Diesel engines

View someone's profile (click on their name) and when the next window opens up...you'll see a menu bar under their name that says "User Lists" in there will be "Add to ignore list"

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Beat you to it but your's is prettier.:mad::D
 
You can sometimes hold down CTRL and press "PRT Scr" simultaneously, then use the "paste" feature to dump the screen grab into a photo editor.

Anyway, getting back to the original post, the question is: Do they???

Our boat engine is 30 years old, has been used very little, been sunk at least once, and still works. I wish I could say the same for my car engine! Maybe on fora like this, we just get to hear about more failures? I hang out on various car fora and you'd be forgiven for thinking that whatever marque the forum relates to has a lousy track record for reliability, but that's only because nobody ever submits a post to the effect of "My car ran fine today and didn't break down or need anything doing to it".

I also note Rob's comment about low fuel usage and would add that in a boat, not only is usage typically quite low, but I bet the throughput of fuel in the storage tanks is nothing like what it would be in a big petrol station. Not to mention that it would have mostly been red diesel too, AND sat in a boat fuel tank for a long time after it had been sat in the marina fuel dump.

Also, the current crop of diesel car injectors are vastly different to the sort of thing you'd find in a boat.
 
I've often wondered why a boat engine needs so much attention. For example it's recommended by some authorities that the injectors are overhauled every few years despite having relatively little use during that period. I'd guess that a sailing yatch engine runs for about 50hrs a year which is equivalent to about 2000 miles (car equivalent). By contrast, my Merc has done 154000 miles and has never had any attention to the injectors or injector pump. Mind you having said that, the Merc does blow out some smoke on accelerating which suggests that the injectors need some attention now. I'm going to try an 'Italian tune up' as recommended by Vyv Cox before booking it in to the tuning bay.

Despite some some rather odd reactions, perfectly reasonable question.

Simple answer to your question is that boat owners appear generally anal when it comes to simple little diesel engines.

With regard to PLI (Pump line Injector Systems) there is no reason why if fed with a proper diet of filtered fuel that pump and injectors should not last out to engine overhaul. Bosch and CAV PLI sytems have closed nozzle injectors, in other words needle under spring pressure keeps the nozzle closed until lifted by line pressure from the injection pump.

There are just a few manufacturers (MAN and Volvo Penta) with specific injector change out service proceedures, which normally relates to motors living life on the edge, causing injector tips to burn. Given up discussing fuel filteration here but under normal circumstances unless injector service change out specified in manual, leave well alone.

Another issue is changing out all injectors, if an injector fails, which is normally down to contamination only that injector requires a new tip, no problem having the others pop tested, however diesel injection shops do not understand term 'no fault found'.

Moving on to your Mercedes your black smoke issue is 99% is not injector related. It is fouled up EGR cooler. If you have pre-common rail MB engine EGR is easily duped by disconnecting the vac pipe which controls EGR valve. If a MB common rail engine nothing for it but to clean out the EGR, messy but simple.

Also with common rail engines injectors they are constantly being monitored by ECU and if one injector is failing in its contribution the others ramp up delivery to compensate. If a common rail injector falls outside its operational envelope the engine management light is illuminated. Common rail injectors are certainly replaceable on the basis of individual units, unless of course suffering for contaminated fuel.

Worry more about 'marine age' of the hang on bits, rest of the motor cares little.
 
That kind of casual rudeness is unacceptable, you owe the OP an apology.

Where has Jassira's post gone. I cant see it. has some spoil sport stopped the playground fight? :D


No. Wiki is altogether too serious and earnest. Almost Germanic. An Italian tune up involves taking a car down the road and thrashing the nuts off it.

Shame the moderators can't filter out the idiots.

I was going to say "just be grateful" but TBH that would have been very unfair. So I dont say it.

Bit less interesting a significantly less well populated area if the mods did do that though.

To the OP: marine diesels suffer from what is in effect lots of stop start running and its in cold start ups where the wear occurs. Many marine diesels are in fact old designs and nothing like your modern Merc, needing old style oils and old style servicing. Most marine diesels are also small capacity engines which means lighter built and therefore more delicate. And how many of us have a car for even half the age as our boat

That said I have never done anything to my 16 year old Volvo 2030 other than oil change and filetrs
 
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I'm on a mac so it's shift, cmd, 4 :D

Then drag the area you want to copy :)

I'm at work so I'm on Linux, where it's hold down the Windows key (buggerall use for anything else) and drag a rectangle around what you want to copy. Very quick and easy.

Pete
 
Here we go again.

Why can't people on here be polite and sensible. I really do get fed up with unnecessary and quite rude responses to sensible questions.

And don't respond with "then leave the forum" beause occasionally I do get useful information and am able to pass on some of my knowledge and experience.

Shame the moderators can't filter out the idiots.

Here, here. WELL said - including the "usefullness" of the fora.
 
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Ther are, of course additional problems with the low usage of a marine engine. Diesel fuel doesn't go off like petrol, but most tanks will have fuel stored in them for months if not years.
Rob.

The big problem with boat fuel is contamination by the diesel bug. The consumer treatments are not that good - you need the stuff the pros use - Millers Eclipse for example. (It too toxic for retail sale so you need to find a friendly fleet operator or Millers agent who will sell you some 'under the counter'. Eclipse Shock dose shot kills existing bugs and the multi shot is for continued use to prevent re-infection. It also improves the combustion by cetane number increase, lubricates the injection system and its also much cheaper than the consumer products...

