Engine Problem Solved.

[oldgit]

A few months ago, mentioned on the forum that a club members boat had lost an engine on the first day of a two week trip across La Manche.
This prompts a return to base and a desperate search for VP engineer in the South East with a magic box available over a bank holiday or even sometime the following week.No luck. All to busy.
The man with the magic box finally appears and assorted suggestions followed such as sensors and other electrical dead ends.
Various bits are swapped. Pipes replaced unions checked.
Mild desperation sets in and the club experts chip in with filters and things.
No luck.... still dies when it feels like it.
Owner calls it day and books holiday elsewhere with the by now very irritated SWMBO.

A clue.
Boat was purchased in France and bought back to UK...... specced for a nice warm Med climate.
Who needs a warm air heater ?
Swarf from hole drilled in top of tank when eberspacher fitted had partially blocked engine fuel pickup.
There were two spare unions on top of tank.;

 

[jfm]

Crikey. Who fitted the Ebber? DIY or professional installer?

 

[aquapower]

A few months ago, mentioned on the forum that a club members boat had lost an engine on the first day of a two week trip across La Manche.
This prompts a return to base and a desperate search for VP engineer in the South East with a magic box available over a bank holiday or even sometime the following week.No luck. All to busy.
The man with the magic box finally appears and assorted suggestions followed such as sensors and other electrical dead ends.
Various bits are swapped. Pipes replaced unions checked.
Mild desperation sets in and the club experts chip in with filters and things.
No luck.... still dies when it feels like it.
Owner calls it day and books holiday elsewhere with the by now very irritated SWMBO.

A clue.
Boat was purchased in France and bought back to UK...... specced for a nice warm Med climate.
Who needs a warm air heater ?
Swarf from hole drilled in top of tank when eberspacher fitted had partially blocked engine fuel pickup.
There were two spare unions on top of tank.;

One of the best diagnostic tools here would have been a vacuum gauge, did he fit one in line?

 

[Latestarter1]

One of the best diagnostic tools here would have been a vacuum gauge, did he fit one in line?

Sadly electronic engine paranoia exists everywhere not just in boats. Received a call just last week, guy with a DAF horse box saying bloody Cummins electronic engine, intermittent de-rate,been to DAF main dealer on numerous occasions £3,400 spent getting nowhere. Looking at the multiple code counts indicating fuel restriction, did they put the gauges on it, they don't have any was the reply.

Diesel engines, one was always taught to check supply and work towards the engine, give a tec a lap top and brain goes into reverse forgetting all the basics and starts at the engine.

Hohum

Meant to add fuel restriction caused by tank debris lodged in filter head........................

 

[oldgit]

One of the best diagnostic tools here would have been a vacuum gauge, did he fit one in line?

Not sure who fitted the offending item. Suspect the professionals who got involved, limited their investigations to plugging in a black box and interpreting the numbers displayed.
The heater was working well apparently.