Buhk 20DV using white diesel

[davidmh]

I know there are a number of users on the forum who have or have had Buhk diesel engines. Have any of you used white diesel and have you had any problems with the fuel system pipes, seals and injectors. My engine is 1985 if that makes a difference.
regards
David MH

 

[Alan S]

I've been using white in my DV20 for the last six years with no problem.
Can't think of any reason why it should cause any problem.

 

[Biggles Wader]

Is that a Kubota engine? If so its much the same as lots of Beta and, I think, Nanni engines which seem to run fine on white. The French, Dutch and most of the rest of Europe have been doing this for years now. Any issues?

 

[oldharry]

I ran the Bukh in my previous boat on white diesel exclusively. never any problems. Biggles Wader: Bukh is a purpose built marine engine from Denmark founded in 1899, Japs would never have built anything as big and heavy, but a fine, purpose built marine engine, with SOLAS approval for use in ships lifeboats etc for a great many years. getting a bit long in the tooth now compared to modern lightweight Jap stuff, and in danger of going the same way as the UK motorcycle industry against Jap ingenuity!

 

[vyv_cox]

When we lived in the Netherlands we had no access to red diesel, ran the Bukh exclusively on white road fuel.

In Greece, also no red diesel, we have seen the yard guys installing new Bukh engines. Presumably they would not do so if there was going to be a fuel problem.

 

[stevie69p]

Is that a Kubota engine? If so its much the same as lots of Beta and, I think, Nanni engines which seem to run fine on white. The French, Dutch and most of the rest of Europe have been doing this for years now. Any issues?

No, Bukh make their own range of marine engines. Not based on anything else...

 

[LittleSister]

Bukh is a purpose built marine engine from Denmark founded in 1899, Japs would never have built anything as big and heavy, but a fine, purpose built marine engine, with SOLAS approval for use in ships lifeboats etc for a great many years. getting a bit long in the tooth now compared to modern lightweight Jap stuff, and in danger of going the same way as the UK motorcycle industry against Jap ingenuity!

While the DV series have been going since the 1970s, Bukh have other, much more modern ranges of engines (some of which probably use Asian base engines). These range from 110hp to 1,000hp, so we don't hear about them in the yacht market. Velkommen til BUKH A/S

The DV series models are still sold for lifeboats. I think their relative simplicity and hand-start facility are key factors in the lifeboats market, but they are too heavy and expensive to compete for original fitting to yachts these days.

I believe Bukh did get into financial difficulty in about the 1980s. I seem to recall some mention of a management buyout, but I think in the end they were bought out by another Danish engineering company.

 

[Malish]

Does anyone have evidence that Bukh have updated internal components of the DV series? I am thinking of items such as valves, valve guides, bearings etc where more modern materials could offer benefits.

 

[Charlie Boy]

as far as I know, the only flexible seals on a DV20 are associated with fuel filter and line so are replaced frequently anyway. I can’t think of any other reason why white would be a problem either.
I use road white too now, changed last winter and then didn’t manage to get ‘over there’!

 

[Poignard]

My BUKH DV10 built in 1982 has, during the 23 years I have owned it, had red diesel from UK marinas, white diesel from UK garages, white diesel from French marinas and garages, all with no ill-effects.

 

[coveman]

White or red shouldn't make any difference red is purely coloured to distinguish between white ( taxed) and red ( untaxed) for use in agriculture and other commercial situations). hence why HM customs get a little upset if they find you driving your car on red diesel!

 

[oldharry]

as far as I know, the only flexible seals on a DV20 are associated with fuel filter and line so are replaced frequently anyway. I can’t think of any other reason why white would be a problem either.
I use road white too now, changed last winter and then didn’t manage to get ‘over there’!

The diesel in my 1996 van developed a leak on the Bosch injection pump of its Sofim engine because the O ring seal on the HP head was not compatible with modern ULS diesels and had hardened. Cost an arm and a leg to fix too, so OP's question is reasonable. But it does seem Bukh pumps are not subject to this. A phone call to them would answer it for certain.

 

[Charlie Boy]

The diesel in my 1996 van developed a leak on the Bosch injection pump of its Sofim engine because the O ring seal on the HP head was not compatible with modern ULS diesels and had hardened. Cost an arm and a leg to fix too, so OP's question is reasonable. But it does seem Bukh pumps are not subject to this. A phone call to them would answer it for certain.

Perfectly understandable in a pump of that vintage but hopefully the pump will have had a professional overhaul if its that old. I didn’t think it was a huge bill when Diesco did mine.

 

[LittleSister]

Does anyone have evidence that Bukh have updated internal components of the DV series? I am thinking of items such as valves, valve guides, bearings etc where more modern materials could offer benefits.

I don't have any evidence there have been any significant changes (the part numbers are unchanged apart from a few specific, identified items on some models).

On the other hand, I've seen no evidence that any of the parts you mention are inadequate in any way - these are generally stoutly built, unstressed engines.