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Old 21-01-2025, 07:51   #1
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Engine overheated

Hi, I was out motoring at 6 knots and then the overheating warning light came on. There is coolant that has overfloden in the engine area (through the overflow line). It is a beta 38 from 2018. There was White smoke or vapor from the exhaust. I changed oil filter and oil and diesel filter a few weeks ago and after this the coolant started overflowing. Oil level was low then and perfect now. Coolant was 3.5 cm under the neck top before i started the engine today. I ran it for 1.5 hours before the warning light came on. Also worth mentioning, the zinc was basically gone when i changed it 4 months ago after buying the boat.

Im just floating around waiting for wind now

What would be the most likely reason for my engine problems?

Would it be safe to run it again when i reach the anchorage late to night?
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Old 21-01-2025, 09:05   #2
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Re: Engine overheated

Check your raw water impeller and raw water circuit for blockage.

Clean the heat exchanger tube stack and change coolant.
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Old 21-01-2025, 09:18   #3
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Re: Engine overheated

It sounds like you have a problem in your heat exchanger that is allowing coolant to escape into the exhaust (white smoke). Likely seawater at times is also flowing into your coolant (overfilling your expansion tank). Agree that there is a water flow problem, perhaps the impeller (temp alarm). You could also have a head gasket problem. The absent / corroded zincs probably mean that the source of your problem is poor maintenance by the previous owner. You can probably use the engine for short time if you don't have to motor far to get anchored. A tow would be the expensive but safer bet. Your engine needs a thorough going over by a qualified mechanic.

Good luck.
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Old 21-01-2025, 09:30   #4
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Re: Engine overheated

Yes, your engine is overheated, most likely due to lack of raw water flow. If you add cold water to the hot engine you can blow the head casket or worse.

Be sure to let it cool down for an hour before you add coolant. If you don't have coolant, just use fresh water. When you start the engine again, check for water flow out the exhaust. Make sure that the raw water valve is open. If you still don't have water out the exhaust, the next step to to check the impeller in the raw water pump. Its OK to let the engine run for 10 minutes or so to maneuver when you get to your destination, just don't let it get so hot again.

Beta's are notorious for consuming heat exchanger zincs. That won't make your engine overheat, but keep plenty of spares.
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Old 21-01-2025, 09:44   #5
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Re: Engine overheated

Dad always taught me ... check the simplest things first. He was right !

1. Ensure your cooling water intake is clear and strainer is full of water.
2. Remone cover for raw water pump and ensure the impeller is intact.

Take a photo of the impeller and post it here. Make sure it doesn't look like the broken one below ...
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Old 21-01-2025, 10:30   #6
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Re: Engine overheated

Impeller was causing some of the issue. It was missing 2 Pieces, I changed it 4 months ago. The water strainer looks fine, i cleaned it 4 months ago as well. The new impeller is the wrong kind and I replaced it with the old with one missing piece. Still overheating at 2000 rpm

I will check out more complex things at anchor (58 kNm away)
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Old 21-01-2025, 10:33   #7
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Re: Engine overheated

Every time you change the zinc on a Beta you should remove the end cap the zinc is mounted in and check for pieces of zinc resting in the cap. Also, the zinc flaking off tends to block the lower tubes. On this particular design of heat exchanger the water flows through twice. One way through the lower tubes and the other through the upper tubes - a partial blockage is more significant. Poke out the blockage - it won't be very thick.

Also, about every ten years it is a good idea to remove the tube stack and clean it out. You can do this yourself by cutting a pvc pipe wide and long enough to hold the tube stack, glue an endcap on one end. Soak the tubes in white vinegar for at least a day, longer would be better. Rinse and replace. You will need new O rings that you can get from Beta. I buy O rings six at a time.
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Old 21-01-2025, 10:57   #8
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Re: Engine overheated

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailingbluew View Post
Impeller was causing some of the issue. It was missing 2 Pieces, I changed it 4 months ago. ... The new impeller is the wrong kind and I replaced it with the old with one missing piece. Still overheating at 2000 rpm
So old impellor is munted so not a great solution to reuse it, better than nothing I guess. There may be bits of impellor stuck in the engine causing a partial blockage.

