I've been reading the threads I found by searching for "Overheating," so I have a basic plan for diagnosing my 2007 Utopia 205 SE (NA) overheating problem. Runs fine cruising around the lake at plowing speeds forever, but after a few minutes of WOT, or more minutes of planing, I get the overheating warning then big beep for the starboard engine. As far as I know, my boat doesn't differentiate between exhaust and engine overheating. It doesn't go into limp home mode. I get down to idle speed then shut off the offending (starboard) engine and poke along for a while, then start it back up and everything's fine again. The first time it happened I opened the engine compartment and it was hotter than I expected, and the starboard hoses have a brownish tinge that the port hoses don't, so I think it is overheating not just a bad sensor.
Coolant level remains at the same level in the overflow tanks, nice and clean green. No white smoke from the exhaust. Engine runs up past the tach 8K before it overheats.
So!
The bad sensors mentioned several times - is that on all SeaDoo sport boats, or just certain years? As I said, I don't think that's the problem, but it would be the easiest fix.
I have to study up on this J-pipe. Not sure where it is. I have a 2006 manual which I hope is close enough to a 2007. Wherever it is, I'm sure it's not fun to get to.
Laser/IR thermo - I have one, but the boat's out of the water. I can put it back in pretty easily, but I have a sucky ramp that requires me to wade around to beach the boat while I park the trailer, then shove the boat off and hop on - getting chilly for that.
I had assumed it was going to be a water pump or a thermostat. From the threads I read, that doesn't seem to be the prime problem.
My boat doesn't display codes, and I don't know of a SeaDoo boat specialist on Cape Cod, although there are PWC guys who may have the software to find codes.
What should my plan be?
Visual inspection. Jets run fine, so maybe there's something in the exhaust cooling circuit? I just blew them our today (4000rpm for 20 seconds) and both engines spewed similar amounts of water.
Find this J-pipe or whatever the exhaust coolant pipes are and ensure they're clear.
Sensors?
Dealer to check codes, or whatever that software is (can't remember from 15 minutes ago!)
Flush? What could be in the system without discoloring the overflow tank? I can put flush in it, put it back in the lake to run it, then hurry home to drain it (a mile from the sucky ramp). The instructions I've seen say to run it WOT for 15 minutes, but I doubt I'll be able to do that. How often do the heat exchangers get restricted?
Coolant system pressure test? Given that the engine runs fine, it doesn't loose coolant, there's no white smoke, and the oil isn't milky, I think it's unlikely to be a head gasket or other system leak.
I'd appreciate any thoughts.
TIA,
Jonas
Coolant level remains at the same level in the overflow tanks, nice and clean green. No white smoke from the exhaust. Engine runs up past the tach 8K before it overheats.
So!
The bad sensors mentioned several times - is that on all SeaDoo sport boats, or just certain years? As I said, I don't think that's the problem, but it would be the easiest fix.
I have to study up on this J-pipe. Not sure where it is. I have a 2006 manual which I hope is close enough to a 2007. Wherever it is, I'm sure it's not fun to get to.
Laser/IR thermo - I have one, but the boat's out of the water. I can put it back in pretty easily, but I have a sucky ramp that requires me to wade around to beach the boat while I park the trailer, then shove the boat off and hop on - getting chilly for that.
I had assumed it was going to be a water pump or a thermostat. From the threads I read, that doesn't seem to be the prime problem.
My boat doesn't display codes, and I don't know of a SeaDoo boat specialist on Cape Cod, although there are PWC guys who may have the software to find codes.
What should my plan be?
Visual inspection. Jets run fine, so maybe there's something in the exhaust cooling circuit? I just blew them our today (4000rpm for 20 seconds) and both engines spewed similar amounts of water.
Find this J-pipe or whatever the exhaust coolant pipes are and ensure they're clear.
Sensors?
Dealer to check codes, or whatever that software is (can't remember from 15 minutes ago!)
Flush? What could be in the system without discoloring the overflow tank? I can put flush in it, put it back in the lake to run it, then hurry home to drain it (a mile from the sucky ramp). The instructions I've seen say to run it WOT for 15 minutes, but I doubt I'll be able to do that. How often do the heat exchangers get restricted?
Coolant system pressure test? Given that the engine runs fine, it doesn't loose coolant, there's no white smoke, and the oil isn't milky, I think it's unlikely to be a head gasket or other system leak.
I'd appreciate any thoughts.
TIA,
Jonas
