Dunno, but THIS :eek: was in my exhaust just above where the raw water is injected!

I'd inspected it 2 years earlier, but you can't see the middle of the pipe from either end...

Rob,
I've never seen anything like that! What causes that much buildup? Anybody?

Cheers!

Steve,
I'm not sure, but let me throw out a few possible ideas for the carbon buildup:

Age
Engine Overloading (over-propped)
Excessive Idling
Worn Injectors
Running engine temp at less than 165-180
Poor Quality Fuel

I'm sure some diesel mechanic types can come up with others.

I'd agree with that list.

I'd expect to see the engine running a bit hot under load with that much exhaust blockage. Movement of air through the engine plays a significant role in engine cooling.

Funny thing - the engine seemed to run fine, but did get hot if run at full throttle. I had a new pipe made in Fiji (long story) but the overheating got slowly worse over 6 months and it would not run wide open. Even ran hot at 2200 RPM for 20 minutes as leaving New Caledonia so we babied it back to New Zealand. (Truth is - we had 15 to 20 Kts true wind speed, close hauled and pinching for seven days, port tack for 900 miles. Only ran the engine for an hour and a half)

The blockage was a short length of pipe, about 3 cm JUST before the water injection. The black crud was too hard to chip away with a flat screwdriver and hammer.

So many problems we've ordered a new Beta 25!

The same thing happened to me. The hole for the exhaust closed down to about 3/8" diameter. I could not get over 2200 RPM under load.

The iron pipe between the exhaust manifold and the cooling elbow was completely corroded through right where the build up occurred. I think probably the relatively cold temperature of the mixing elbow caused the exhaust to condense on the wall of the pipe at that point. The condensation would be highly corrosive, with the sulfur and other stuff that is in diesel exhaust.

Complete failure occurred on a cruise. I was able to limp into a marina that had a hardware store that had a supply of iron pipe fittings, and I pieced together a replacement exhaust system out of 1-1/4 pipe fittings. Sure did fix the power problem.

After returning to home port, I ordered the same fittings in 316SS from an online merchant, and replaced the iron.

Unwelcome sight as we approached Fiji in a flat calm, Koro Sea :(

Rob,i really enjoy your posts from the S.Pacific.I sailed for 3 yrs,Solomons,Vanuatu,Fiji,Wallis,Tonga,Vavau...but most of the time based out of Suva or Lautoka.This was back in late 70s before satnav etc...It would be great it you had a blog or justed posted in the cruising section your opinions/experiences of things down there.I loved Fiji,and kept going back,sailing out to another country so i could renew my tourist visa in Fiji,They finally got tired of me (charters without a permit) and i had to leave in 1980.The trip you make in the 40s out of NZ to the Cooks is infamous...in a C36!cutter rigged..Anyway,your sailing a wing keel like mine,so i pay attention to your posts.Keep it up,and thanks,Greig

Hi Greig

Thanks for that.
Your cruising area looks beautiful! Canada seems to share lots of attributes with New Zealand ;)
We have actually done a blog - mostly for friends and family so it's not something where people read every word! We try to include pictures of most of the interesting things we come across though, so if you want to it's here: [URL="http://www.windstar.jimdo.com"]http://www.windstar.jimdo.com[/URL]