Volvo Penta engines, Nimbus motor cruisers

[[2068]]

Trouble is, it's under such high pressure, that it will go straight through skin, and into the tissue underneath, whatever that might be. I'm not sure exactly what the consequences of "diesel in the veins" might really be, but would rather not find out myself. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

dv.

 

[AdeOlly]

Don't know if it would or not. I was amazed at how tough a half centimetre band of the stuff was that I needed to remove a while back. What sort of pressure are we talking about on a non-common rail engine? (Accept very very unlikely to work on a common rail supply pipe). It would also be possible to make a very thick wrapping of tape, and effectiveness would depend on the nature/size of the supply pipe fracture. Would be worth a go if stuck in a shipping lane!

 

[Wiggo]

265bar if it's a KAD4x engine, or nearly 4000psi. Self amalgamating, while good, is not that good...

I understand that at that pressure, the jet from an injector will go straight through skin. Diesel contamination that deep in a finger, for instance, I am told can require amputation.

 

[BrendanS]

It's the stuff that A&E depts talk about behind the scenes

 

[cellis]

I was very interested but not surprised to read your story David - I suspect that you and my friend are not alone in this and I believe that is the central issue.
Fuel lines, even if they do have to withstand 4000psi are nevertheless simply 'pipes'.
If properly designed, manufactured, tested and installed they should never fail after 50 hours of operation.
However, the reality of volume production is that at every stage the product is shaved back to reduce costs/maximise profits, until the statistical probability of failure is such that the number of highly upset punters such as ourselves can be 'managed' (basically ignored) - Its could probably be best described as keeping it slightly below the 'Watchdog/HSE' threshold!
A number of respondants raised the possibility of other problems and I think they are almost certainly right. I don't want to go into too much detail in open forum and I don't think it has any direct bearing on the pipe failure but suffice to say that immediately prior to commencing the outward leg the engine had been worked on by both Volvo and Nimbus engineers and effectively given the ok for the channel crossing.
I would also add that basic engine/engine bay checks were carried before the return leg and there was nothing to fore-warn of the problems ahead.
Finally, thanks to you David and everyone who took the trouble to respond - I hope there are still a few of us out there who resist the temptation to take incidents such as these lying down.
Best regards,
Chris Ellis

 

[Its_Only_Money]

[ QUOTE ]
....I am told can require amputation.

[/ QUOTE ]

Friend of mine in the Navy lost the end of three fingers when he "found" such a leak in a high pressure hydraulic line by accident...further amputation not required fortunately. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

BTW common rail vehicle engines often run at 1600bar-ish and designers are looking to increase this to circa 2000bar asap... suspect common-rail marine engines would be similar order of magnitude.

 

[smurfer]

Chris what model engine is your friends's please, comments noted regarding mass production, which has being going on for over a hundred years!

 

[Divemaster1]

[ QUOTE ]
Chris what model engine is your friends's please, comments noted regarding mass production, which has being going on for over a hundred years!

[/ QUOTE ]
Wild guess is that it was an early D6 ... 310 or 350 ... Quite a number of the Scandinavian built boats got delivery of early D6's (Norway inclusive), and I know of quite a few that have experienced same problem with hairline fracture in No 3 fuel pipe....

 

[CaptainThames]

With spped so drastically down there was clearly a problem somewhere. Was there an element of pressing on with the plan and not heading straight for the nearest safe location to investigate thoroughly. Easy to say in hindsight I know, but your experiences show how lonely and vulnerable you suddenly feel when your only means of propulsion packs up.