Filter Fail

[Keith in Corpus]

So your headed from the house to Port A to get fuel and it's a pretty morning and the trip to fuel up is non eventful. Pull out of the marina and she is still running ok no sign of an issue. I head for the jetties there is quite a bit of traffic but nothing to make you want to turn around and go back where you came from. You make it past the end of the rocks and it is blowing 10-15 gusting a bit more at time waves are running 2-3 so no big deal it is a little choppy but not rough. I notice that I am bumping the throttles up a little bit once in a while to keep the feeling she is on top and running nicely. I also notice that the port engine has less turbo boost than the starboard even if you bump the throttle a bit more look astern and she is smoking and performance goes downhill to poor over the next 30 minutes. We are 41 miles out and now the port engine has no boost and they are both smoking a lot if you try to throttle up. So we 1100 rpm in and get to looking for the issue the next morning. It comes down to fuel and air filters. How can she go from running well on the way for fuel to clogged filters that quickly and how do I judge it is time to service those filters before it gets that bad?? People have said they should last a season so plan on servicing the filters when you change oil at the end of the season. I pulled the fuel sender on the tank and pumped 2 gallons of fuel out of the sump and it was as clean as if you pumped it from the fuel dock. I did notice that as we headed for the fuel dock I could not clear all the exhaust smoke with a throttle adjustment, is that a sign that filters are in need of service? Normally I can watch turbo boost and the exhaust smoke and with a bump up or down the smoke cleans right up and it's smooth smoke free running. I have worked on and driven diesel trucks all my life and the service tech said they are both diesel but not of the same world trucks to boats.

[buzzk]

Do you have gauges on your racors?

[PleasureBay]

On my boat when the air filters start to plug up the engines smoke and they continually go down on power. I have 3208 CATS and I made the mistake of replacing the CAT foam filters with NAPA paper filters one time and they only lasted a couple of hours. Went from running great to downhill rapidly.

[Keith in Corpus]

Wait a minute the service company told me the paper were better than the K&N cause too many times the washable K&N would clog due to too much oil sprayed on them after washing. What type of gauges on the Racor? I've been told that the paper air filters would make it for a season is that not true?

[h2ojst]

You can add a vacuum gauge on the Racor's. They also have a pretty cool accessory that replaces the "T" handle. http://racorstore.com/racor-rk23284-sta ... gIU-PD_BwE

[PleasureBay]

I don't have K&N filters they are CAT air filters and have a dry foam outer covering. When I had the filter issue my mechanical and I went out and he was watching the filters which were being sucked in under acceleration. He removed the air cleaner and the engine cleared up and went right on up to max RPM. I had the old foam CAT filters which worked fine and purchased a new pair.

[asher]

If I recall correctly Keith, don't you have cummins b series? If so, paper air filters are definitely a no no. Go back to your oiled / cotton air filters. If you want fresh ones, call seaboard marine and tell them what engines you have and they will sell you the correct ones. If you have walker airseps installed only walker branded filters will work. Also, get a new "service tech". Gatewoods in rockport is a reputable marine diesel service company that does cummins work.

[Keith in Corpus]

Thanks so much for the comments guys I have ordered K&Ns and Asher I will call Gatewoods and talk with them about working on it for me.

[jww]

Gatewood's are good I think one of the better yards in the corpus area