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

Thank you Frank....I appreciate the help. I do have several questions. I would love to talk to you on the telephone if that is all possible. I certainly don't mind paying you for your time.

I have a guy down at the dock right now and I am having him take a piece of paper and wipe the dipstick o. It. The coolant is red. If I have any coolant in the oil it should show up on white paper I would think. I also think that if I don't have any coolant in the oil, and the oil pressure was good. I can't see the bottom end needing rebuilding. However, I am a gas jockey and not real sure about diesels.


Steve
 
Here are pictures of the oil off the dip stick and a copy of the engine survey from may or June. No Water or coolant on the dipstick.

hu6eryda.jpg


8uja9upe.jpg


Steve
 
The white paper test for coolant in the oil won't work. After a few minutes, the moisture cooks off and ends up as sludge. To know what is going in, you need a fluid analysis. Thompson Caterpillar in Lavergne does the Cat SOS test and the prepaid test kit with analysis is about $14.

Depending upon how old this problem really is, you may or may not have bottom end issues. These would not be the first Detroits sold to an unsuspecting buyer after the owner found a problem he didn't want to fix.

Do you still have my phone number?
 
Thank you Frank. I lost my I pad in the lake last fall and your number didn't get transferred. Hhhmmm starting to appear to be a common denominator to all my troubles
ME + LAKE = $
ME + BOAT = $
ME + WOMEN = 2 X WIVES + CURRENT WIFE = STEP DAUGHTER + BABY = $

Y + ME + LAKE + BOAT + WOMEN = $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Steve
 
A little late jumping in, but we had similar issue 4-5 yrs ago. Rebuilt the port engine inframe in about 3 days. Detroit had complete cylinder sleeves. Searay and Detriot did an awsome job designing this package, easy to rebuild in place, drop oil pan, pull heads and go. Our work was done by Covington Detroit. We had to buy a new head also. Total job was around 11k. One thing I learned clean fuel, clean fuel, clean fuel. Have injectors checked from time to time. These engines are basically bullit proof. It would probably run for years just like it is.
 
Don't worry, I will keep you posted. I am also setting up a repair fund website. I will gladly take donations. Thinking about doing a Detroit Diesel telethon. I am going to talk to Frank about a guest appearance.


Steve
 
Bahama, was it a 500 da that you had the inframe done on? was it doing the same thing as mine. This mechanic seems to think it will be so much easier to do it out of the boat. He says that it will only take him 1/2 a day to pull all the furniture and have the motor ready to pull.

He really doesn't want to do an inframe. Man I would be thrilled with 11k. This guy thinks that I need to do a complete rebuild including blower and turbo or he won't warranty the work. He also says says at if he pulls it next Wednesday, he will have it back in the water by the first week of October. Certainly not 3 days.


Steve
 
Hi Steve, I've been fixing Detroits for years and they really aren't that difficult to diagnose. You've been getting alot of advise, some right on the money, others not so much. Put simply, white smoke coolant in exhaust and/or oil, grey smoke fuel in exhaust, blue and or black smoke oil in exhaust. Since I can't quite see the smoke from here it seems you should strt with the easy stuff. If there is coolant in the oil your oil will be a thick milky grey color after running the engine(deisel techs call it milkshake). After the engine is cool the oil and coolant separate with the oil floating to the top. If you have bad turbo seals the easiest way to check is to pull the outlet hose off of the turbo and the hose will be oily(a lot of oil, a slight residue is nothing to worry about). An overfueling injector is easily checked with with a computer(assuming this is a DDEC engine) but you can also put your hand in the smoke for a few moments and then smell it, if its coolant it will be sweet smelling, fuel will smell just like deisel and oil will smell putrid. Your best bet may be to pay a tech to tell you exactly what's wrong, this shouldn't cost you more than an hour's labor. Good luck! Break Out Another Thousand!!!!
 
Oops, sorry Steve I missed a whole page of posts, GET ANOTHER OPINION!! Too much money involved. If you have coolant going into the cylinder isn't this head gasket issues and not overhaul issues? Overhaul issues would be cylinder liner o rings putting coolant into the oil pan(not the cylinder) causing the milkshake condition. Even then they could fix only that cylinder in the boat as long as they can get the oil pan off in the boat. Keep looking for a tech you trust and call a truck shop and ask what they get for the same repair. The price might be a little higher but certainly not 25k. Ouch!!! Find an old timer detroit diesel tech who owns a deisel boat, chances are he'll give you an honest diagnosis and tell you the best way to proceed with the repair.
 
Yes it was 500da with 8/92s. I miss stated, our problem was on one side of the engine, so we really rebuilt half, But yes it was easy, of course I did not do the work myself, but I was there most of the time. The engines are mounted high of the stringers and floor, pleanty of room to drop the pan. With 2 cockpit hatches out there was also plenty of room to work the top end. Our problem seemed the same, faulty fuel injectors washed out 2 cyls. would not stop smoking, loosing some coolant. We opted to to the entire side head and all. Also recently we have a turbo housing wear thru. similar symptoms, loosing coolant and smoking. remove turbo had it welded, not problems since. Diesels are a blast, haha. Still wish we had our 420da. loved those 454s, poof 5 grand new engine. Good luck
 
bahamabreisus said:
Yes it was 500da with 8/92s. I miss stated, our problem was on one side of the engine, so we really rebuilt half, But yes it was easy, of course I did not do the work myself, but I was there most of the time. The engines are mounted high of the stringers and floor, pleanty of room to drop the pan. With 2 cockpit hatches out there was also plenty of room to work the top end. Our problem seemed the same, faulty fuel injectors washed out 2 cyls. would not stop smoking, loosing some coolant. We opted to to the entire side head and all. Also recently we have a turbo housing wear thru. similar symptoms, loosing coolant and smoking. remove turbo had it welded, not problems since. Diesels are a blast, haha. Still wish we had our 420da. loved those 454s, poof 5 grand new engine. Good luck
Click to expand...

I am gonna keep my mouth shut....
 
Ours is a 1992, we have 3 floor panels that lift out. Each panel is approx 4'x6'. The entire cockpit floor is open. Cant believe they changed that.
 
I have never noticed another hatch. It appears that the 96 opens up only from the center and that is a 2x3 opening where the ladder is. The rest appears to be one piece that goes from the transom to the back of the sofa. It sure makes more sense to have seperate hatches. Damn I might break out my chain saw and fix that little design flaw.

Steve
 
And, that one piece is bedded down in a drain and thru bolted around the edges. After the seating is removed, you have to sling the cockpit deck and lift it out from the rear very carefully with a crane or a big lift truck with a long reach. Your guy says 1/2 a day....? Remember, icemakers, lighting, etc that have wires and plumbing will need to be removed and reinstalled.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,163
Messages
1,427,600
Members
61,073
Latest member
kolak3
Back
Top