Sheen in water

[scoflaw]

Is using carbon cleaner something that is recommended for my situation?

Hell no, you need to get to the bottom of your issue not band aid it

 

[boater2065]

Hell no, you need to get to the bottom of your issue not band aid it

Thank you, figured as much but thought i'd ask.

 

[boater2065]

Hell no, you need to get to the bottom of your issue not band aid it

Do you mind me asking why you think the middle plug in the photos is burning oil? I ask because i'm a noob and am just curious. I also zoomed in on the photo and it almost looks like there are drops of green liquid on the ground and the electrode (coolant?).

 

[scoflaw]

Do you mind me asking why you think the middle plug in the photos is burning oil? I ask because i'm a noob and am just curious. I also zoomed in on the photo and it almost looks like there are drops of green liquid on the ground and the electrode (coolant?).

You can see a build up accumulating. If it was just overly rich it would be black and fluffy like plug #1.

You got issues and I bet it doesn't run that well. Do that Compression and leakdown, that will give you an idea which direction to go.

 

[boater2065]

Appreciate your input. Oddly it does seem to run fine aside from the fumes and sheen. I'll take the advice and get a mechanics view of the plugs.

 

[Rohan]

Thank you for the tip. I did check my reservoir for this fluid and it is not low that i could see. Question for you, were you seeing the sheen without the engine running? Or only when the engine was running? In my case, there is no sheen without the engine running.

Hi Jeff,
I only noticed it when the engine had been running when docking, but that meant that I had been out and about and using the tilt/trim when I was out. I do return the leg to fully down as I motor the last mile or two through a no wash zone back to my marina, so I know I hadn't used the tilt/trim for some reasonable time prior to docking. I had convinced myself the leak was elsewhere and it was so small it took a couple of days on the hard stand for me to locate it - after I had spent too much time looking elsewhere. As I said, one tiny drop in the water and it looks like the Exxon Valdez. I didn't notice the few drops missing from the reservoir. I'm moored in salt water and have replaced the hydraulic hoses at least once each (some twice) in the 9 years I've had this boat. I keep a spare set in my inventory of boat bits...

 

[techmitch]

Appreciate your input. Oddly it does seem to run fine aside from the fumes and sheen. I'll take the advice and get a mechanics view of the plugs.

"It does seem to run fine" What is your W.O.T.? I think this was asked earlier in this thread or in another thread you had going.

 

[boater2065]

"It does seem to run fine" What is your W.O.T.? I think this was asked earlier in this thread or in another thread you had going.

Correct, i have not had the chance to go wide open due to weather the last few times out. If i get out before speaking to the mechanic i will report back here with that info

 

[techmitch]

Correct, i have not had the chance to go wide open due to weather the last few times out. If i get out before speaking to the mechanic i will report back here with that info

Gotta find the time/weather window to do this as the results will tell us a lot.
Be sure you trim correctly to obtain max. wot.

 

[Riptide III]

I have attached a couple photos of the plugs when i replaced them. These plugs in the photos were used for about 10 months.

View attachment 96969 View attachment 96970 View attachment 96971

I agreed with you at first, but then, the more I look at the middle one the more I’m not sure.
Do you think it’s possible it could be water?

 

[boater2065]

I agreed with you at first, but then, the more I look at the middle one the more I’m not sure.
Do you think it’s possible it could be water?

I'm not sure. Next week I'll get down to the boat and pull the plugs again to get a better look.

 

[Phasma]

I had the same problem when I first bought my 360 with 8.1s. There was a miss in the starboard engine and heavy exhaust and an oil sheen. I did a compression check on the engine. Ended up have cracked rings in one cylinder. Pulled the engine bored 30 over and rebuilt. Its been fine ever since. Probably a worse case scenario but it was my experience

 

[boater2065]

UPDATE:

On second inspection and sea trial the mechanic opened up the throttle bottle to find the amount of fuel spraying was extremely excessive, causing the smell, exhaust and sheen in the water. When he checked the fuel pressure at the rail it tested fine, but what he saw inside the throttle bottle didn't match with the fuel pressure readings. Anyways, he's going to have the throttle body rebuilt and all should be good. Fingers crossed.

 

[scoflaw]

EFI in 2002? I would think MPI

 

[Tacoma290]

EFI in 2002? I would think MPI

Throttle Body Fuel Injection.

 

[scoflaw]

I'd suspect the ecm is commanding the flow or the sensors controlling the ecm.

 

[boater2065]

Well i'll find out soon. And i'm going to be furious if i spend all this money and it's not fixed.

 

[boater2065]

Latest update: Throttle body was rebuilt. I fired up the boat to still see some heavy exhaust and a bit of sheen in the water. However, once the engine got up to temp, the exhaust and sheen disappeared. The way the mechanic described it to me is when the engine is cold, fuel flows harder until the engine warms up and then the throttle body regulates the flow of fuel.

My spark plugs are pretty black from quite a while of too much fuel flow. Is it possible to use a carbon cleaner to clean these up? I just replaced the plugs a couple months ago and they only have a few hours on them, so i'm hoping i dont need to replace them. Thoughts on all of this?

 

[sbw1]

The Merc 454s in my 370 always put out a little sheen at start up. I bought the boat new and ran it for 10 seasons. Never used oil and was absolutely reliable. Your sheen looks like gasoline to my eye, just like on my 454s. If things are working well, live with it.

 

[sbw1]

Latest update: Throttle body was rebuilt. I fired up the boat to still see some heavy exhaust and a bit of sheen in the water. However, once the engine got up to temp, the exhaust and sheen disappeared. The way the mechanic described it to me is when the engine is cold, fuel flows harder until the engine warms up and then the throttle body regulates the flow of fuel.

My spark plugs are pretty black from quite a while of too much fuel flow. Is it possible to use a carbon cleaner to clean these up? I just replaced the plugs a couple months ago and they only have a few hours on them, so i'm hoping i dont need to replace them. Thoughts on all of this?

Black spark plugs indicate a rich fuel mixture. They should be light tan after a full tune up. Is there a way to adjust your fuel mixture? When was the last complete tune up performed on your engines? You said the plugs are new. Are they hot enough? Are they the originally spec'd plugs? Any other ignition parts that are serviceable? It's been a while since I owned your engines, but I seem to recall there was some leeway in the type of plugs that were used depending on conditions.