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Message |
    
basil_tselentis
New member
Username: basil_tselentis
Post Number: 1
Registered: 11-2013
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 02, 2014 - 05:15 pm: | 
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I have a traditional wooden Greek boat (kaiki) with a 1970 LISTER 27IHRW3AM22 55 BHp.
I was wondering if anybody could find an explanation for the following. The engine worked perfectly until water came into the boat (it was out of the water and when it was put back in the seawater coming in from the shrunk wood was more than the pumps could handle. This water was splashed around by the flywheel damaging the dynamo and starter motor. As the mechanic was replacing the starter motor he discovered serious damage to the water pump (not from the flooding - just old age and maintenance negligence). The pump was removed and new PARAFLU was added. Also water was found in the oil sump, indicating intake from the flywheel seal. The engine was cleaned from all the water and allowed to dry (over summer for 3 weeks. The mechanic reassembled the engine, but could not start it. He discovered water (unfortunately mixed with oil etc, so I could not "taste" to see if it was sea or fresh water), in the space over the cylinders. The mechanic suggests that this water was maliciously added from the exhaust !! I find it had to believe that someone could do this (I don't have enemies !!). Has anybody experienced such a misfortune (the engine has to be removed in order to be repaired in the workshop !!) and given some explanation ?? I would be most obliged to be informed. Thanks. Basil |
richardhula
Member
Username: richardhula
Post Number: 8
Registered: 01-2013
| | Posted on Friday, September 05, 2014 - 04:54 am: |
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Any raw water cooled engine where the waste is injected into the exhaust has the potential to flood the engine. This is why water traps are usually employed to catch any returning water after engine is stopped. I would suggest this may be a more plausible reason for your situation than malicious damage.
Manual for HRW 2/3 available here if it helps: http://www.4shared.com/office/LYAoALPlce/Lister_HR__HRW_2__3_workshop_m.html |
eric
Advanced Member
Username: eric
Post Number: 50
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Friday, September 05, 2014 - 06:17 am: |
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The chances of water going back down you exhaust are highly unlikely for two reasons, on nearly all boats the exhaust outlet is always lower than the exhaust manifold so even if someone got a hose pipe to push water up the exhaust it wouldn't reach the engine. Secondly, nearly all diesel engines come to a halt on the compression stroke (when no fuel is available to complete the cycle) therefore the exhaust valve will be in its shut position. I am not sure of your type of exhaust manifold but if it is completely water cooled there may be an internal crack in the water jacket you can only test this by a pressure test on the manifold.
I don't think you would get water going in through your flywheel seal unless you were getting oil coming out during normal operations, these seals have a throw back race which throws oil back into the engine and only allows enough oil to lubricate the seal. Water in the oil is normally the result of a head gasket leaking or a crack somewhere in the head. Hope this helps. |
richardhula
Member
Username: richardhula
Post Number: 9
Registered: 01-2013
| | Posted on Friday, September 05, 2014 - 07:09 am: |
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If what eric says was true there would be no need for water traps. There should be a loop in the exhaust pipe before the through hull exhaust outlet to avoid water entering the exhaust system, and particularly on a sailboat which may be well healed over. No matter how low this is, the top of the loop will generally be higher than the exhaust manifold.
As for water not entering the engine via the heads well its certainly come in somewhere on the OP's boat. Note also that its unlikely or even impossible for all the exhaust valves to be closed on a multi-cylinder engine when it comes to rest. |
basil_tselentis
New member
Username: basil_tselentis
Post Number: 2
Registered: 11-2013
| | Posted on Friday, September 05, 2014 - 07:23 am: |
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I am most obliged to both Richardhula and Eric for their time and willingness to help. I was talking to another boat owner and he did confirm what Eric said about the flywheel seal..Maybe the water entered the oil from the dip stick, which on this engine is quite low to allow this (there was quite a lot of water !!!). As you can see I am trying to avoid accepting serious damage such as a head gasket leak or a crack somewhere in the head (!). I will be taking the engine out of the boat, so I will know (!) very soon. I will inform you to increase the forum's know-how. Thanks a lot to all. Basil. |
