Cummins 210 more power

[skipm]

I'd like to bump up my hp on my 210 cummins , any suggections?I noticedthe pump has slotted holes for adjustment & may change the turbo for more boost.

[Mistress]

The 5.9 is capable of much power. If you have the Lucas/CV pump I think any pump adjustments are limited.

the problem in a marine application is cooling. The waterpump on the 270 hp model etc. is quite a bit bigger. I think the heat exchanger, etc are bigger too...as is the exhaust. Cummins also uses an aftercooler on the uprated engines to keep the incoming charge cooler.

My Cummins in my truck is turned up to about 325 hp from 245 stock (bigger injectors, fooled wastegate, and fuel/timing box). But a truck doesn't see the kind of constant load that a marine application would....even with my big ass camper on it.

FWIW...more boost does not generate more power. The only way to get more power in a diesel is to supply more fuel (injectors/pump). Upping the boost just allows you to utilize that extra fuel while keeping the EGT in the safe zone.

Actually, boost on gassers work the same (more fuel for more power) except extra fuel cools gassers while leaning them out runs hot. Their computer senses more air, so electronically adds more fuel to keep the stochiometric fuel/air ratio inbounds. In a diesel the fuel and boost are not tied together electronically or otherwise. They do form a "system" however.

[Scratcher]

I've seen the question asked on boatdiesel a couple of times. From what I remember its not cost-effective to try and up the hp of the 210. By the time you're done adding parts it gets expensive. The consensus seemed to be to sell the 210 and drop a 250-300 in its place.

You might pick a few mph by re-propping. Call a good prop shop with the specs on your wheel and see what their software calculates if you upgrade to a Michigan dqx or djx series or similar modern design.

[Eyekymo]

I'm looking at a 26' with a 210 in it now. Can anybody post up some performance #s, so I know what to expect? Thanks,

Mike

[Mistress]

In my Mack it's about 1 knot per 100 rpm. 2600 rpm max. A little less at both extremes of the scale. An open would prolly be a tick quicker.

On the top end a bit more could at times (very flat seas) be nice, but then my idle speed would be even higher than the 5.5 knots it is now. The engine does move the boat effortlessly as is.

Not a bad combo at all.

[Eyekymo]

Mistress,

What kind of mpg, and or gph could I expect to see? I've seen guys post that the 20's and the 26' boats get the same #s, but simple physics would make me believe otherwise. I have a gas powered 20' open now. I'm looking at a 26' pilot house. Thanks again.

Mike

[Mistress]

I haven't used it enough to get a real handle on fuel consumption. My research all says between 3-4 kmpg at cruise in the high teens.

The Cummins fuel usage rate is quite well documented in various graphs. I don't have them handy though.

That's one thing about diesels...the fuel consumption at "X" rpm is consistent somewhat irrespective of load. I'd think the bigger boat would be propped a bit smaller if you had the same powerplant.

[skipm]

I have a 16x15 cupped 2200 rpm =22 to 24 mph 2800 rpm = 26 to 28 mph according to load. my milage is 3 mpg minimum on a slow day(trolling etc) 4 mpg.These are good basic diesel motors.I understand they can be bumped up to350 plus hp, but it shortens the life & costs more to run.I was thinking of a small increase in hp to pick up a couple of mph.

[Mistress]

You might be able to turn up the rpm's. I know you can on the trucks.

[ryanbr]

Be careful. I had a 250 cummings that had a rotary pump that had been turned up and caused lots of problems-the old ones had lots of problems. I dont think the marine engines are up to the same things guys are doing to their trucks. Good rule of thumb-if yours doesnt do what you want you either have the wrong engine or the wrong boat-see what all these go fast outboard guys have done to us. The in-line pumps are much better. That 210 has been a reliable work horse and when cummings just upped the horespower on the same base engine they had problems.

[Russ]

Ryanbr Do you or anyone else know if the 1997 6 cylinder Cummins 250 horse power engine has any problems?

[Scratcher]

The 250 hp cummins is a very good reliable engine. The sherwood raw water pump is a weak link. It is not uncommon to carry a spare pump that can be bolted on in case of failure. You also have to be very careful when replacing the impeller because if you don't get the key on the shaft just right it can ride up against the wear plate and groove or even wear through it in a short period. Also the gear that is on the end of the pump's shaft has been known to break off and drop into the timing case. Don't get paranoid though -its a very good engine and as long as you are aware of the issues with the sherwood pump you'll get thousands of hours, maybe tens of thousands of hours. Seaboard Marine (Tony Athens, boatdiesel's cummins guru) sells an aftermarket impeller for that seawater pump that is much higher quality than the impeller sold by sherwood. When you replace the impeller, which you should do probably once every two years, order from Seaboard. If you want to know more about the sherwood pump issues go to www.boatdiesel.com and search the Cummins forum using "sherwood" as a keyword. Do you have boost and egt gauges? If not, add them and they'll give you a good idea if your engine is starting to develop any issues such as a clogged aftercooler.