Kohler 5ECD Not Running EC62, UU, UF

That’s nowhere near enough water. It truly should be a deluge compared to that trickle. Impeller probably grenaded. Mine sounded exactly the same when it let go.

moves enough water to cool, but not enough to deaden the sound or prevent steam in the exhaust
 
That’s nowhere near enough water. Impeller probably grenaded. Mine sounded exactly the same when it let go.

moves enough water to cool, but not enough to deaden the sound or prevent steam in the exhaust
Impeller is fine. First thing I checked. And I installed that impeller in the same motion as taking the whole raw water system apart to clear out older fins and salt. It actually looks like the right amount of water to me based on the past year of use since I overhauled this thing. But you have always provided solid advice so I’ll go dig back into the raw water lines to be sure.
 
Impeller is fine. First thing I checked. And I installed that impeller in the same motion as taking the whole raw water system apart to clear out older fins and salt. It actually looks like the right amount of water to me based on the past year of use since I overhauled this thing. But you have always provided solid advice so I’ll go dig back into the raw water lines to be sure.

I’ll try to get a video of mine running and share it in the next few days (but I don’t have any hosting accounts?)

it is easily 3-4 times that volume with a much more subdued tone.

I did gave some grass pack up in my seacock and hose before the strainer that severely impeded flow and not long after that the impeller grenaded.

perhaps close the seacock and put a garden hose in the strainer. If it improves that would show a restriction before the strainer
 
I’ll try to get a video of mine running and share it in the next few days (but I don’t have any hosting accounts?)

it is easily 3-4 times that volume with a much more subdued tone.

I did gave some grass pack up in my seacock and hose before the strainer that severely impeded flow and not long after that the impeller grenaded.

perhaps close the seacock and put a garden hose in the strainer. If it improves that would show a restriction before the strainer
Thanks. Good garden hose tip. I didn’t have a hosting site either. Signed up for a free Vimeo account to upload and share that.
 
DA098F81-A9F7-4050-88DC-4E28F82E4527.jpeg


Hose in the sea strainer produces the same steam/water supply so appears any blockage is in the bilge and not at thru hull. Impeller is intact. Trying to find water line blockage but not finding anything and I’ve take this whole thing apart before. Not clear what new blockage might have suddenly been introduced given the impeller is fine. I always flush fresh water through it after being in salt.

I’ll try to get a video of mine running and share it in the next few days (but I don’t have any hosting accounts?)

it is easily 3-4 times that volume with a much more subdued tone.

I did gave some grass pack up in my seacock and hose before the strainer that severely impeded flow and not long after that the impeller grenaded.

perhaps close the seacock and put a garden hose in the strainer. If it improves that would show a restriction before the strainer
 
Still no joy. Pulled all the hoses and the zinc. Ran hose water through everything. No junk, no apparent blockages. But put it all together and I start boiling water again.
 
Still no joy. Pulled all the hoses and the zinc. Ran hose water through everything. No junk, no apparent blockages. But put it all together and I start boiling water again.
Attala,

Not sure if you mean you've removed all the hoses from the seacock onwards - if not I'd recommend that.

I had an issue with an engine overtemp (main engine, not generator) and it was traced to the seacock/strainer hose having an internal failure, wherein the rubber had delaminated inside and was sucking down to partially block the hose during engine operation.

While the hose is off I'd also open the seacock and check you're getting a good flow into the boat.

Rob
 
Attala,

Not sure if you mean you've removed all the hoses from the seacock onwards - if not I'd recommend that.

I had an issue with an engine overtemp (main engine, not generator) and it was traced to the seacock/strainer hose having an internal failure, wherein the rubber had delaminated inside and was sucking down to partially block the hose during engine operation.

While the hose is off I'd also open the seacock and check you're getting a good flow into the boat.

Rob
Indeed. Every hose between seacock and tailpipe. I put a shore hose into the strainer, too, with the seacock closed, which eliminates the thru hull from the equation and had the same behavior, so it isn’t a water flow at the thru hull issue.
 
Maybe an issue with the heat exchanger - thermostat OK?
FYI this is what it should look like:
IMG_2136.JPG


Just had to edit this - obviously the thermostat will have no effect on the raw water flow - it's in the cooling water circuit - doooh...

Clutching at straws a bit here, but perhaps remove the heat exchanger and have the raw water side flow tested.
The other possibility is the catalytic thingy (looks like a large stainless steel muffler) If you look back on this thread there's a photo of mine showing the slots that the raw water passes through (surrounding the exhaust opening) clogged with salt. Or have you already done that?

