This densely illustrated, hands-on guide to diesel engine maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair renders its subject more user-friendly than ever before. Finally, boatowners who grew up with gas engines can set aside their fears about tinkering with diesels, which are safer and increasingly more prevalent. As in other volumes in the International Marine Sailboat Library, every step of every procedure is illustrated, so that users can work from the illustrations alone. The troubleshooting charts in the second chapter--probably the most comprehensive ever published--are followed by system-specific chapters, allowing readers to quickly diagnose problems, then turn to the chapter with solutions. Diesel engine systems covered include: mechanical; oil; fresh- and raw-water cooling; low- and high-pressure fuel; exhaust; starting; charging; transmission and stern gear.

Diesel Troubleshooting By The Pictures--It's Never Been This Easy Before. This simple, hands-on guide to practical diesel engine care makes repair and maintenance more user-firendly than ever before. Now, even boatowners who grew up with gas engines can set aside theirs fears about tinkering with diesels.

Peter Compton's dream of bluewater cruising finally became reality when, after 20 years in the Aerospace industry, he quit his job in 1986 to build a small catamaran and sail south with his family in search of sun and sand. Some 11 years and 20,000 miles later, the Comptons have settled in the British Virgin Islands. With a background in troubleshooting that includes several years as Engineering Department Head analyzing complex system designs, Peter now applies these skills to the marine diesels he deals with every day. Peter's current project is an independent and informative website that covers every aspect of marine diesels. Visit it at www.boatdiesel.com.

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Maintaining Your Diesel

Good Operating Procedures

Routine Maintenance

Surveying the Engine

The Initial Inspection

The Startup

The Sea Trial

Preventing Corrosion

Laying Up or "Winterizing" a Diesel

Troubleshooting Marine Diesels

Main Menu

Check Crankshaft Turns Freely

Performance Problems

Oil Problems

Excessive Exhaust Smoke

Temperature Problems

Noise and Vibration Problems

Starting System Problems

Charging System Problems

Turbocharger Problems

Fuel System Functional Check

Engine Fails to Stop

The Mechanical System

Engine Block

Cylinder Head

Crankshaft

Timing Gears

Valves

Pistons and Cylinders

Engine Mounts

Engine Alignment

Table of Mechanical System Faults

The Lubrication System

Oil

Oil Pump

Oil Pressure - Regulating Valve

Oil Filter

Priming the Oil System

Oil Contamination

Table of Lubrication System Faults

The Raw-Water Circuit

Raw-Water Strainer

Raw-Water Pump

Reconditioning a Raw-Water Pump

Heat Exchangers and Oil Coolers

Sacrificial Anodes, or "Zincs"

Antisiphon Valves

Raw-Water Hoses

Hose Clamps

Raw-Water Thermostats

Table of Raw-Water Circuit Faults

The Coolant Circuit

Coolant

Header Tank

Thermostat

Circulating Pump

V-Belt

Coolant-Circuit Hoses

Table of Coolant Circuit Faults

The Fuel System

Fuel

Fuel Tanks

Primary Filter

Fuel Lift Pump

Secondary Fuel Filter

Governor

Injector Pump

Cold-Starting Aids

Fuel Injectors

Air in the Fuel System

Table of Fuel System Faults

The Intake and Exhaust System

Air-Intake Filter

Exhaust Manifold

Exhaust Injection Elbow

Exhaust Hose

Mufflers and Lift Boxes

Exhaust Backpressure

Turbochargers

Intercoolers

Table of Intake and Exhaust System Faults

The Electrical System

Batteries

Battery Switches

Alternator

Starter Motor

Typical Engine-Installation Circuit Diagram

Table of Electrical System Faults

Controls and Instruments

Throttle Controls

Gear-Selector Controls

Engine-Stop Controls

Control Cables

Tachometers

Engine-Panel Gauges

Warning Circuits

Table of Control and Instrument Faults

Appendix: Diesel Engine Toolkit

Index

Copyright Information

About the Author