On these motors, if the seawater pump bearings and seals fail, if fills the crankcase with seawater. You will need to change the oil 3-4 times, starting the motor each time. It helps to do a rinse with Diesel once, but not to run the motor that time. I had this happen and ran the motor another 500 hours without trouble, but it worried me. Good news: You can buy a new bare Westerbeke motor for about $3000. Lee Haefele ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kaleo" <svka...@gmail.com> To: <liveaboard@liveaboardonline.com> Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2010 10:35 PM Subject: [Liveaboard] Westerbeke Engine Trouble | Significant amount ofwater in crankcase
> Hello fellow liveaboards, > > This evening the bilge pump seemed to be running more than usual which led > me to discover that one of the thumb screws on the speed seal for the raw > water impeller was loose. I tightened it and while back behind the engine > decided to check the oil, upon pulling the dipstick water came gushing > out, under pressure and continued to do so for quite some time. It cycled > the bilge pump about 4 times. While it was coming out I popped the > radiator cap to check fresh water coolant level. It was fine and it did > not seem to be draining. > > I tasted the water and it seemed quite salty but I can't imagine that salt > water got into the crankcase. > > Obviously, cooling water is getting in somewhere. Any thoughts on where to > start trouble shooting? > > Motor specs: > 1984 Westerbeke W 27 (30 HP) ~2800 hours > (Probably unrelated history) A few weeks ago the oil pressure relief > jammed, dumping all the oil, so the relief valve has been replaced. > > Also the exhaust had been spewing white steam (or smoke?) but a mechanic > said that it was just steam from entering colder waters and running all > day. Thought suspect of the diagnosis I had no reason not continue on as > he suggested. But today it didn't smoke at all, so I thought he was right. > > Now I'm at anchor and unsure what to do next. Do I dare drain the oil, > change it and try to motor into the nearest port (about 10 miles)? Or call > the tow boat? > > The nearest port is Pascagoula, MS. Can anyone recommend a diesel mechanic > in the area. > > Thanks, > Matt Butcher > www.svkaleo.com > _______________________________________________ > Liveaboard mailing list > Liveaboard@liveaboardonline.com > To adjust your membership settings over the web > http://liveaboardonline.com/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard > To subscribe send an email to liveaboard-j...@liveaboardonline.com > > To unsubscribe send an email to liveaboard-le...@liveaboardonline.com > The archives are at http://www.liveaboardonline.com/pipermail/liveaboard/ > > To search the archives > http://www.mail-archive.com/liveabo...@liveaboardnow.org > > The Mailman Users Guide can be found here > http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.449 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3293 - Release Date: 12/02/10 12:18:00 _______________________________________________ Liveaboard mailing list Liveaboard@liveaboardonline.com To adjust your membership settings over the web http://liveaboardonline.com/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard To subscribe send an email to liveaboard-j...@liveaboardonline.com To unsubscribe send an email to liveaboard-le...@liveaboardonline.com The archives are at http://www.liveaboardonline.com/pipermail/liveaboard/ To search the archives http://www.mail-archive.com/liveabo...@liveaboardnow.org The Mailman Users Guide can be found here http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html