The impeller looks OK but did you pull it out and check the outlet port in the pump for a bit of broken vane from the previous impeller?
 
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If the generator raw water pump is above the water line the pump cover plate may not be sealing reducing the suction of water.
 
Maybe an issue with the heat exchanger - thermostat OK?
FYI this is what it should look like:
View attachment 111119

Just had to edit this - obviously the thermostat will have no effect on the raw water flow - it's in the cooling water circuit - doooh...

Clutching at straws a bit here, but perhaps remove the heat exchanger and have the raw water side flow tested.
The other possibility is the catalytic thingy (looks like a large stainless steel muffler) If you look back on this thread there's a photo of mine showing the slots that the raw water passes through (surrounding the exhaust opening) clogged with salt. Or have you already done that?

The impeller looks OK but did you pull it out and check the outlet port in the pump for a bit of broken vane from the previous impeller?
I pulled the impeller, the pump and hoses to check for junk and confirm the drive sleeve. Plus, I had already cleaned out the prior impeller pieces when I put this one in, but reconfirmed yesterday.

I pulled the inlet and outlet hoses on the exchanger and ran a garden hose into one end. The full flow of the hose which should be around 5gpm was flowing freely through it.

Regarding the tailpipe, no, I have not pulled the pipe. I did pull the hoses that run from the exchanger into the exhaust manifold. I’ve been thinking about this as one of the last frontiers. If I pull the exhaust hose and get those four bolts off along with the tailpipe, will I have clear access to clean that water inlet out? It’s really the only part of the raw water pathway that I have visually inspected.

This is such a bad design. We need some innovation in raw water cooled engines.
 
If the generator raw water pump is above the water line the pump cover plate may not be sealing reducing the suction of water.
Sure, but that’s an odd thing to happen all of the sudden since the raw water pump has been above the water line for 14 years.

the oring under the plate is in place and intact.
 
Have you measured the water on the discharge side of the heat exchanger by disconnecting the hose at the exchanger?
 
Have you measured the water on the discharge side of the heat exchanger by disconnecting the hose at the exchanger?
I have not “measured” literally but I’ve run my shore hose through it with the hoses on both ends disconnected and all of the water flow from the hose freely flows through the exchanger. No pressure build up.
 
I have not “measured” literally but I’ve run my shore hose through it with the hoses on both ends disconnected and all of the water flow from the hose freely flows through the exchanger. No pressure build up.
Check the inlet where the raw water joins into the exhaust. I had a corrosion there that restricted water flow and caused 2 overheat conditions. Coolant overheat and exhaust temp overheat.
I discovered the problem by disconnecting that connection and with the rest of the cooling / raw water system properly connect and running the genny. More than ample raw water flowed so peek into the fitting and I found It mostly clogged.
 
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Check the inlet where the raw water joins into the exhaust. I had a corrosion there that restricted water flow and caused 2 overheat conditions. Coolant overheat and exhaust temp overheat.
I discovered the problem by disconnecting that connection and with the rest of the cooling / raw water system properly connect and running the genny. More than ample raw water flowed so peek into the fitting and I found It mostly clogged.
I removed the L-fitting that threads into the exhaust where the raw water feeds in. The fitting itself is clean as a whistle. Anything clogging that up is further into the exhaust beyond my ability to visually inspect.
 
I removed the L-fitting that threads into the exhaust where the raw water feeds in. The fitting itself is clean as a whistle. Anything clogging that up is further into the exhaust beyond my ability to visually inspect.
Feed a small diameter snake in check for resistance and or run briefly with that connection open and see if exhaust gases come out?
 
Feed a small diameter snake in check for resistance and or run briefly with that connection open and see if exhaust gases come out?
Yeah. Need to find the right tool for that. I have a snake brush but it’s too big. I think I’m going to go boating this weekend since that is supposed to be the idea here and then get back to arm wrestling the Genset next week.
 
The blockage is here. If I press a garden hose against the inlet at the top of the exhaust chamber, almost no water makes it out the tailpipe. The raw water pump must be high pressure enough to push some through but the hose cannot. Unfortunately, the bolts on the pipe are corroded enough that they’re not coming off after being there for 14 years. Any brilliant suggestions to flush this? Any brushes you know fit? Chemicals I can run through without burning my flesh off?

Thanks.

C2BED18D-EC22-48CB-8896-1EB7AE12A241.jpeg
 
Evacuate as much of the water as possible with a wet dry vac using a hose small enough to fit in the inlet and inserted in to the vac hose.
Then fill with CLR and let sit for 24 hrs?
Followed by snaking if it can be angled to make the turn?
 

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