Kohler 5E water discharge question!!!

[Prattbratt777]

I have a 2000 Sundancer 290 with a Kohler 5E generator that will only run for about 5 min before shutting down. I've read dozens of threads/blogs about possible solutions. This continues to be a source of confusion and frustration. The water coming out of my AC thru hull discharge outlet is a steady stream. Does anyone knowing whether the water coming out of the the genset discharge outlet should also be a steady stream of water? Mine spits water out in a mix of "sputtering spray and slight stream". Normal or does it suggest a blockage somewhere and maybe the culprit to my overheating?

 

[importmonkey]

Won't be a steady stream. Basically, it pumps the cooling water into the muffler until it builds enough pressure to spit it out. So water cools and muffles the genny. It should start up and may be loud for a few seconds until the muffler fills with water. Then it will start to spit, quiet and calm down to a dull roar. If you haven't replaced the impeller yet, do it. Cheap insurance even if it doesn't need it and it's easy to do.

 

[scoflaw]

Normal, but there should be no steam

 

[Prattbratt777]

That helps...Thanks. I've replaced the impeller, plugs, changed oil, pulled heat exchanger and cleaned (found pieces of corroded zinc and old impeller in exchanger) reattached exchanger, replaced zinc, refilled with antifreeze. Still same problem. At a loss for what it still could be. For the five min it runs, it purrs like a kitten then shuts down as if I hit the kill switch.

 

[scoflaw]

That's the old style that doesn't show codes, right? Sound like it's running out of fuel. Mine has 2 filters. Have you changed them ?

 

[Jeremygavin]

If you pulled the heat exchanger and refilled with antifreeze then it could be an air bubble in the antifreeze side of the cooling system. These genny's are known to get airborn on the antifreeze side. It has been a few years since I did mine but the basic procedure To get the air out you need to pull the plug with the square head (like a drain plug on the boat) on the to of the heat exchanger, start the genny and it should burp the air out of this hole. I had to do this procedure a few times to get mine to the air bubble. I googled it when I was doing the work and found plenty of better tutorials on the best way to do it.