- Joined
- Oct 1, 2007
- Messages
- 7,332
- Location
- Texas
- Vessel Name
- Floatsome & Jetsome
- Vessel Make
- Meridian 411
Thanks. Pretty sure I don't have intake air heaters, as it's just a power cord that goes into the block. Not entirely sure where it is located though. the external anti-frost heaters are just the standard Westmarine round ones. It is about -5 centigrade here currently, and it was starting fine in the summer, but smoked a bit on start up - no where near this amount though.
First off....Cummins engines only have intake air preheaters. I need to re read your start procedure.
Secondly, my engines pretty much don't smoke in the summer and smoke like crazy in the winter when it is cold out...and I am in Texas. They start in less than a second in the Summer....maybe 3-5 seconds in the Winter when it is cold out. Is this just one isolated winter scenario we are talking about a few times that you have started in the winter??? Your engine might be just cold and is a smoker. Some of them smoke more than others. I can tell when mine are cold in the winter, not all cylinders fire initially....hence the white smoke(unburned fuel) and a little rough running. But that they catch within a few seconds and the smoke continually gets better over the first minute. But initially that smoke is BILLOWING.
PS...like TOny said, block heaters are meant to stay on continuously. It does almost nothing to turn it on for 30 minutes prior. Block heaters are very low power meant to transfer heat to the entire engine OVER TIME. 30 minute operation might heat one square inch around the heater(I have no clue how much it heats in 30 minutes but just trying to make the point).
PSS...and this is an edit...the primary benefit of a block heater is to keep your engine room at a constant temperature....therefore no condensation....therefore no rust and a perfectly clean and dry engine room. Their purpose is NOT to preheat an engine. Although if left on continuously your engine will certainly start easier.
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