.
Once I replaced the batteries and plugs, it worked great.
 
If the vacuum breaker is not functioning correctly it will allow a siphon to be started- water supply at the thru hull is siphoned up and over into the exhaust elbow. This causes the muffler to fill with water, but being a canister muffler it can not drain out overboard unless motor is running, so it fills up and then back into the motor
 
I sure hope that's it. I have to wait until Friday to check it out.
How would one check to see if it's working?
I did a search on it, and very little comes up.
 
The vacuum break has a small one way valve at the top of it that you can unscrew. When pressurized with water the valve seals. The valve opens when the pressure drops to allow air into the line so the line is not filled with water. I don't think that is the problem you are having.
503621.jpg



3.7.4 Siphon Break A siphon break prevents seawater entry into the generator set’s engine when the engine exhaust manifold outlet is less than 230 mm (9 in.) above the waterline of a fully loaded, docked or stationary craft. See Figure 3-9. The siphon break may malfunction when the generator set operates while the craft is in contaminated waters or saltwater. Use the following procedure to inspect the siphon break at the intervals listed in the service schedule. Siphon Break Inspection
1. Stop the generator set.
2. Remove the retaining cap and remove the reed valve for inspection. See Figure 3-8.
3. Use a mild detergent to remove residue and oxidation from the reed valve.
4. Clear blockage from the reed valve opening.
5. Replace the siphon break if the reed valve is cracked or if the reed valve material has hardened or deteriorated.
6. Install the reed valve into the mounting base with the valve downward.


I would be more concerned about a cracked exhaust manifold leaking water into the cylinders. The manifold is cooled by raw water and if cracked will leak water into the exhaust ports, pass the valves and into the cylinders. Normally, the impeller holds raw water at bay but it doesn't take a lot of pressure for water to push past it.
 
Is another name for the exhaust manifold the catalyst assembly?
 

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I believe they are for the same model.

If you look at the link I posted it shows the model with an optional siphon break which is either in place or not. If it isn't....that raises a question. If it is present then it would be a good thing to check the reed valve.

Short of that .....water can't be coming through the intake on a two cylinder engine so it has to come from the exhaust. I'm speculating ......but if it does have a siphon break I would remove the muffler feed and put a hose to it. Somehow the water is backing up into the exhaust ports. I don't know this particular generator model but the drawing shows the exhaust path and if components are cooled by raw water......it has to be there.
 
Do you mind confirming that this is the model that you have? Of specific note they mention that the siphon break was optional which is interesting.

http://www.kohlerpower.com/onlinecatalog/pdf/g2058.pdf
I need to go to the boat and take a look again. Both the ones you and Bt Doctur linked to look really close.
I had a picture, let me see if I can find it.
Plus I have the manual on my work computer, I can verify it tomorrow, and print it.
I really appreciate the help, II'm pretty mechanically inclined, but working in generators is new to me.
 
I believe they are for the same model.

If you look at the link I posted it shows the model with an optional siphon break which is either in place or not. If it isn't....that raises a question. If it is present then it would be a good thing to check the reed valve.

Short of that .....water can't be coming through the intake on a two cylinder engine so it has to come from the exhaust. I'm speculating ......but if it does have a siphon break I would remove the muffler feed and put a hose to it. Somehow the water is backing up into the exhaust ports. I don't know this particular generator model but the drawing shows the exhaust path and if components are cooled by raw water......it has to be there.

I did notice a hose mounted high with a fitting in the middle of it when I was putting my fuel modulator back on, that has to be it.
 
Your picture shows the hoses going to a siphon break which is out of the picture frame so that answers that question. I would check the reed valve on the siphon break and put water through the hose that feeds the muffler to ensure there are no obstructions which is causing the water to back up.
 
The siphon break seems to be working properly.
I turned it over a few times and all that came out of the cylinders was the wd-40 that I sprayed in last time.
I started it three times now, and so far so good.
Could it have just been one of those things?
 

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