Running engine without RW input

[finefurn]

I have a Westerbeke 12b2, in my Hunter 27, which is currently out of the water. If I want to run the engine for a few minutes just to let it warm up a bit, do I still need to run a coolant through the heat exchanger and into the exhaust mixing elbow. I was planning on removing the belt from the RW pump so I don't burn up the impeller. Question is without water entering the exhaust mixing elbow to cool the exhaust gasses how long can I run the engine without damaging the exhaust system. Where the boat is located I don't have access to any significant source of water.

[Tetepare]

I wouldn’t do it.

[a64pilot]

You could likely get away with it for a couple of minutes, at low RPM and under no load as a Diesels exhaust temp is very low at those conditions.
But you may not, I wouldn’t do it myself, not for more than a minute or so.
It’s not the engine, it would be fine as long as you don’t overheat the coolant, which will eventually occur of course, it’s the exhaust that is the issue, the hose and water lift muffler

[Pete7]

I doubt that running the engine for a couple of minutes will do anything useful and actually could be worse for the engine since a lot of wear is caused during start up and when its cold.

Give it a good clean and spray with your preferred corrosion preventer.



Pete

[chowdan]

I did this when I bought my boat on the hard. It mainly just to prove the engine fires up and is not locked. I also replaced my impeller before launching and kept the old as a spare backup.

I would not run it unless you have water running through your intake.

[Shrew]

Here is what I do.

I took an old garden hose. I cut about 1 foot of the garden hose on the female end. I take an inline hose shut-off and connect it to a long garden hose. I connect the garden hose to a spigot. I connect the 1 foot of cutoff hose to the shutoff.

1) Close the seacock
2) close the inline hose shutoff
3) Turn on the water outside at the outside spigot
2) Open the top of the sea strainer.
3) Insert the cut end of the hose.
4) crack open the inline shutoff on the hose to start the water flowing
5) Have someone start the engine.
6) Fine-tune the water flow with the inline shutoff so the water fills as fast as the engine is drawing water.
7) When done have your partner shut off the engine while you close the inline shutoff.

If you don't use an inline shutoff, you will more than likely overflow the sea strainer and make a mess in the bilge. The purpose of the 1-foot section of cut off is, if you just use a shutoff, it will spray horribly when half open, like holding your thumb over the hose.

This flushes the raw water system and prevents burning out the impeller or overheating engine components.

[Dsanduril]

The pumps on these engines are actually pretty small, even just a couple of jerry cans of water would allow you to run with water flow for a few minutes. If you want a few minutes more you could even recirculate by catching the exhaust water in a bucket. Wouldn't run a long time that way, but you could probably buy yourself 5 or 10 minutes (and could even get a decent idea of when to shut down by checking the recirculated exhaust water temperature).

[rodgoult]

I guess the real question is why? What are you wanting to check/find out?
You can certainly do this and not cause any damage for a few minutes, but unless there is some compelling reason to do so, why take the risk?
I had to run my engine on the hard last Fall - I was away and hadn't had a chance to winterize the engine and the intake was sludgy with ice. So I had to run the engine the thaw it out. I did about a minute and stopped, waited a couple of minutes and did it again. I repeated about four times and the intake thawed out.
The engine has been fine this summer - no damage! Modern engines are a lot tougher than we give them credit for! That said, I still wouldn't do it unless I had to - the suggestion of a jerry can or two of water is a good one if you have no easy access to a hose!

[S/V Alchemy]

I'd be more concerned about the impeller than the exhaust temps for 120 seconds, unless it's the "run dry" type. I suggest a jerry can of water to keep the throughput on and the impeller damp.

[Cheechako]

No. Put a hose in the seawater strainer, adjust the water volume so it matches close to the engine water use. Just remove the top of the strainer. If it overflows it likely goes to the bilge pump anyway right? You'll burn up your exhaust hose/muffler without it.

[pcmm]

Put the raw water intake hose into a bucket along with a hose. Just make sure that the hose can keep up with the pump! I know on my yanmar 4JH the garden hose cannot keep up.

[Cheechako]

I ran my 80 hp Perkins 4-236 every month with a hose in the strainer while on the hard. The biggest issue was getting the water flow slow enough via the hose.

[jharding]

everytime you start an engine you put condensation into the oil, if engine is run long enough to get up to operating temp the water is boiled out and all is fine. If you don't run it long enough you are leaving water in the oil inviting corrosion and poor lubrication. Bad Idea to start and engine for a minute or two.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by finefurn

I have a Westerbeke 12b2, in my Hunter 27, which is currently out of the water. If I want to run the engine for a few minutes just to let it warm up a bit, do I still need to run a coolant through the heat exchanger and into the exhaust mixing elbow. I was planning on removing the belt from the RW pump so I don't burn up the impeller. Question is without water entering the exhaust mixing elbow to cool the exhaust gasses how long can I run the engine without damaging the exhaust system. Where the boat is located I don't have access to any significant source of water.

I don't see a problem with the raw water pump belts off. I assume you want to just keep the engine lubed. Run it only till oil pressure comes up.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by finefurn

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
If I want to run the engine for a few minutes just to let it warm up a bit<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

This is a completely unjustified reason to start the engine.

Does the engine tell you "I'm cold, warm me up?"


Shrew is right.


Winterizing an Engine on the Hard (Thanks to Maine Sail) - NEVER connect a hose to your raw water pump inlet - NEVER!!!

http://forums.catalina.sailboatowner...ht=winterizing