T&T: Overheating engine fixed

[Joseph Pica]

What follows is a hearty endorsement of the outfit that fixed a long term
overheating problem on my port engine. Carolyn Ann (4jh4E yanmars) has had a
port engine that ran hotter then the strb engine since launch.  The problem
has been slowly becoming more and more severe.  The engine finally got to
the point of running at 200 degree at only 2200 rpm (950 current hours).   I
use to cruise at 2400 but the engine began to overheat requiring a reduction
to 2200 rpm.   Any increase above the new tolerance point of 2200 would
steeply increase the temperature to 210+ when I would back off rpms to cool
it back down.   Well, after consultations with "Bo" of First Mate Yacht
Service in St Augustine and other Yanmar engine owners who experienced the
same overheating, the cooling bundle core was implicated.  Conjecture is
that these engines are shipped with a protective coating that is to be
removed prior to assembly in the US.  Sometime the coating doesn't get
totally removed. Then with use the coating migrates and coats the tubing
bundle reducing it's cooling efficiency.  The fix requires the bundle to be
removed and tank cleaned.   That happened today in Hilton Head where the fix
was performed by Marine Tech at Skull Creek Marina.  The difference is
great.  The bundle was clogged on the inside ( fresh water system) by a waxy
brown substance that choked any antifreeze from passing around the tubes.
The port engine now runs cooler than the strb.at all rpms.  We are happily
continuing our loop cruising north with a "cool" engine.

The high point was the expert and prompt professional service provided by
Marine Tech ( www.MarineTechHHI.com )  ph. 843-842-2187.  They are also
Yanmar dealers and servicers.  I called them at 1930hrs and left a message.
I was called back one hour later by the owner John D. Torrens who said
they'd be on the boat the next morning.  They were there as promised; they
did not charge drive time, nor did they charge extra for returning on
Saturday morning to re-install the cleaned bundle.   All in all, this was a
great experience.  I highly recommend them if you need repairs when in the
Hilton Head area.  Their shop is on Hilton Head minutes from Skull Creek
Marina.

Joe 
"Carolyn Ann"
(currently with a "COOL" engine continuing to loop north