Port engine smokin like a crematorium with two fat guys in it.

Steve500dancer said:
Update....ok well after 20 telephone calls and several messages here is what I found out today.....




vy2ezuhe.jpg




I hope that wasn't to hard to understand for you not so technical guys. I couldn't get anyone out to look at this motor if it held the answer to world peace. Hhhmm I may want to re think this darn diesel idea again. It's not to late is it?


Steve
Click to expand...

Nope, I got it!!:smt043:smt043
 
Don't be dissappointed...............there are 5+ possible causes for every problem, so most diesel service managers will not try to diagnose over the phone.
 
Thanks Frank. I know all about Disappointment. This is my 4th boat and 3rd Marriage, I have also raised a teenage step daughter.

So I here that you are not to far from me Frank, what time would you like me to pick you up?


Steve
 
Just got word from one of the Detroit mechanics. After explaining everything to him, he is pretty confident that we are dealing with a stuck or cracked Injector. Bad news is that he can't get to it until mid to late next week. Seems lie a great guy....I am hoping to find someone that can get to it this week, so we can be be out for the weekend. Not many weekends left till Thanksgiving.


Steve
 
Steve, Take heart mate. There are techs out there you just need to be persistent. Frank and I are like the service manager you are calling. At least we have a photo to look at while we make suggestions at solving the problem. Keep us posted on the progress.

Hope it works out for you and diesels are the only way to go in a boat that big.
 
Well bad news all the way around yesterday evening. Had a top notch Detroit guy out and ran several tests. First was a cylinder block off to check for a bad injector and no luck. Then he noticed water on the valve cover. Not a good sign. Then he Checked the coolant level and it was down. Next test was to pressurize the coolant system and check each cylinder. Sure enough the center cylinder o rings are loosing coolant into the cylinders.

He says that he wants to pull it and re build it. He doesn't want to to an in frame. He wants to dismantle everything and pull the motor out of the boat He thinks this should have been caught by the surveyor at Detroit diesel in Jacksonville. Not sure what re course I have with them. However, I am not real happy at all. We are looking at 3 weeks down time and 18-25k depending on how deep we ending getting into it.

I am not crazy about pulling the motor. I would really prefer an in frame re build. He says it says time and money to pull it.


Steve
 
Holy crap Steve!!!! I am sorry to hear that man. That is a real ball kick. I hope there is some recourse with the Jacksonville guy but I believe they have some legalese disclaimer in the survey that is generally blanket protection. I am not a lawyer so I hope I am wrong for your sake.
 
$18-25K?! Wow, that horrible! I know you must be sick about it. I'm sorry to hear it and good luck with the repair.

What a great job being a surveyor must be. You get paid for your years of experience to uncover issues the layman would miss but even if you fail to notice the really expensive stuff you have no liability. At minimum you should get your survey fee back sinse it added no value.
 
Steve500dancer said:
Well bad news all the way around yesterday evening. Had a top notch Detroit guy out and ran several tests. First was a cylinder block off to check for a bad injector and no luck. Then he noticed water on the valve cover. Not a good sign. Then he Checked the coolant level and it was down. Next test was to pressurize the coolant system and check each cylinder. Sure enough the center cylinder o rings are loosing coolant into the cylinders.

He says that he wants to pull it and re build it. He doesn't want to to an in frame. He wants to dismantle everything and pull the motor out of the boat He thinks this should have been caught by the surveyor at Detroit diesel in Jacksonville. Not sure what re course I have with them. However, I am not real happy at all. We are looking at 3 weeks down time and 18-25k depending on how deep we ending getting into it.

I am not crazy about pulling the motor. I would really prefer an in frame re build. He says it says time and money to pull it.


Steve
Click to expand...


#1) Get a second (or third) opinion. Not to re-diagnose the coolant leakage problem (that was obvious from your first post) - but how to best approach the solution. Be upfront and tell everyone involved that money is a big factor as you've just purchased this boat. Get two or three capable Detroit diesel repair shops bidding against one another for your business.

#2) Find out who worked on this boat in the past for the previous owner, and find who has a previous repair invoice sitting on a computer that notes 'exhaust smoking, coolant loss, or leakage'. No need to confront the seller or the surveyor. If you find proof that they knew of problems, and unloaded the boat on you - thats fraud.

Otherwise, lick your wounds and move on.
 