My point being that fuel contamination is probably more responsible for running problems that simple lack of basic maintenance or the need for an Italian Tune up. (which I also recommend)

For example, whilst oil contaminated with moisture from condensation and acids, may increase wear 'slightly' (who knows by how much?), it is fuel quality that will have most impact on performance and reliability.

The above also applies to seldom used vehicles such as motorhomes, in fact diesel bug is even more of a problem on the road due to the addition of biodiesel to pump fuel which those pesky bacteria thrive on! The biodiesel also dissolves the sediment in tanks and fuel lines so fuel filters need changing far more often than manufacturers claim (every 6K miles, not 24k)

Ian

From Millers Shock Dose pdf

A highly effective diesel fuel treatment, which helps to eradicate bacterial and fungal contamination problems.
Eclipse Shock dose is soluble in both fuel and water.
APPLICATION:
Eclipse Shock Dose is an effective diesel treatment that is designed to eradicate bacterial and fungal contamination normally associated with moisture levels as low as 100ppm [0.01%].
Millers Oils Eclipse Shock Dose should be used where bacterial and fungal contamination of the fuel and fuel system has already occurred.
Add to fuel in the ratio 1 part to 1000 parts fuel [1 ml/Litre]. For optimum effect add to the tank when one third full, then fill the tank. Allow sufficient treatment for the total volume of fuel. If practical to do so, tap off any free
water at the bottom of the tank, prior to the addition of Eclipse Shock Dose.
Eclipse Powercide Plus should be added to the fuel to offer continued protection against further contamination.
USER BENEFITS:
· Bacterial and fungal contamination is fully treated and removed.
· Cleans up contaminated fuel tanks and fuel systems.
· Effectively treats blocked filters. (However filters in the range of 5 to 30 microns should take out the dead bodies)
http://millersoils.net
 
The big problem with boat fuel is contamination by the diesel bug. The consumer treatments are not that good - you need the stuff the pros use - Millers Eclipse for example. (It too toxic for retail sale so you need to find a friendly fleet operator or Millers agent who will sell you some 'under the counter'. Eclipse Shock dose shot kills existing bugs and the multi shot is for continued use to prevent re-infection. It also improves the combustion by cetane number increase, lubricates the injection system and its also much cheaper than the consumer products...

My point being that fuel contamination is probably more responsible for running problems that simple lack of basic maintenance or the need for an Italian Tune up. (which I also recommend)

For example, whilst oil contaminated with moisture from condensation and acids, may increase wear 'slightly' (who knows by how much?), it is fuel quality that will have most impact on performance and reliability.

The above also applies to seldom used vehicles such as motorhomes, in fact diesel bug is even more of a problem on the road due to the addition of biodiesel to pump fuel which those pesky bacteria thrive on! The biodiesel also dissolves the sediment in tanks and fuel lines so fuel filters need changing far more often than manufacturers claim (every 6K miles, not 24k)

Ian

From Millers Shock Dose pdf

A highly effective diesel fuel treatment, which helps to eradicate bacterial and fungal contamination problems.
Eclipse Shock dose is soluble in both fuel and water.
APPLICATION:
Eclipse Shock Dose is an effective diesel treatment that is designed to eradicate bacterial and fungal contamination normally associated with moisture levels as low as 100ppm [0.01%].
Millers Oils Eclipse Shock Dose should be used where bacterial and fungal contamination of the fuel and fuel system has already occurred.
Add to fuel in the ratio 1 part to 1000 parts fuel [1 ml/Litre]. For optimum effect add to the tank when one third full, then fill the tank. Allow sufficient treatment for the total volume of fuel. If practical to do so, tap off any free
water at the bottom of the tank, prior to the addition of Eclipse Shock Dose.
Eclipse Powercide Plus should be added to the fuel to offer continued protection against further contamination.
USER BENEFITS:
· Bacterial and fungal contamination is fully treated and removed.
· Cleans up contaminated fuel tanks and fuel systems.
· Effectively treats blocked filters. (However filters in the range of 5 to 30 microns should take out the dead bodies)
http://millersoils.net

ebay

Item number 200617264875
http://www.millersoils.co.uk/commercial/tds-commercial-vehicle.asp?prodsegmentID=749&sector=Fleet
 
What's an Italian tune up?

Full revs to blow the crud out.

Our old Thornycroft 80D blew all the oil out one not very happy day:eek:

Rings had stuck on no.2 piston. When I contacted Diamond Diesels (Mitsubishi engine importers) for a ring set and gaskets to be flown out, first comment was - been motor sailing a lot? Not having had the boat long, I didn't know the answer.

Explanation was that most marinised engines were designed for small plant running at 3000 revs under load driving a hydraulic pump and running at low revs with little load (such as battery charging) is inefficient, causes glazed bores and unburnt fuel to gum up the rings and injectors. Their advice was not to run for short periods, always let it get to full temperature and, importantly, to run at full revs for 10 mins or so fairly often to clean the engine up.
 
Explanation was that most marinised engines were designed for small plant running at 3000 revs under load driving a hydraulic pump and running at low revs with little load (such as battery charging) is inefficient, causes glazed bores and unburnt fuel to gum up the rings and injectors.

This is why I believe in moderate over propping. I totally disagree with those who say a prop should be sized and pitched to allow max continuous rpm. Its fine if you intend or have to to run it at or close to max output, but not if, most of the time you throttle back so much that the load is negligible.
 
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