PCM343 questions

[mjsti]

For 2009 model year, can anyone confirm if all PCM343 motors came with the cat exhaust or was that an option? If equipped with the cat exhaust, besides the reduced sound benefit, is a FAE needed? Has anyone installed a FAE on this motor?

[dingleberry]

Not all PCM 343 motors had the cat exhaust in 2009. I think it was required in CA, but optional elsewhere.

If it has the cat, the FAE will not have as large a benefit because the carbon monoxide levels are already reduced from the non-cat version. Is it needed? Individual choice.

And, yes, FAE is available and have been installed on them.

[mjsti]

Thanks! Is the single exhaust just as loud and the traditional dual exhaust?

[dingleberry]

When Tige switched over to PCM with the '09 boats, most people felt that it was much quieter than the Marine Power engines that had been used (and the Mercruiser before that). Don't know how much, if any, is due to the single exhaust port...or just because it is a PCM vs MP difference.

[ragboy]

Much quieter. If they have the CAT, no need for FAE, super clean. Great engine.

[mjsti]

Thanks for the quick reply. Is your RZ4 powered by the 343? My search results seem to indicate the 343 is sufficient enough for a 24 footer, even offering reasonable fuel burn ~5gph.

I loved the FAE on our 24V, sound reduction alone was worth the price of admission, let alone the CO2 benefits. Will likely install another if/when we get another Tige.

[mjsti]

Ragboy, what was your typical surf fuel burn in your RZ2, fully loaded?

[dingleberry]

Thanks for the quick reply. Is your RZ4 powered by the 343? My search results seem to indicate the 343 is sufficient enough for a 24 footer, even offering reasonable fuel burn ~5gph.

I loved the FAE on our 24V, sound reduction alone was worth the price of admission, let alone the CO2 benefits. Will likely install another if/when we get another Tige.

Yes, we have the non-cat 343 engine. And still have the ACME 537 stock prop on it. It has been fine for us here on Lake Mead (approx 1100-1200 ft elevation) for skiing, boarding, and surfing. That being said, we don't load it down with much ballast when we wakeboard. I don't know how well it performs if you really slam it with weight.

[ragboy]

Our RZ4 had the 409, the RZ2 had the 343, the new Z3 has the 409, and the 24Ve had the MP340 with an FAE. The only boat that needed a bit of help was the 24Ve with a 1235 prop, and then it was great.

ALL of these boats are getting around 4GPH wakesurfing, which knocks me on my butt, it blows me away. The Z3 isn't even broken in yet, and its getting under 5.

[Nobody]

Our RZ4 had the 409, the RZ2 had the 343, the new Z3 has the 409, and the 24Ve had the MP340 with an FAE. The only boat that needed a bit of help was the 24Ve with a 1235 prop, and then it was great.

ALL of these boats are getting around 4GPH wakesurfing, which knocks me on my butt, it blows me away. The Z3 isn't even broken in yet, and its getting under 5.

If you buy a MC, you get the added luxury of 6+ GPH and all for an extra 30K more.

[mjsti]

Our RZ4 had the 409, the RZ2 had the 343, the new Z3 has the 409, and the 24Ve had the MP340 with an FAE. The only boat that needed a bit of help was the 24Ve with a 1235 prop, and then it was great.

ALL of these boats are getting around 4GPH wakesurfing, which knocks me on my butt, it blows me away. The Z3 isn't even broken in yet, and its getting under 5.

Very respectable, better than what I was getting with the 24V.

Just curious, what were your typical fuel burns for the higher RPM activities for each motor? I can see how the 409's are about the same as their lower displacement brothers at lower RPM's, perhaps even using less fuel when loaded down. For higher RPM's, I'd guess the 409's to be comparibly more thirsty?

[Duncan]

The question of whether an FAE is needed on a Cat PCM engine recently came up in this TO thread.

It is my understanding that a catalytic converter reduces, but does not eliminate, carbon monoxide.

Some quick poking around finds sources that suggest a catalytic converter reduces carbon monoxide by as little as about 80% or up to about 99%. This article addresses marine Cats, citing a study where CO was reduced by 99% at idle, with peak production at 200 ppm. A car engine without a cat produces about 7,000 ppm CO.

Wikipedia shows that levels as low as 35 ppm can cause headaches and dizziness within 6-8 hours of constant exposure and 100 ppm can cause headaches in 2-3 hours. Carbon monoxide alarms go off at about 70 ppm.

So, is someone going to get CO poisoning from riding around on PCM Cat equipped boat? Probably not. Headaches after a long day? Maybe.

We put an FAE on our 2009 PCM 409. There was little noise reduction. But I take comfort in knowing that the FAE further knocks down any residual CO that makes it past the Cat.

[ragboy]

I will be doing measurements when I gets warmer, PCM is going to send us some equipment.

[Duncan]

For higher RPM's, I'd guess the 409's to be comparibly more thirsty?

We average 3-5 gpm (calculated per fuel flow meter at days end) on our 2009 PCM 409 for a mix of wakesurfing and wakeboarding.

[Duncan]

I will be doing measurements when I gets warmer, PCM is going to send us some equipment.

Looking forward to seeing those results!!