Here is what I have so far.
1-Detroit Diesel of Florida did the engine survey. And all was fine other then turbo leak and cooling system needed to be cleaned out.
2-Detroit Diesel of Florida had rebuilt both motors at 613 hours due in 2006 due to an injector issue that washed out the starboard motor cylinder. They can not find the receipt for the port motor. previous owner that had it done swears that both were done.
3-I had the entire cooling system cleaned and checked by a former Detroit diesel mechanic that did once work for Florida Detroit Diesel. He says he was also the one that rebuilt both port and starboard on the boat when he worked for Florida Detroit Diesel.
4-motor always ran at 165 for me since I bought it. Never noticed any kind of of heat issue or lack of water.
5-current Diesel mechanic says he pulled the air boxes and can see the coolant poring out of the liners from the o rings. He wants to pull the motor and rebuild it. Says it is about 20% less labor to remove and take it to his shop and rebuild it. Says that it will take 3 weeks to remove, rebuild and re install. 18-25k depending on how far we go with it.
6-spoke to original Mechanic from Florida and he says that he should not need to rebuild. He should be able to replace the o rings if that is what it is. He also strongly suggest a bore scope to find out where water is coming from. He thinks it is a good possibility it is from the after cooler seals. I have no coolant in the oil pan when I check the oil before I went out on saturday and when I came back in.
7-set up another mechanic from Detroit Diesel in Nashville to come and give me a second opinion on Saturday morning at 8 am. (Man this would sure make a good web cast if we had the capability to do it. I do have an I pad and Skype as well as Apple tv on the boat)

All opinions and condolences are welcome. Is there anything else that I should do? Check? Or pray for?





Steve
 
Hi Steve
I would beg on my knees for Frank W to be there with you on Saturday and pay his way there and home. I am sorry to here about your problems and hopefully there's a happy ending
KK
 
Suddenly my $4k new engine saga doesnt seem so bad. Looking forward to the second opinion though. Fingers are crossed for you.
 
I would not on my hands and knees, I would offer up my first born to see frank out there on Saturday morning.

It has been a rough couple of weeks. The boat is one huge ordeal. However, my 19 Year old dumb ass step daughter that just had the cutest 2 month old baby boy that you have ever seen, hooked up with an idiot druggy that know has her hooked on some real bad dope. We found the baby laying in an absolute mess last week and had to call the police and child protective services. We spent last week and this week in court trying to get custody. So I had to warn the boyfriend that if he came with in 1000' of my grandson I would kick the **** out of him. Saturday night he decided to make an appearance at the restaurant at our docks. Let's just say that he now understands what I mean when I said 1000' and kick the **** out of him. I thought I was all done raising babies. Here I go again....45 years old, working 12 hours a day and changing diapers. Not to mention this damn boat motor. It is my only refuge from the mental drain of this damn teenager. I sure hope God finds this amusing. Life sure seems to be kickin my ass lately.

Sorry guys I was just venting a little there. Not looking for sympathy either. My motto is that you can never go wrong doing the right thing. I think. Am changing that to "no good deed goes unpunished....


Steve
 
Oops...I was trying to say that I oils get down on my hands and knees, pay frank, by frank breakfast and lunch and offer up my first born. (not my dumb ass teenage STEP daughter) I like frank to much to do that to him.

I also thought you guys might get a laugh out of this picture
uvaqynas.jpg



Steve
 
Hey...you could ask Gary for help -but he would only bring brown duck/rescue tape ...but then again- you could use it on the boyfriend :lol:
 
I am so sorry to read of all of the problems you are having with your engine and otherwise! What a hard time for you i can only imagine i would be losing it right now in your shoes!! I really hope something positive happens for you soon! Life can and tends to change on a dime , hopefully something positive will happen for you very soon and turn it all around!!
Hang in there mate!
 
Steve...hang in there. These things have a way of working themselves out. Use the Size Matters as the refuge. The engine issue will get fixed.

You have my vote for Best Thread Title so far this year!:smt038

Mark
 
Don't get charged with assult Steve! You can't help anyone sitting in jail......If there is no coolant in the oil pan, I'd have the O rings changed while the motor is in the boat, Mike.
 
I've already been in Nashville 3 days this week and will be there Saturday, but am committed all day. I'd just get in the way by asking silly questions anyway.........like Why?, How do you know it needs a new wassits?, How can I confirm what you are recommending?


Also, Steve, I don't know how the cockpit deck is set up on your year 500DA, but it is very easy to burn 3-4 man-days tearing a cockpit out of a 'Dancer to remove an engine (2 man job, requires a crane/big lift truck, requires somewhere to store seating and fiberglass where they stay clean and undamaged, requires careful sealing when reassembling, etc.).....Don't let a narrow minded mechanic lose sight of the goal line when he recommends a complete overhaul as opposed to an in-frame top end - look at the total cost vs benefit. Detroits were very popular in 45' & up boats a few years ago, we've got a ton of them running out of our marina in Florida every day and I have only seen one engine ever need a total overhaul. Every other rebuild has been in the boat.

Good luck with it..............
 
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