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Engine Temps at Idle

S

sroberts

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"I am wanting to know if I hav

"I am wanting to know if I have a heat problem with my starboard engine. The lack of being able to find a good and available mechanic around here are making me want to say screw it and take the damn boat offshore fishing and see what happens. What would you do. I hope Idle temps are enough, I did not run the boat so this is what I have:

Port Starboard
HE (lft side) 174 184
HE (rt side) 87 85
Elbow (lft side) 120 106
Elbow (rt side) 116 113
Manifold (lft side) 179 209
Manifold (rt) 183 193

next temp was at where the wire connects from the water temp guage:

Port 158 Stbd 170

Guages say:

Port 160 Stbd 175

I measured the heat exchangers where the hoses entered and exited. The top of the exchanger was a little cooler. Also note that the water heater is attached to the starboard engine (if that makes a difference).
Also something that may be noteworthy is that the temps on both engines between the manifold and the valve covers was in excess of 200 degrees. Do I have a problem. I have been doing some reading and am afraid of a blown head gasket. Apparently that is one of the things that can cause overheating. How do I tell easily? Do I have an overheating problem? I have seen the starboard guage go to 195 at cruise before I backed off her and the temps went back down to about 175. Thanks in advance for your help.

BTW Engines are 5.7 L 270Hp 350CID year 1986. I also have something keeping me from putting a zinc pencil back in the stbd HE. Dont believe I have the type that are easily cleaned, will probably have to be replaced, but at $1K ONLY if needed.

Shannon"
 
"I tend to think the stb engin

"I tend to think the stb engine will run too hot at cruise (the 170 block exit temp at idle), but that's obviously a guess. blown head gasket: are there bubbles noticed at the fill cap?
Two big questions: How old is the thermostat and is it a 160 deg? And, what happens at cruise speed?
If the 85 deg is HE coolant EXIT temp, that's a 100 deg drop within the HE. It certainly doing its job (at idle anyway)!! Sure that's not the RW input?? What is your outside water temp? Mine is about 85 btw."
 
"Thanks for the response Diver

"Thanks for the response Diver_Dave.... I am in Freeport Texas, the water temp is probably about the same as yours (85), but not real sure. You did just make me realize that the HE is doing its job. I do not know how old the thermostat is, probably 20 something like the boat...I also do not know what it is rated for. I do not see bubbles at the cap at idle, but I have not really let the boat get hot. At cruise, I can watch the heat temp go to 195, and then I back off...I was told 195 is max... should I let it go beyond that?

Thanks,

Shannon"
 
"195 is too hot. I would put

"195 is too hot. I would put in a new, 160 deg thermostat. Too warm at idle points to that, as does the old age.
If combustion gases are getting into your coolant, you should see them escape at the HE fill.
Your other question about the >200 deg. This sounds like the exhaust crossover on the intake manifold. Normal."
 
"Make sure you check the oil c

"Make sure you check the oil cooler for restriction, too. you can measure the raw water pump flow with a bucket for 15 seconds. make sure you get close to the same amount, over the same time, coming OUT of the oil cooler (the line going to the HX. You can do the same for the OUTLET of the HX.

Make sure the concentration in the HX is right, too. You can check it with the auto type 'freeze point' tools. Down there, you should be able to get away with Pure water and a good rust inhibitor and save the anti-freeze dollars for fuel, bait, or cold ones.

Another item to add to Dave's "what happens at cruise" question is "how long"? In other words, when you plane the boat, does the temp rise to 195 in 30 seconds, two minutes, twenty, etc."
 
"I have 2 Crusader 454's i

"I have 2 Crusader 454's in my 1987 Cruisers Esprit 337. I changed out starters from the originals as the reverse rotation (clockwise) engine starter finally gave up. I installed the standard rotation (counterclockwise)starter in error. I tried to start the engine, it turned over a couple of revolutions and then coughed and stopped. I tried again with the same result. On the third time it would not turn over just "clunk" of the starter trying to engage. Then I realized what the problem was and installed the proper starter on the proper engine. The standard engine works fine. The reverse rotation will not rotate.

How bad did I screw up and is there a fix??

Bob"
 
"I would pull out all 8 spark

"I would pull out all 8 spark plugs and spin it somemore in the correct direction. If its hydrolocked, you want to act on this fast."
 
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