Paul Swanson
Veteran Member
There have been some 40 ft. Pacific Trawlers with 5.9 liter Cummings engines that have experienced engine damage from water entering through the turbocharger into the cylinders. I looked carefully at my own installation and determined that the external water line was only inches below the turbo and inlet to the exhaust manifold. Furthermore, the static water level in the water lift muffler after shutdown was less than one ft. below the turbo. According to most experts the turbo should be considerably higher than this to provide a fail-safe exhaust system. I was quoted about $2500 for the S/S plumbing to raise the turbo on my boat.
I decided on a completely different approach which consists of a drain hose connected to the bottom of the water lift muffler and a simple normally open solenoid controlled valve connected to the “ignition” switch. When the engine is started the valve closes and the exhaust operates normally. When the engine is stopped the solenoid opens the valve and the water drains out of the muffler into the bilge and is carried overboard by the bilge pump. Any water that should enter the exhaust system inadvertently simply drains into the bilge. I can find no weakness in this system and the total cost was less than $50.
Paul
I decided on a completely different approach which consists of a drain hose connected to the bottom of the water lift muffler and a simple normally open solenoid controlled valve connected to the “ignition” switch. When the engine is started the valve closes and the exhaust operates normally. When the engine is stopped the solenoid opens the valve and the water drains out of the muffler into the bilge and is carried overboard by the bilge pump. Any water that should enter the exhaust system inadvertently simply drains into the bilge. I can find no weakness in this system and the total cost was less than $50.
Paul
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