Winterizing Generator Fail

[madgrit]

As much as I hate to admit it, but my attempt to change the oil and winterize the generatored failed. I figured I would put this out there so nobody else would do the same thing. My boat is on the hard and I wanted to change the oil and oil filter. So I hooked the waterhose up to the strainer and proceeded to turn on the hose and run back to the boat to start the generator up so I could heat let it run for a bit so it would make it eaiser to change the oil before I put the pink in. Generator would not start, so got off the boat ran and turned off the hose. The generator would just clunk. Almost as if the batteries were to weak to turn it over, but I was able to start both port and starboard motor with no issues. So I plugged it into shorepower and let it charge over night. Came back the next day and same result. Decided to turn it over to my mechanic.

Ends up that you should not hook hose up to the strainer as there is to much pressure which caused the engine to fill up with water. I did not have the seacock open. He drained the generator and change the oil a few times and it started up and ran for 20 minutes with no issues. Then he proceeded to winterize. I will change the oil and filter once more before spring commissioning. Hopefully I did not ruin the generator. He told me in the future to just put the hose in the strainer next time or have the seacock open.

I still do not understand as I would think the raw water cooling is seperate from the engine so I do not understand how water could get into the engine from to much pressure from the water hose.

Now that I am writing this, I am wondering if I did any damage to my engines. I did the same process and noticed that water was coming from where the shaft comes through the hull. Is that normal or did I bust out my shaft seals? Once I started the motors the water was coming out of the side as it should. I would hate to put the boat in the water in spring for it to sink cause I busted out both seals. :smt089:smt100:smt089

 

[LTD.330]

You are lucky. Hope you have a powerball ticket.

The water coming from the shafts is OK. Your boat has dripless shaft seals and water from the raw water pump is used to cool the seals while you are running. If you look closely at the shaft seals you will see the cooling tube and can follow it back to the engine.

 

[ZZ13]

Apparently a Kohler 5E generator can ingest water into the engine. My manual has instructions, as part of the start sequence, to close the seacock when trying to start if it doesn't start after the first attempt in order to prevent getting water into the exhaust piping. It goes on to warn: "A water-filled exhaust piping and silencer may further hinder generator starting and cause seawater entry into the engine cylinders through the exhaust valve."

 

[Turtlesboat]

Lucky, if you do a search in the forum, others weren't so lucky.