Hi Catalina People, While we are discussing engines I want to throw something out there and hopefully one of you can respond.
My engine runs and sounds beautifully. I have had it serviced every year and taker very good care of it. My issue is black soot/smoke sticking to the starboard side of the transom. It takes a couple hours to show up on a clean transom. Keep in mind, my engine never visably smokes.... My trusted diesel guy said my engine at 240 hours is in primo shape. Again 84 Universal M18. My thought is this.... when under power the exhaust exit gets barried under water, small bubbles carrying small amounts of exhaust turn in the water up against the transom around the starboard side leaving a black exhaust mark....always the same place and always the same shape. In my opinion Catalina should have put the exit about 4 inches higher.....and no, the boat doesn't have too much weight in the back. Does anyone have this issue? I would appreciate feedback. Keep in mind all reasons for smoke in the first place have been checked and cancelled out. Thanks Mike ( Tabu ) Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry® -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:47:03 To: <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [IC27A] clickety clack My Universal Diesel sounds just like a big diesel pick up truck...lots of clatter. It's the same as the sound of pre-ignition or engine knock in a gas engine and that is because both pre-ignition in a gas engine and compression ignition in a diesel happen the same way. In a diesel its normal, in a gasoline engine it's not. Mine is probably most noticeable at idle or low speeds and when the engine hits higher speed I hardly notice the clatter. The exhaust noise probably drowns out the noise of compression ignition at higher speeds. If your oil is at the proper level, your fuel is clean and water free, you power is good, you are not overheating, and you have no noticeable smoke then don't worry. Everything is fine. Andy Dalzell Catalina 27, hull # 6298 Battery Park Marina, Sandusky, OH In a message dated 3/10/2010 5:32:38 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes: This is a normal sound. It is the combustion itself. In a gas engine, the combustion takes place in a certain pattern as the gases ignite in a swirl or sequence determined by the spark timing and shape of the combustion chamber. In a diesel, the combustion is initiated by compression and happens all at once. That may not be the most scientific explanation, but I think you get the idea. Mark A Mad Hatter #5306 --- On Wed, 3/10/10, David Savlin <[email protected]> wrote: From: David Savlin <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [IC27A] clickety clack To: [email protected]: Date: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 10:35 AM I agree with Keith. My diesel runs very well and does sound like a gasoline engine with a valve train in severe distress, but I know my motor is healthy. I've learned that a diesel running under normal load should not have any smoke in the exhaust. If you get white, blue, or black smoke in the exhaust there's a problem. The other big symptom of trouble is if you can't get the rated power out of it. Diesels are VERY sensitive to fuel system problems in this regard. Even the tiniest clog in the filters or water in the fuel can wreak havoc. David On Wed, Mar 10, 2010 at 11:53 AM, RobAdkins <_robadk...@lifetalef ilms.com_ (http://us.mc574.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]) > wrote: hi all, i was wondering what a healthy diesel engine sounds like. mine acts healthy but sounds as if there's an extra high pitched tap-it noise akin to the valves on an old small block 350 in need of adjustment. not knowing much about diesels, i thought i'd query the community at large. is there a way to upload a sound recording to the group's page? thanks -rob
