Soot?

[djpeewee]

How much soot from engine exhaust do you get?

After a week of motoring, totaling about 15 hours of run time, I noticed a good glaze of soot on the port side of the transom near the boarding door. This seems a little excessive to me so I wanted to ask the members here what they experience? I have the Volvo KAMD300A engine. On a calm day I do notice a slight brown smoke trail following me. I don't consider it to be significant, but obviously related to the soot. Below is a picture of the smoke trail.

smoke trail w1.jpg

[Tree]

We get some near the exhaust on the waterline. Nothing that I am bothered by. Volvos do have a tendency to be a bit sooty anyway by their very nature. Looks like you've got no issue there.

[Russell]

This may be entirely normal but just make sure that you can turn 1 to 200 RPM above the rated RPM at wide open throttle. If not you may be over propped and lugging the engine, one of the common causes of smoke in the exhaust.

[Tree]

One thing I do remember about the KAD 300 engine aside from it being the best variant of the 3.6 litre range, was that Volvo had to discontinue it here in Europe as it failed on emissions massively with regards to the new rules.

[djpeewee]

Russell: no problem reaching 4000 RPM. The engine is electronically limited beyond that.

Tree: yes, I read that Volvo had to discontinue the KAD series because of emissions. Everything else is good with the engine (aside from a small oil leak/spray from the timing cover on occasion). I guess I'll just continue washing the transom after any major outings.