Yellow Smoke from Cummings Generator

[dialtone]

Opened engine compartment. Started generator. Yellow smoke started pouring out inside of engine compartment. Turned off generator, turned off breaker switch on generator, grabbed fire extinguisher, killed all electrical feeds to boat, let it cool off. I was worried if I opened access compartment too soon I would feed whatever was burning with oxygen. After letting it cool off a bit I opened access compartment but didn't see anything out of ordinary. Oil level is fine and generator has been running well in past. At dock with calm sea. 19 hours on unit.

Any ideas?

Keywords: Cummins, Onan, Model : 5MDKBH-5238E

Picute of yellow smoke: http://imgur.com/oiLx5Xr

 

[Andrew Custis]

Hello,

I have never heard of anything like that happening. I would certainly get in contact with Long Beach Yacht sales to have someone look at it. The Onan has a computer and would typically create a code if it was the culprit.

Let us know what they find out please.

 

[dialtone]

Yes sir. She is on the way up to LBYS anyways for a 50hr service and some other items. Have a good week everyone 😉

 

[SGIDAVE]

Any ideas?

Hello Dial,

Could something (like a squirrel) have built a nest inside the Genset enclosure?

/david

 

[wefings]

Dave , Squirrel smoke is usually gray not yellow .
That looks like diesel vapor after going through the injection process without combustion .
But , that's just a guess ...... We haven't had alot of problems with the Cummins gensets .
Marc

 

[dialtone]

It was determined this was a bad charging unit in the generator. A authorized cummings onan company came out, repaired, and all is good.