Little bit of steam on port side exhaust

[Elk Chaser]

First some background. <br /><br />Bought a Baja boat with a recent (25 hours) rebuilt 454, fairly high compression (11.5:1 or so) and after a few runs it burned/blew the head gasket on the starboard side. Turned out that the head gaskets were really cheap and I had them both replaced with some quality stainless steel ones, mechanic also found a couple stripped out head bolt holes and repaired those. Heads were true as was the block and everything else appeared to be in good shape.<br /><br />Ran great for the remainder of the summer, about another 25 hours or so. But, the last couple times on the water when it was fairly cool outside I noticed just a little bit of steam (was not smoke as it dissipated fast) coming from only one side of the transom exhaust, opposite side from the blow out. <br /><br />I'm getting ready to winterize the boat but thought I should maybe take it back to the mechanic that did the head work and make sure that there are no problems before I winterize (getting cold fast around here).<br /><br />What do you guys think, is it something to worry about? My brain says yes but I thought I'd get some other opinions first.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Little bit of steam on port side exhaust

But, the last couple times on the water when it was fairly cool outside I noticed just a little bit of steam (was not smoke as it dissipated fast) coming from only one side of the transom exhaust,

By design, the port,+ starboard sides Do Not run the Exact Same Temps........<br />And, Steam forms Easier at lower temps.......<br /><br />I don't think you have an Issue........<br />Put it to sleep,+ IF, by chance you Still think there's an Issue,<br />Deal with it in the spring..............

 

[KaGee]

Re: Little bit of steam on port side exhaust

Must be them dad-gum automotive wires you put on there.....Snick!!!!!!<br /><br />Sorry.... couldn't resist Elk!!

 

[bigbrownbuku]

Re: Little bit of steam on port side exhaust

hmmmm. check under your oil fill cap, if there is anything that looks like yogurt get your cooling system tested. dont leave it to the spring water in your motor all winter long isnt a plus.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Little bit of steam on port side exhaust

Originally posted by Bondo:<br />

<br />And, Steam forms Easier at lower temps.......<br />

Come on, steam forms at or around 212 degrees, depending on altitude. You mean condensation.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Little bit of steam on port side exhaust

Originally posted by Robby6950:<br />

Originally posted by Bondo:<br />

<br />And, Steam forms Easier at lower temps.......<br />

Come on, steam forms at or around 212 degrees, depending on altitude. You mean condensation.

OK,<br />How about "Visible Water Vapor".........<br /><br />I don't know about You,<br />But when I Pee in the Snow, I see Steam......................

 

[John Carpenter]

Re: Little bit of steam on port side exhaust

Mine does the same thing & has for years. The port side exhaust always shows steam. This is on an older straight inboard Chris Craft.

 

[Elk Chaser]

Re: Little bit of steam on port side exhaust

Well, it's put to bed. Steam and all. <br /><br />-------------------------------<br />For clarification:<br /><br />Steam is... <br />The vapor phase of water. -or-<br />A mist of cooling water vapor. <br /><br /><br />Water Vapor is......<br />Water in a gaseous state, especially when diffused as a vapor in the atmosphere and at a temperature below boiling point.<br /><br />Condensation is.......<br />The process by which a gas or vapor changes to a liquid. <br /><br />--------------------------------<br /><br />I think it can be called either steam or water vapor but not condensation.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Little bit of steam on port side exhaust

My point was the steam showing up at lower temps, as steam is steam, but no big deal and don't want to make it a oil question type ordeal, and respect all of Bondo's post. But the point is (as an example) car exhaust and boat exhaust are not the same as you have water pouring in with the exhaust, as cars are simple condesation/water vapor from combustion. I look out over Puget sound, and don't see a trail of steam from the boats going by, where on a cool day car exhaust will show up. That's my thinking. By the way, last pass coming in before pulling my big boat I noticed "steam" way back there too. I have a new circulation pump I'm putting on this winter(VP280 GM350), and while down there pulled the raw water pump.....how about 5 out of 12 fins gone and 2 jammed (one each) in the inlet/outlet. I found my reason for the "steam"! And it was steam. Ran okay temps though, but not a lot getting to the manifolds I guess. Love boating, but hate the motors at times! And my old dictionary on steam;<br />1. The invisable gas or vapor of boiling water. Invisable the key word here. And #3 is;<br />The mist formed by the condensation of water vapor; visable vapor-popularly so called. Popularly so called the key word there. So, I will go with the popular vote, and blame Webster, he started this a long time ago!<br /> And as said, lets move on.

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Little bit of steam on port side exhaust

This time of year mine also steams or what ever you call it. It is just a thing with boats and cold water. I have to say with dual exhaust on a cold morning the motor thumping with vapor coming out is a cool thing.

 

[Elk Chaser]

Re: Little bit of steam on port side exhaust

I guess with the problem I had with the head gaskets I'm just a little paranoid.....<br /><br />Was not trying to start a big debate on terminology, just trying to clear up the fact that you can use either steam or water vapor as they are essentially the same thing.<br /><br />Did I miss something on an oil debate, darn it, I love a good debate.

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Little bit of steam on port side exhaust

"Did I miss something on an oil debate, darn it, I love a good debate."<br /> Go to the general boating section and post on the "bayliner vs sunbird" topic. There sure to be a fight there soon.