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Coolant in Bilge

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RayJS

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i Have 2002 twin crusader captains choice 8.1, closed loop cooling. Coming back to marina last weekend there was an audible alarm and starboard engine temp gauge was reading high ,over 180. On return to dock opened engine hatch to find orange coolant in bilge. coolant expansion tank was full. Steam sighted at heat exchanger.
Any thoughts where to start looking or what would be a likely cause, should i start with raw water pump impeller?
 
RayJS said:
i Have 2002 twin crusader captains choice 8.1, closed loop cooling. Coming back to marina last weekend there was an audible alarm and starboard engine temp gauge was reading high ,over 180. On return to dock opened engine hatch to find orange coolant in bilge. coolant expansion tank was full. Steam sighted at heat exchanger.
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Check your oil and it's level, to see if coolant is getting in. If it is, most likely a head gasket

When motor cooled, did the expansion tank lower?
 
Yes oil is at correct level and no indication of water or coolant in oil.
I should add there was a good gallon of coolant in bilge. bilge was dry before leaving dock.
 
Gallon of coolant in the bilge, expansion tank full (hot and cold), motor over heating.

The heat exchanger should be low on coolant now. If it is than there is most likely a head gasket leak.

Pull some plugs and see which plug(s) have been steamed cleaned
 
Thanks for the replies, i will follow up on the weekend.
For the head gasket problem would it blow out that much coolant in a short time , i was running engines for less than 30mins.
Thanks again.
 
Depends on the leak but doesn't take that much. Combustion pressure goes into the coolant jacket. Air in coolant jacket increases temp so coolant starts to boil and pressure builds more which pushes coolant back into expansion tank. Expansion tanks overflows into the bilge
 
update: on the weekend I topped up coolant and went for a sea trial running for 30mins at 3200 RPM. Both engine temp gauges steady at 140. on return to dock found no coolant in bilge all seemed normal. Not sure why the loss of coolant and overtemp issue from original post.
 
One question not answered, was the heat exchanger low on coolant?

One thing that might have caused the overheat is a plastic bag got caught on the drive. When boat stops it comes off

Good to hear your going again
 
coolant was seen at correct level in expansion tank before overtemp problem.
Not sure of the level in heat exchanger at the time.
When refilling do you fill the heat exchanger up to cap or fill the expansion tank?
 
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