Centek Industries
Boat exhaust
Centek Operations VP Ken Harstel points to salt deposits on a muffler, a sure sign of leakscaused by overheating due to inadequate flow of cooling water.
Centek Industries
As spring rolls around each year, thoughts turn to preparation for the upcoming boating season. The experts at Centek Marine say one important system to inspect is the exhaust, which includes hose connections and clamps, fiberglass mufflers and tubing. Aside from making sure all connections are secure, a close inspection looking for telltale signs of a leak is time well spent. Look for dripping water on the muffler body, or water in the general area of the muffler. Also notice any salt deposits on the muffler, which appear as a white chalky substance and indicate a weeping spot where water is escaping.
“Almost 100% of the time, this type of leak indicates that the muffler experienced overheating due to a loss of cooling water in the exhaust stream,” said Ken Harstel, VP of Operations at Centek Marine.
Common causes of overheating are obstructions in water intakes or a faulty or underperforming water pump. If a boat owner spends a lot of time at idle or slow speeds, the water flow may not be adequate to cool the exhaust temperatures. In these cases, additional water flow to the system may be required. Centek uses high temperature flame retardant resin for all exhaust components, however, if cooling water is interrupted, exhaust temperatures can sky rocket quickly. When temperatures reach a certain point, the resin is essentially baked out of the fiberglass, causing water droplets to seep from the damaged area.
Have a question about your muffler or other exhaust system components? Ask the experts at Centek. Email info@centekindustries.com or call 1.229.228.7653.
For more information about Centek, visit the Centek website.