Kohler Dealer Coming to look at 5ecd - What should I ask?

[skolbe]

My Kohler is 5ecd is very sensitive to overheating and shuts down, friends that we boat with have Kohler 5E's and they don't have near the issues. I boat in freshwater with significant silt in the water. I always anchor in the deeper water than my friends when running the generator, yet mine constantly needs backflushing and shuts down. MM has messed with it some, my friends don't have near the issues I am having. What questions would you ask the Kohler guy while I have him on the boat. Mine does not have the exhaust mod referenced - but it was my understanding that was only a salt water issue. While my boat is an 07 - it appears the boat was built in Mid-Year 06. I can barely go 20 hours without having to backflush and keep my generator going - others can run 100's of hours in the same conditions or worse with no issues other than new impellers. When, I am running my generator - it is running for 3 to 4 hours at a time under a full load. Never have had a spark plug issue. I have put so many impellers in - I can do it in my sleep. I spoke with BoatDave on here and he suggested looking at my wear plate. I am wondering if this exhaust issue is also a freshwater issue with silt clogging up the catalytic converter.

I have good water flow on the generator, the strainer is clean all of the standard checks - there is not any impeller parts in the heat exchanger. The generator only has 105 hours - because - I have so many issues keeping it running. I get the LOC code everytime. I want to learn as much from the Kohler guy to make sure - I can handle everything myself.

Thoughts?

 

[Nehalennia]

The first question I'd ask is:
"Can you please fix this thing so I don't have to worry about it, it's reliable and I don't have to fiddle with it?"

Best of luck

 

[skolbe]

Good point, it has been frustrating - so a bit of a vent. I just have friends that we raft with all the time that have had no real issues other than regular maintenance. I think - the old exhaust design is really the problem.

 

[skolbe]

Okay, I am not going insane - the Kohler Tech came down to the boat pulled the impeller all of that stuff - everything looked good. So then when he attempted to run it and disconnected the pressure switch on the heat exchange - it wouldn't shut down. So he touched the catalytic converter and it was screaming hot. He said it shouldn't be that hot. So, I discussed the redesign and - he pulled the Catalytic Converter and started trying to clean it and some stuff came out. Reinstalled and while it was still steaming a bit, the catalytic converter was cooler and the generator wouldn't shut down. So, they are going back to Kohler and seeing if they will pay for the new exhaust kit. Learned some things about the generator along the way. I am curious - anyone with a 5ECD ever use the control panel to check the temperature it is running at? Mine was running in 190's. In the Kohler Manual they show the display at 197 degrees.

 

[skolbe]

Good news Kohler is replacing my Exhaust Kit with the new Catalytic Converter under warranty. They have to order it but should be good for the weekend - if we need the generator. I have been fighting this for almost 3 seasons. Thank goodness the generator has a longer warranty than the boat.

 

[Loneranger]

So are there two different exhaust designs? What is the time of the change over to the new design? I have the same generator but a bit newer. I have not had any issues but I only have a few hours on the generator.

John

 

[skolbe]

There are actually 3 designs of exhaust. There is the hole design -which was the original design that some people are having issues with them clogging or salt crystalizing, then there was a multiple slot design (4 or 6 slots not positive) and then there is a 2 Slot design, According to the Kohler tech you have to removed the exhaust at 500 hour and clean the ports. My stainless exhaust did have a date stamped in it. It was dated 4/06 if that helps.

 

[ultratiger89]

Mine was running in 190's. In the Kohler Manual they show the display at 197 degrees.

it has a 190° T-Stat, at least my 03 does.

 

[Nehalennia]

Glad to hear you're going to be back in the game.

 

[skolbe]

Kohler has a new exhaust design that trumps their third design - basically it dumps into the side of the catalytic converter and they reroute some hose - I will take pictures this weekend and post. But the new design makes a lot of sense. No more small holes to clog.

 

[jimdavi]

Interesting, my boat is the same as your's (remember it was in StL) and I have had zero issues, although I do boat in cleaner river water.

 

[skolbe]

I am at 103 hours - The first time it started at 65 hours. People are having issues in dirty water and salt water. Eventually you may have an issue and if so - the Catalytic converter is it. I was told by the tech they had some issues at Lake of the Ozarks which has less sediment in it. Apparently algae grows in the exhaust.

 

[jimdavi]

good to know, thanks!