my3sons
Well-Known Member
- Feb 24, 2009
- 3,046
- Boat Info
- 2004 400DB, Onan 9 kw Generator, Highfield RIB,
- Engines
- Cummins 6CTA M-3
Wet stacking is not the issue it once was but even on new computer controlled engines it can be an issue under extreme conditions. As an example, according to Ford, there are 3 primary reasons that in extreme cold temperatures when the oil temperatures are like less than 10 F +/-, my truck engine starts and idles at 1200-1500 rpm. One of them is Ice cold cylinder walls hamper the heat necessary for combustion. The high idle helps “promote heating and pressure in the combustion chambers, prevents fuel dilution and sends a more completely burned exhaust into the catalytic converter and particulate filter”. That is wet stacking prevention in my opinion.
The older engine on my boat doesn’t seem to mind easy running as long as I keep the egt at 400+. On my boat that’s 1050 +/- rpm or right around 7 knots.
We have logged thousands of miles at those speeds and tested fuel viscosity, percentages and moistures have always been under universal averages.
My motors call out 160 degree thermostats and that’s what I run. I believe the spec on them is that they begin to open at 160 and are fully open at 180.
As stated boats at cruise are always “running uphill” so they are going to run warmer than the 160 degree figure.
The older engine on my boat doesn’t seem to mind easy running as long as I keep the egt at 400+. On my boat that’s 1050 +/- rpm or right around 7 knots.
We have logged thousands of miles at those speeds and tested fuel viscosity, percentages and moistures have always been under universal averages.
My motors call out 160 degree thermostats and that’s what I run. I believe the spec on them is that they begin to open at 160 and are fully open at 180.
As stated boats at cruise are always “running uphill” so they are going to run warmer than the 160 degree figure.