I smoked my new Chaparral today, Not really, EDIT

[Plasma George]

Re: I smoked my new Chaparral today, not really EDIT

Re: I smoked my new Chaparral today, not really EDIT

Well,
I'm back on the water, so here's the story on exactly what happened.

I burned up the impeller, and some other small rubber itema in the outdrive. $400 later, I'm back on the water. The Dealer "Highway Marine" in Quakertown, PA said the compression test yielded 150, 110, 110, 60 psi on the 4 cylinders. They highly advised me doing a head gasket swap for $600, that's mostly likely the cause of the low compression. They'd contact me when their into it, if they discover more issues.

I contacted the original owner who's been a dream....get this....he offered to meet me on the water, do a sea trial, and he's give me his opinion !

He felt the performance was the same....with a rough idle at 500rpm. We tweaked the idle up to 900rpm, he verified similar numbers on a compression test. He suggested to leave it alone, it's a 1988, has the power to get to 45mph and plane the same. He suggested monitor the oil for the milky sign of water infiltration. We did notice water coming into the bilge area from 2 rubber sections of the exhaust that no longer make the seals after the heat test I did. I got out tools, ordered the parts from my Co. (Cummins), and made the repair....and all is dry.

So I'm back to boating....and happy.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: I smoked my new Chaparral today, Not really, EDIT

i'd have a leak down test done before tearing into the head gasket...

 

[werthert]

Re: I smoked my new Chaparral today, Not really, EDIT

Gawd I'm glad I've been trolling over posts here for two months before I get on the water. Just hope I don't do an "oops!" I haven't read yet!

Glad to hear your back on the water.... at least now you know not to sink a lot into the engine... run'ner until she goes, then just get a rebuild sounds to me.

 

[TahoeQ4Pilot]

Re: I smoked my new Chaparral today, Not really, EDIT

Another newb, I did this BEFORE I spent any time here on iBoats and heard anything about an impeller, though I knew it needed to be in the water to get its cooling liquid.

A few months ago on my second or third time out I had a dead battery after trying to start the engine after I launched my boat, a 2006 with 4.3L merc with an Alpha 1. So I hooked back on the trailer and had my wife pull me out. We went to the top of the ramp out of the way, dropped the trailer, then jumped the boat.

So, while it was idling, I hooked it back up and quickly backed it down the ramp. My oldest was watching the temp guage (never got above 160*), and we hit the water just fine and took off. I have had it out about 4-5 times for a full day of boating, no issues.

I know I am on borrowed time, just hoping to get through my first season. The boat hasnt had any problems with temperature and a rides just fine, but I hold my breath each time I take it out.

 

[Plasma George]

Re: I smoked my new Chaparral today, Not really, EDIT

Another newb, I did this BEFORE I spent any time here on iBoats and heard anything about an impeller, though I knew it needed to be in the water to get its cooling liquid.

A few months ago on my second or third time out I had a dead battery after trying to start the engine after I launched my boat, a 2006 with 4.3L merc with an Alpha 1. So I hooked back on the trailer and had my wife pull me out. We went to the top of the ramp out of the way, dropped the trailer, then jumped the boat.

So, while it was idling, I hooked it back up and quickly backed it down the ramp. My oldest was watching the temp guage (never got above 160*), and we hit the water just fine and took off. I have had it out about 4-5 times for a full day of boating, no issues.

I know I am on borrowed time, just hoping to get through my first season. The boat hasnt had any problems with temperature and a rides just fine, but I hold my breath each time I take it out.

If you've been on the water, and you're able to cool the engine, I'd figure you didn't do any damage, and you're good. I ran mine to verify the battery would start the engine. It ran for no more than 30 seconds, the temp gauge didn't move.

I learned a $400 lesson, but I still feel this is a flaw in the design. It should be able to operate for a few minutes before needing coolant/water without damage to components....perhaps the rubber impeller could be steel????

 

[IVAZ]

Re: I smoked my new Chaparral today, not really EDIT

Re: I smoked my new Chaparral today, not really EDIT

He felt the performance was the same....with a rough idle at 500rpm. We tweaked the idle up to 900rpm, he verified similar numbers on a compression test.

Thats too high, your outdrive wont live long with that kind of idle rpm. The idle rpm should be 650-750.

 

[Plasma George]

Re: I smoked my new Chaparral today, not really EDIT

Re: I smoked my new Chaparral today, not really EDIT

Thats too high, your outdrive wont live long with that kind of idle rpm. The idle rpm should be 650-750.

Why ?
Because putting it in Forward or Revers at too high an idle can do damage ?

What idle range is safe ?
It's the 3.0 4cyl, Alpha 1 drive.

 

[mddubya]

Re: I smoked my new Chaparral today, Not really, EDIT

Ouch, glad to hear you're back in the water. Luckily for me, my Dad told me to buy muffs as soon as I bought my boat, and to never crank it dry.


Of course, that didn't stop me from launching it without the drain plug in, :redface:

 

[IVAZ]

Re: I smoked my new Chaparral today, not really EDIT

Re: I smoked my new Chaparral today, not really EDIT

Why ?
Because putting it in Forward or Revers at too high an idle can do damage ?

What idle range is safe ?
It's the 3.0 4cyl, Alpha 1 drive.

Thats correct it will do damage or accelarate wear.

 

[woodee148]

Re: I smoked my new Chaparral today, Not really, EDIT

If you've been on the water, and you're able to cool the engine, I'd figure you didn't do any damage, and you're good. I ran mine to verify the battery would start the engine. It ran for no more than 30 seconds, the temp gauge didn't move.

I learned a $400 lesson, but I still feel this is a flaw in the design. It should be able to operate for a few minutes before needing coolant/water without damage to components....perhaps the rubber impeller could be steel????

lol...thats funny

 

[wyocobra]

Re: I smoked my new Chaparral today

Re: I smoked my new Chaparral today

...and when running the boat with outdrive muff's..NEVER go above idle. Good Luck.

Why do you say that? Just curious.

 

[jmarty10]

Re: I smoked my new Chaparral today, Not really, EDIT

I learned a $400 lesson, but I still feel this is a flaw in the design. It should be able to operate for a few minutes before needing coolant/water without damage to components....perhaps the rubber impeller could be steel????

If you ask me the flaw with impellars is not being able to test/check them without pulling the drive. Its a critical piece of hardware and when it goes bad can cause severe damage. If the test is waiting for your boat to overheat and then replace, I dont like it.

 

[Plasma George]

Re: I smoked my new Chaparral today, Not really, EDIT

lol...thats funny

What's funny ?
My questioning why the impeller is rubber, not some form of metal ?

 

[witenite0560]

Re: I smoked my new Chaparral today, Not really, EDIT

You have to understand how the impeller works and you'll understand why it needs to be rubber. Find a schematic of one and it'll help you understand: 1. it's a variable displacement pump in order to pump roughly the same amount of water at idle or cruise 2. a steel impeller, or any metal for that matter, would quickly wear out or wear out your motor case/impeller housing 3. Rubber impellers have been used for decades very reliably, just don't exceed their design limitations.

Bottom line, no liquid cooled engine should ever be started without coolant for any amount of time. The coolant acts as lubricant to some parts, as well as coolant. Even 30 seconds causes damage because the heat can't be transfered into the coolant. Consequently the tops of your cylinders cook, very quickly and that's what causes head gaskets to fail, blocks and heads to crack and valves to burn, in very short order.

The reasons you don't run an engine above idle on muffs is there's no load on the engine, it WILL over rev.