Boat Fault Finding - Marine Engine Smoke Problems

Finding canal boat faults - marine engine smoke.

Fault Finding

Tony Brooks is an expert on Marine Diesel Engine & Boat Maintenance matters. Thanks to him and TB-Training for permission to reproduce these materials.

 We've got Faultfinding Checklists and over 150 answers to problems in the sections listed far right.

If you have a canalboat problem.

Tony may answer, time permitting, your problems concerning UK canalboat mechanical and electrical issues - Tony cannot answer questions about sea-going or overseas craft. Give him plenty of details about the problem, its background and your equipment. And don't be too impatient, remember this is a FREE service! Contact him via his website.

CANALBOAT FAULTS
General Problems
Electrical Problems
Propulsion Problems
Engine Problems
Cooling Problems
Smoke Problems
Faultfinding advice
BLACK SMOKE BMC 2.5
I have 25ft Versatility with a 2.5 BMC when i first start the boat there is white smoke for 5 to 10 minutes then it clears, and when leaving the yard at halve throttle no smoke but as i increase the speed there is black smoke ? Click to see answer
BMC 1.5 WHITE SMOKE
After travelling in the boat, fairly slowly with no troubles for a day and a little bit, the engine started blowing rather a lot of white smoke after about an hour travelling. Having been told that this was probably the injectors, we continued, but I kept an eye on the temperature gauge.  Click to see answer
BLUE SMOKE FROM PERKINS ENGINE
A friend of mine put a exchange Perkins engine in my boat using parts of my old engine a D 315. The problems that I am having now are blue smoke and twice since yesterday the engine has just cut out. Click to see answer
SMOKING PETTER ENGINE
I have a 50` narrow boat now with a old (1946)? AV2M Petter. The problem is I used the existing short funnel to vent the diesel exhaust up. This discharges 4` in front of the helmsman and about level with the top of your head. The white smoke that emits stings your eyes and smells. Click to see answer
BLUE SMOKE FROM KINGFISHER ENGINE
I have a Kingfisher KD16 in my narrowboat which at time leaves a substantial blue/white emission across the canal. At other times the exhaust emission is barely noticeable. Click to see answer
WHITE & BLACK SMOKE FROM BMC ENGINE
My 2.5 BMC diesel engine is putting out white and black smoke, has lost a bit of power and tends to overheat slightly more easily than before. I have come to the conclusion that it is the injectors. Do you think this sounds right? Click to see answer
SMOKING BMC
My BMC 1.5 diesel marine engine is emitting too much smoke. I have just had reconditioned injectors fitted to the engine, and it is now kicking out lots of white smoke whilst it is idling, once under load it almost disappears.. Click to see answer
FUEL SUPPLY QUERY
I have just had a new engine fitted and the main fuel supply pipe comes out from the duct on the swim plate and then hangs in the air for about 12" to 18" before it is connected to the flexible. The connector is also hanging in the air and the pipe is copper. Is this OK? Click to see answer
DIESEL FUMES
We have looked at a Creigton 4-berth cabin cruiser and are thinking of buying it. We noticed when the boat was running, this rear cabin became full of diesel fumes and a 'haze' of blueish fumes/smoke was in the cabin, which we could see.  Click to see answer
SMOKING BMC 1.5
I have just serviced my bmc 1.5 diesel. There was two cracks in the valve seats which had steel inserts put in. New gaskets etc. Its being running for two hours but I've got engine oil dripping out of the exhaust ....click to see answer
BMC DIESEL SMOKE
The engine fires up and runs fine at all engine speeds, obviously it is not under load as it is out of the boat. The engine is however giving blue smoke at idle and low revs, this seems to clear at 200 revs and above.   Click to see answer
SMOKING BMC 1.5 DIESEL
My 1.5 BMC Captain diesel has white smoke or steam coming from the exhaust, but only when under power any ideas as to what is causing this? Click to see answer
BLACK SOOT FROM ENGINE AND NO POWER
I have a 1990 Compac sailboat with a Yanmar 1GM10 engine. 6 months ago I motored into our bay for 30 minutes and the engine ran perfectly fine. When I decided to turn around after only about 5 minutes (due to high waves) the engine would not rev above 2400 rpm ... Click to see answer
PERKINS WON'T REV
I Noticed this weekend that I could not rev the engine above 2400rpm beyond which is just produced lots of black smoke. Starts OK, runs at 2000rpm apparently fine, idles OK and temperature normal. Click to see answer


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