Sea Board CCV system on 5.9 6BT 220

[Rick McCabe]

In June 2017 I assumed ownership of a Monk36 trawler equipped with a Cummins 5.9 6BT 220 HP engine.  Marine hear is the ZF220.  the system has about 3400 hrs.  It has run superbly overall and just completed a 900 mile cruise over 5 weeks; never missed a bit.  I love this engine!  However, in the last 18-24 months since a major tune up w valve adjustment and installing the Sea Board CCV system At the same time, the engine has gradually began increasingly smoking.  On my trip, a following boat [same brand and same engine] advised me that he was observing “unusual light colored [white-ish] smoke” from my boat exhaust while I was cruising at 1800 RPM.   The engine burned 2.5 GPH average on the cruise, its historic norm, starts instantly and runs very well, other than this ‘subtly increasing’ smoke.  While searching this forum I noticed that the CCV system now available from Sea-Board is advertised for higher output [250hp] Cummins 5.9 engines versus my 220 hp.  I am certain that I understood the CCV kit I ordered for my engine was appropriate at the time for my engine.  The air filter are clean.  Dual RACOR primary fuel filters are 20 Micron, secondary engine mounted filter is 6 Micron.  Very little debris noted in the viewing bowls.  I am very careful about operator maintenance of my engine, use an experienced mechanic for significant tasks, and have known this engine for years from my military service… it is awesome…

–Is there a chance that the CCV system might be affecting the fuel mixture and causing the smoke?  

–What else should I look at to ensure I am heading off any potential problem?

Topic

[Rick McCabe]

Thank You for your note Rob!

Appreciate the feedback, really do!  I can take credit for doing all the operator level maintenance on my single engine, and that’s it!  I think it is a terrific piece of gear!

Rick

[Rick McCabe]

Response to T Athens; 1 Aug ’22

Tony;

Thanks for your interest.  Requested photos attached to show the CCV installation and exhaust as well as entire engine to the extent space allowed in engine compartment.  Hope these uploads are successful and useful.  If it is not clear, I am not a trained diesel technician; I am comfortabel with the Cummins from extensive exposure in my Army career and its use in US and allies combat vehicles that I worked extensively with.  I cannot be sure there is anything seriously wrong with my engine, I simply  observe this incremental increase in smoke over the last 18-20 months; prior, there was nearly none.  I tend to be on the proactive side in such things.  Your questions are next under for convenience.  To review at risk of overstating. engine was built in 2005 and well cared for.  Starts promptly, runs smoothly without noticeable change in sweet spots during my ownership (since 2017).  I cruise at 16-1800 rpm and nearly always below 2000 but give it short runs at 2000+ on occasion just to check things.  Fuel consumption nominal at average of 2.5 GPH.  turns a four blade bronze screw.  ZF220 marine gear.  I suspect I am looking for a path if not a solution to zero in on the cause of the increased smoke which is slowly increasing.

Your questions/guidance:

A-#2- I want to see good pics of the CCV install  and the rest of the engine, especially the exhaust—stay a few feet away—do not need close-ups  

A#3—NO, the CCV system has nothing  to do what ever issue you think you have    

A#4Exactly when did you do the CCV install—Date & engine hours??  

A#5 Engine hours at the date of this posting?

A#6 Coolant temp at cruise RPM is ?

Responses:

-Installation was done July 2018 at 3183 hrs at same time as the valve adjustment. Both done by Locally known and recommended technician.

-Engine hours at the initial posting were 3507.  Hrs are now at 3509.

-Coolant temp at cruise is consistent at 190F +/- 4 degrees F

May thanks to the forum for the opportunity to engage and improve my understanding through shared knowledge and experience.

Very Respectfully

Rick McCabe

[Clark Leighs]

The mention of steaming brings to mind a problem in the cooling system.   ie.  lack of  raw water flow.

When was the last thorough go through of the cooling system done?

Can be from many sources so I have posted my tome below to save a lot of typing.    REad it through and if question arise , ask, and if I can’t reply others will.

 

[Rob Schepis]

Rick I measure fuel burn as you do. With my 330’s I am about 0.5 GPH higher than you (per engine) at end of season average. Gotta love it

[Rick McCabe]

Thank you for your response.  I will respond in the next 48 hours when back at the boat and the log with the details you request; was doing routine maintenance on engine, trans and genset all day and am just getting to the forum.  To fuel burn question:

I calculated the average fuel burn the old fashioned way; by dividing the gallons burned by hours when I top off.  My system is all analog w conventional VDO gauges and not instrumented to track that data.  On the trip I mentioned, headed north up the Atlantic ICW through the Virginia Cut into the Chesapeake Bay and back south through the Dismal Swamp, two measurements calculated, 2.25 gph with cruise of 1600-1800 and 2.9 1600-1950 in a particular window [approx on analog tac] .   Single engine trawler [Monk 36]

I also do oil sampling at oil changes, they are always good, last time analysis noted minor presence of silica but stated not significant.  More to follow:  pictures as well as additional info requested.

[Tony Athens]

His post said an AVERAGE of 2.5 gph over the course of the long trip– That includes all engine hours from IDLE to cruise RPM………………………..How are you measuring fuel burn?

[Tony Athens]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ #1-The CCV you have is made for all of the B series mechanical engines—All of them,  so this is not your issue..  

Let’s address the below  questions  so I better idea of what issue you may have  

#2- I want to see good pics of the CCV install  and the rest of the engine, especially the exhaust—stay a few feet away—do not need close-ups  

#3—NO, the CCV system has nothing  to do what ever issue you think you have    

Exactly when did you do the CCV install—Date & engine hours??   Engine hours at the date of this posting? Coolant temp at cruise RPM is ?    

 

Start with this.

[DeWayne Enyeart]

2.5 GPH @ 1800 RPM ?

Rick:

My trawler is powered by the same Cummins engine but burns nearly twice as much fuel @ 1800 RPMs. 

[Author]

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