diesel or oil drip or leak before and after
engine start-up and, if necessary, wipe
off any spilled oil or fuel.
Have the injector pressure and spray
pattern professionally verified every
500 hours (see engine manual). Best
practice is to carry one spare injector
and copper seat washer if required. If
the vessel is going to more isolated
areas it’s also advisable to carry a spare
set of injector pipes.
A few older injection pumps and
governors have their own mini-
dipsticks. If so, check the level monthly
and top up when necessary.
It’s also important that the engine
STOP lever is labelled and easily
identifiable for crew in case the stop
cable or solenoid fails.RUNNING OUT OF FUEL
An engine that has been starved of fuel
will need to be bled all the way through
the fuel supply. This means refilling all
the hoses, both filters, the lift/transfer
pump, the injection pump and the
injectors – a process that takes time,
even in ideal conditions.
There are a number of precautions
that can reduce the chances of running
out and mitigate the consequences.
For example, it’s possible to verify the
actual amount of fuel in the tank by
dipping a long, clean stick inside. The
reading should then be noted in your
maintenance log. There is a reason why
filling stations dip tanks rather than
trusting electronic fuel gauges.
It’s also important to carry at least one
jerry can of spare fuel on deck. Treat it
with biocide and refill with fresh fuel
each time the main tank is filled. These
precautions are particularly important
when away from home port.DIESEL
Dennison Berwick
lives aboard SV
Oceandrifter,an11m
Chevrier, currently in
Malaysia. He is the
author ofMarine Diese
Basics 1, Maintenance,
Lay-up, Winter Protection,
Tropical Storage, Spring
Recommission. This book is
the first visual guide to marine
diesel systems on recreational
vessels. You can find it at Boat
Books Australia, as well as from
Whitworths, Amazon and other
marine booksellers.
For more information, visit
http://www.marinedieselbasics.comAir and fuel leaks can occur in the
suction, the low-pressure or the high-
pressure sections of the fuel line.
Here’s where to look.54 facebook.com/BlueWatermagazine
A reliable diesel supply