Know Your Boat's Diesel Engine

Andrew Simpson has been continuously involved in the marine industry since he enrolled at a pre-sea training ship as a boy of 13. At the age of 17 he became a deck officer in the British Mercantile Marine, traveling the world until he came ashore six years later to study yacht design, boat building and surveying all of which he has practiced ever since. Andrew is a prolific contributor to many sailing magazines both in the UK and the US, including: Cruising World, Motor Boating and Sailing, and Boat Works. Between 1995 and 2002 he was Associate Editor of Practical Boat Owner Britains biggest selling yachting magazine, at which he remains Consulting Editor, writes a monthly column, and contributes articles on a wide range of technical subjects. He has written several books on boating, lives in Poole, England, and sails Shindig, a light-displacement cutter that he designed, in Atlantic and Mediterranean waters.

Introduction1. How Diesel Engines WorkThe Four-Stroke CycleTurbochargingAftercooling or Intercooling?The Two-Stroke CycleDirect and Indirect Injection2. The Fuel SystemWhat Is Diesel Fuel?The Basic Fuel SystemThe Tank • Diesel "Bugs" • The Ideal Tank • Water-Separating Filter (Pre-Filter) • Fuel Lift Pump • Fine Filter (Secondary Filter)The Injection ProcessCommon Rail Systems3. The Air SystemAir FiltersExhaustSiphon Breaks • Watertrap Silencers • Exhaust Temperature Alarms4. The Engine Cooling SystemRaw-Water CoolingIndirect Cooling (Heat Exchanger)Keel CoolingParts of the Cooling SystemThermostats • Seacocks and Strainers • A Pair of Pumps5. The Electrical SystemElectrical CircuitsGround Return • Insulated ReturnAlternatorsBetter ChargingTypes of BatteriesEngine StartingStopping the Engine6. The Lubrication SystemWhat Is Lubricating Oil?Oil FiltersOil PumpGearbox LubricationOil Coolers7. The Transmission and Drive TrainDirect Drive via Gearbox, Shaft, and PropellerGearboxes • Shaft Couplings • Stuffing Boxes • Shaft Bearings • PropellersIntegrated DrivesStern Drives • "Pod" Systems • Sail Drives • Water Jets8. Engine ControlsCable SystemsDual-Station Controls9. Starting and Stopping Your EnginePre-Start CheckStartingA Few Running ChecksStopping the Engine10. Troubleshooting Your EngineThe Engine Won’t Turn OverThe Engine Turns Over but Won’t StartThe Engine Runs but Exhibits Abnormal SymptomsSmoke Signals • Shake, Rattle, and Roll • General Lack of Performance • The Engine Hunts or Dies • Overheating Alarm Sounds • Oil Warning Light or Alarm Activated • Alternator Charge Alarm Sounds11. Maintaining Your EngineBasic Maintenance IntervalsDaily When in Use • Weekly When in Use • AnnuallyAs Recommended by the Engine ManufacturerScheduled by the SeasonsWinterizing • Once Spring Has SprungToolsMechanical Toolkit • Electrical ToolkitSparesElectrical Spares12. Critical Procedures and How to Do ThemTake Care of Your Fuel FiltersDraining a Watertrap • Replacing Filter Elements • Cartridge-Type Filters • Replaceable-Element Filters • Spin-On FiltersBleeding the Fuel SystemChanging the Oil and FilterExtracting the Old Oil • Replacing the Filter • Refill the OilChanging Gearbox OilChanging or Adjusting the Alternator BeltAdjusting a Packed GlandRepacking a Stern GlandChanging a ThermostatTesting a ThermostatRenewing the Freshwater CoolantReplacing the Raw-Water Pump ImpellerAdjusting Valve ClearanceBattery MaintenanceReplacing Engine AnodesCare of Air Filters13. Emergency ProceduresEngine Overheats because of Thermostat FailureBypassing the Ignition Switch or SolenoidStopping a “Runaway” EngineDealing with an Engine FireIndex