Water in new PCM engine.

[TeamAllen]

Incredible! I want a PCM now.

[lightning59]

My last boat had a PCM, it left my driveway with the new owner with almost 1700 hours. Mostly slalom course 0-36 mph all day long.

[chpthril]

I'd love to here further explination from the dealer's service manager on how and why it's "normal" for a new engine to have water in the crankcase

[duckboat]

Thanks for all the help guys. So far I am happy with what the dealer and PCM have done. The dealer followed PCM's instructions with lake tests and a pressurized test which nothing was wrong. So the conclusion I was told that the water had to already be there and just needed a few oil changes to get all the water out of the system and passed a final 1 hour lake test. Rare, but was told this happens!?

Still wondering if that is the case. Even with exhaust out the back the water shouldn't just be able to rush up there when running?

[Ewok]

Not sure what type of pressure test was performed but as I said when my engine has water in it, it came from exhaust, lots of pressure when that following wake hits the stern of the boat coming off plane.

[duckboat]

Not sure what type of pressure test was performed but as I said when my engine has water in it, it came from exhaust, lots of pressure when that following wake hits the stern of the boat coming off plane.

Time will tell. I suspect the oil cap could of been off on the lot at one time and they washed the boat. Who knows and will never know if it doesn't happen again.

If the engine is running the exhaust should have enough pressure to keep water out or there would be problems when backing. I never stut down the motor when the boat is moving to produce a wake that hits the stern.

[Ewok]

Keep us informed if/when you find any more info out. I was supprised when a mechanic told me that in an I/O, coming off plane and going straight into idle or forward gear idle that there is enough pressure to push water through the exhaust system and into the valves of the engine. It doesn't take much water to make the oil milky and I'm not sure how much water could enter but that is how water got into my engine on my old boat. I think the exhaust on an I/O goes through more turns and the exhaust manifolds sat higher above the water line then on my RZ2 so it's plausible that could be the culprit.

Luckilly you are under warranty, and PCM sounds like they are trying to resolve the issue, thats awsome! I was not and paid $2,600 to discover it was a $20 part that failed.

[IDBoating]

I think the exhaust on an I/O goes through more turns and the exhaust manifolds sat higher above the water line then on my RZ2 so it's plausible that could be the culprit.

I bet you didn't ballast your I/O as low in the water, either {grin}. Thinking about it, as we ballast these things the engine and its exhaust system are getting closer and closer to the waterline. That was actually a problem on my Mercury 240EFI when I played with ballasting it - I got it so low in the water that the starter had a hard time turning over the engine. I believe it had to bark out the water in the exhaust before the engine could start, and the starter isn't designed to be a water pump.

Just sayin'....

[embo]

Hmmm...I wonder if this might be another reason to have FAE? The downpipe opening on a FAE system is smaller then either exhaust outlet individually. Then you have the fact the water has to travel up the pipe, around the 90s and then back into the exhaust ports. Plus, in talking with Larry Mann of Freash Air Exhaust (FAE), he said the actual pressure coming out the exhaust ports is only about 2-3psi. That is really very little pressure to keep water out that is shoved against the ports with the covers on them if they aren't working quite right.

I don't know, just me thinking about it but seems less likely to have this issue of water up the exhaust with FAE vs. not.

FAE 01 Back (Small).JPG
FAE 03 left (Small).JPG

[dom w. forte]

Anyone have pictures of the fae on a pcm exhaust with it being single?

[chpthril]

Anyone have pictures of the fae on a pcm exhaust with it being single?

I think Kerlee does.

[dingleberry]

Anyone have pictures of the fae on a pcm exhaust with it being single?

I think Kerlee does.

The other option to install FAE on a PCM is to install a second "dummy" exhaust port on the transom to mount a typical, symmetrical FAE.

[IDBoating]

I was thinking about getting FAE on my new boat but the single exhaust is (from memory) completely over the TAPS plate. As I recall, a second dummy port installed symmetrically would only be inches away from the first one. I'm also concerned about having the FAE downpipe so close to the back of the TAPS plate. Finally, I already have the CAT exhaust system so the main reason for the FAE would be noise reduction.

My current plan is to run stock next season and see how it goes. I can always figure out an FAE solution later. I have talked to Larry (nice guy, answers his phone promptly) and I'm going to send him photos so he can see how my boat is laid out.

[embo]

I am sure you have gone to the FAE website and seen the pics of boats with single port exhausts. It can be done. Having the FAE completely over the taps plate, as you can see in the pics I posted, isn't an issue. I can reef on that setup and move the downpipe maybe 1/4 inch towards the plate. I only see that being an issue if you are backing up the boat at wakeboard speed or if you hit something...then the downpipe really isn't the issue. Heck, I go 30mph and turn the boat without throttling back and it doesn't do anything to the FAE. Every time I get off the water I look it over and see what if anything has changed and the only thing I come up with is me worrying less and less about what is going on with it.

CAT exhaust...it reduces but doesn't eliminate the fumes you don't want to inhale. The question is how much inhalation of the fumes is too much? How long does it take to inhale that amount? We can surf behind the boat for 3 miles easy and is that long enough to inhale too much? How about the riders in the back of the boat?

So you have a CAT engine...would you stand behind it and inhale the exhaust...for what length of time would you do this? Why would you ask your riders and surfers to do that if you aren't willing to do that?

disclamer: I only met via email and phone calls Larry Mann. I have no interest monitarily in FAE and frankly could careless if it's Larry or some other entity that provides a system like this. I don't get anything from talking about this system monitarily. Don't get the system or do, I don't really care but I do believe in it and that is why I post about it. I'm not an evironmentalist or liberal...not that there is anything wrong about being that if someone is..but I am NOT one. I am just trying to do the right thing...most of the time I do but people on here will read..sometimes I don't.

[IDBoating]

CAT exhaust...it reduces but doesn't eliminate the fumes you don't want to inhale.

I'm right there with you. I'd have the FAE already if it weren't for the location of the exhaust. That makes me want to move a bit more cautiously, is all.