Whether the engine was damaged by overheating will depend upon how long it ran for before you recognised that it was, and, whether you shut it down or the engine shut down (seized).

Will it turn over? I mean if you hit the starter is it freely turning? If so that's a very good thing. If it doesn't your in for a great deal of wallet and time pain.

Hot water (boat) mufflers are designed to fail (melt basically) if there's too much build up of heat through them because the temperature of exhaust gas increases as engine temperature increases. Usually the neck where the exhaust outlet is clamped to the muffler melts.

This is a good thing because it quickly causes exhaust gas to fill your engine bay and boat. Somewhat looks like a fire has broken out. The good thing is that the design temperature of the muffler failure is hopefully less than most engines will seize at. And so this tends to save engines if it is quickly recognised and turned off.

In summary you will likely also need a new water muffler.

If your engine is starting, and you've filled it with fluid or water and oil too, then if you really really need to, ok you can turn it on for berthing. Your safety over your money. But here's your chance to learn to sail in to a berth. It's a good skill to develop and practice.
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Old 21-01-2025, 14:14   #9
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Re: Engine overheated

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailingbluew View Post
Impeller was causing some of the issue. It was missing 2 Pieces, I changed it 4 months ago. The water strainer looks fine, i cleaned it 4 months ago as well. The new impeller is the wrong kind and I replaced it with the old with one missing piece. Still overheating at 2000 rpm
)
You have a chewed up impeller and you expect the engine not to over heat ?
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Old 21-01-2025, 14:54   #10
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Re: Engine overheated

Quote:
Originally Posted by grantmc View Post
So old impellor is munted so not a great solution to reuse it, better than nothing I guess. There may be bits of impellor stuck in the engine causing a partial blockage.

Whether the engine was damaged by overheating will depend upon how long it ran for before you recognised that it was, and, whether you shut it down or the engine shut down (seized).

Will it turn over? I mean if you hit the starter is it freely turning? If so that's a very good thing. If it doesn't your in for a great deal of wallet and time pain.

Hot water (boat) mufflers are designed to fail (melt basically) if there's too much build up of heat through them because the temperature of exhaust gas increases as engine temperature increases. Usually the neck where the exhaust outlet is clamped to the muffler melts.

This is a good thing because it quickly causes exhaust gas to fill your engine bay and boat. Somewhat looks like a fire has broken out. The good thing is that the design temperature of the muffler failure is hopefully less than most engines will seize at. And so this tends to save engines if it is quickly recognised and turned off.

In summary you will likely also need a new water muffler.

If your engine is starting, and you've filled it with fluid or water and oil too, then if you really really need to, ok you can turn it on for berthing. Your safety over your money. But here's your chance to learn to sail in to a berth. It's a good skill to develop and practice.
The engine started right up again after I changed to a less damaged impeller. I trottled down right away and turned it of within 30 seconds of warning alarm
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Old 21-01-2025, 14:59   #11
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Re: Engine overheated

2 Pieces of the impeller is missing. Anyone know where they most likely to end up on a beta engine?
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Old 21-01-2025, 15:00   #12
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Re: Engine overheated

Awesome, you got away with it ok.
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Old 21-01-2025, 15:31   #13
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Re: Engine overheated

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailingbluew View Post
2 Pieces of the impeller is missing. Anyone know where they most likely to end up on a beta engine?
At the end of the tube stack where the water feeds in. The same place where the zinc is installed.
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Old 21-01-2025, 15:33   #14
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Re: Engine overheated

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailingbluew View Post
2 Pieces of the impeller is missing. Anyone know where they most likely to end up on a beta engine?
Sometimes I've found them at the first 90 degree fitting, sometimes at the heat exchanger inlet.
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Old 21-01-2025, 15:45   #15
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Re: Engine overheated

Try to account for all of the missing pieces of impeller if you can. Reusing an old one isn't a good idea unless you have no choice. I wasn't sure if you said you had an extra or not.
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