How Long Would Diesel 'Lock' Last If Left To Drip?

[CaptainBob]

When taking out my injectors no-one thought to take off the fuel return line and block it or raise it. So despite the fuel being turned off, 36 hours later my engine block was full to the top of the dipstick with diesel, and the bilge alarm went off from the overflow.

Four weeks later after recovering from the financial loss, and the fumes, with the injectors serviced and re-installed, I went to start the engine for the first time since.

It turned maybe 1/4 of a turn and stopped, and hissed.

Tried a second time, same thing.

Manually trying to turn it over with a socket on the crank (which previously worked, used for timing etc) it's definitely moving (so not seized) but it's very hard to move it very far. I didn't push this.

Everyone is concluding diesel also must have flooded the lowest one or two cylinders via the injector holes (where the injectors were).

But surely if diesel filled a cylinder 4 weeks ago, it would have all dripped out by now? The piston rings have a small gap don't they? Diesel leaks through the tiniest of holes.

If it's not diesel in a cylinder though - what else could it be. It turned over perfectly well before the injectors were taken out.

Thank you!

 

[superheat6k]

The ring gap with the piston in its liner is very small and the viscosity of the diesel with residual oil on the cylinder could mean the diesel never drains away.

I would remove the injectors and bar the engine by hand several turns to purge the excess fuel. Do not do this on the starter motor or you could break a rod or worse.

 

[CaptainBob]

Wilco. TY

 

[sailorman]

what was wrong with the injectors in the first place

 

[jerrytug]

Has something solid got into the combustion chamber, a broken off fragment, or bit of washer?
Or something a bit bigger in the sump, obstructing your crankshaft?
Something could have FLOATED in, through an injector hole, if the bilgewater was over it!

Hopefully it's just oil/diesel.

 

[CaptainBob]

Injectors were just due for a service really.

Pretty certain nothing's fallen in so hopefully it is just diesel in there.

Will find out later on today and report back.

TY

 

[sailorman]

Injectors were just due for a service really.

Pretty certain nothing's fallen in so hopefully it is just diesel in there.

Will find out later on today and report back.

TY

when is an injector due a service. my BX injectors went 230,00 miles without one

 

[pampas]

check you crankcase oil level!!!!

 

[Spirit of Glenans]

Has something solid got into the combustion chamber, a broken off fragment, or bit of washer?
Or something a bit bigger in the sump, obstructing your crankshaft?
Something could have FLOATED in, through an injector hole, if the bilgewater was over it!

Hopefully it's just oil/diesel.

I got the impression that the bilge alarm was triggered by diesel in the bilge.

 

[CaptainBob]

Sailman. Injector pump was refurbished and re-installed. Engine ran rough. Diagnosis was a blocked injector or two. Injectors were removed and found to be encrusted - they needed a service.

Pampas. Why do you suggest checking oil level? Even if it was empty it would turn over wouldn't it?

Spirit of Glenans. Yes exactly.

 

[rosssavage]

Empty yes, full crankcase is a different matter..

 

[CaptainBob]

All sorted.

I removed all injectors and used a pela to extract about an inch in the bottom of each of them. Started up fine subsequently.

Turned out that the engineer who'd removed the injectors for me the first time around had poured oil in to cover the diesel cleaned engine interior, forgetting that the injectors were out.

Facepalm!

 

[macd]

He does that to you yet you anoint him with the title "engineer". The most flattering thing I'd call him (on one of his better days) is "fitter".
But glad you got it sorted.

 

[PabloPicasso]

check you crankcase oil level!!!!

Yes suck out the excess! Did you drain the sump and change the oil, replace oil filter...??

 

[vyv_cox]

All sorted.

I removed all injectors and used a pela to extract about an inch in the bottom of each of them. Started up fine subsequently.

Turned out that the engineer who'd removed the injectors for me the first time around had poured oil in to cover the diesel cleaned engine interior, forgetting that the injectors were out.

Facepalm!

Sorry to say that this is close to gibberish. I suggest you follow some earlier advice, check sump oil level and in future use someone rather more reliable than your 'engineer'. Better still, learn to DIY and then you will know what is going on.

 

[CaptainBob]

Pablo. Yes sump was drained immediately on detection of diesel leak. Oil changed. But the oil filter was brand new before this all started, and the engine was never attempted to be run while diesel was present in it. So at present I'm not intending to change it. As it was never run with diesel in the sump it should be fine right?

Vyv. Yes it doesn't make a lot of sense now I re-read it. I was knackered at the time I wrote it. I meant to say, I removed the injectors and found by inserting a pela tube into each cylinder that there was about an inch of engine oil in the bottom of each. I used the pela to remove this and the engine subsequently started fine.

Arguably the diesel flow back down the fuel return line was also the "engineer's" fault. The two nuts and inspection cover on the fuel injector pump they'd forgotten to tighten up were a surprise also. And them not telling me they'd put in no more than 5 litres of oil (engine takes 15) when I asked them to put new oil in, and them then telling me I would be OK to start up the engine and just call them if I needed help was a little annoying.

Their bill however did not reflect this. My repeat custom, or lack thereof, will.

 

[jerrytug]

Who was it so we can avoid him?

 

[CaptainBob]

I hesitate to name and shame. All is now well with my engine so I'm a little less stressed and much more happy. They had dropped everything during a very busy time to come and help me in a rush. They have not charged me for any work since the above fiasco. And have given me 15 litres of oil FOC. They leant me tools also to do another job. Everyone else who's mentioned them recently in person has been very very pleased with their work. I'll let them off this once.

Thanks all for the advice. We are now back up and running. And a lot more knowledgeable about engine maintenance.