A_S_Y_2015_04_05

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oil or water leak is detected around the cylinder head gasket, it
may only need torqueing down, although it is usually better to
seize the moment, remove the head and replace the gasket.
Head gasket leaks advertise their presence in a number of ways.
If a section of gasket blows out, then escaping oil and water with a
distinct change in the engine’s sound and performance will be clearly
evident. At the opposite extreme, a head gasket can leak insidiously
for ages without any obvious loss of efficiency, the signs not
necessarily being a display of oil or water, rather microscopic bubbles
appearing between block and head. At this low level of concern, the
engine will probably get you home and then some but a new gasket
should be on the top of the must-do list.

SICK ENGINE SYMPTOMS

Depending on the number of cylinders involved, a broken piston
ring does not necessarily diminish a diesel engine’s performance to
any great extent, however sump oil entering the combustion chamber
leaves no doubt that things are going badly wrong. The exhaust turns
black, oil pressure declines and the temperature rises as the sump oil
burns off. The engine must be urgently stopped and topped up with
sump oil if continued running is imperative, otherwise shut down and
do not restart until proper action is taken.
Exhaust smoke tells a lot about a diesel engine’s condition with or
without broken rings, particularly when related to other factors. For
example, excessive exhaust smoke suggests it is over loaded, the simple
cure being to back off a little on the throttle. If smoking persists,
then it may be that the engine has reached an age where a little more
smoking is normal (commonly around 5000 hours) and there is little
need for concern. Much depends on how an engine is treated, the
secret to longevity being to change oil and filters strictly according to
the manual, and if there is no manual, don’t run over 100 hours per oil
change with possibly twice that time for filters.

DIESEL FUEL LEAKS

If fuel weeps into the bilge through no apparent fault of the
engine’s delivery system, then it must be a leaking tank. If made
of stainless steel there is every chance that work hardening has
caused a hair-split that might be difficult to find without total tank
removal. In some production yachts this means that some of the
interior must be gutted to gain access beneath the cabin sole. If the
tank is mild steel, leaking is probably caused by condensation pin
holing the bottom of the tank. Otherwise, with a little luck, the

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