Engine starting issue - could it be fuel?

[peter2407]

So, Sea Start, plus very experienced Marine Engineer (not to say you're not experienced, Nick ..) having problems with getting my engine started. May well be an engine (compression) problem, but ....obviously my agenda is avoid an engine rebuild (and therefore lift as the engine is to a sail drive). So - could fuel quality sit in this picture, and if yes, why and what would you do about it?

Fuel - boat sat for 3 months+ no use, no cranking, over winter, not winterised as expected to use her which didn' t happen, possibly tanks not brimming, but .. fuel from reputable marinas (an oxymoron, I know ..)

Engine - after shedloads of go's today, she finally kicked in with full throttle, but idled at around 750 when it should be 850 minimum, and then inevitably died. BTW, engines does not like ready start, even when used minimally.

Batteries - yes, got t0 12.2v, but supplemented through the process with 2 fully charged crankers and two fully charged 700 amp battery packs - not all at once, obviously ...

Currently the injectors are out and on their way for test/refurb ... my engineer mate is getting an adapter made so that a compression test can be run (unless one of you kind chaps can rent me one for cash money? Yanmar 3GM30F from memory???_

What else would you do?

 

[daveyw]

When it was running did it sound to be running evenly, on all cylinders. I would have cracked each injector supply pipe while cranking to check I was getting fuel to each cylinder.

 

[MoodySabre]

Last winter, distracted by daughter's ill health, I had the boat put on the hard with only a third of a tank of fuel (marina red) and no winterising at all. Engine (VP2003) started and ran fine in the spring. So I don't think fuel quality is an issue.

 

[paulieraw]

Is it low commpression

It could be the rings have dried out and are a bit sticky, happend to me once, answer inject some engine oil directly into the cylinders, about 3 or four squirts of an oil can, leave for an hour or so and start again.

Dont rev up as you want the engine to get back to running under little load.

Just a thought worked for me in the past and recently with my single cylinder Sabb.

What happens is one or more of the cylinders has a valve open and oil may evaporate out from around the rings.

 

[PCUK]

Have the fuel filters been changed recently?

 

[Bobc]

I think I'd go for fuel starvation first. Check the filters, lift pump, hose clips, banjo washers, etc.

 

[jimi]

Check fuel and air filters first I think