[Public-List] diesel woes

[Don Campbell]

Gordon::
    There are only three things that make diesels run well, clean fuel, 
clean air and good pressure from the fuel pump. Diesel fuels are usually 
determined by the seller and where it gets cold, they automatically switch 
to more stove oil about the first of October so it won't freeze quite as 
easily. That fuel does not do so well in warm weather though.  I doubt if 
you would get that change in Maryland but you might with the crazy weather 
we are all getting. The filter in front of the injectors could be the 
problem and if your racors are separating the water out, at least you should 
see it and that is a problem not to consider. It could also be dirt in the 
fuel and pugged filters anyway. A long shot is an airlock in the fuel 
tank(s), so check the vent if there is one or the breathability of the fuel 
caps. A wasp or insect may have used that vent pipe for a nesting site. The 
obvious one to me is a plugged air filter if you have one and if not,  an 
air  intake that may be blocked. If there is no air filter, is the 
passageway for air to the motor open or is everything shut to the engine 
compartment? Check the pump pressure and after that, carbon in the injectors 
from not running often enough, for long enough, at high RPMs. In my 
experience, diesels need to be run up to temperature and left there for some 
time when they run, and then cooled out before being  shut off. Getting in 
and out of moorings or marinas in short bursts often makes  for a short 
diesel engine life.
    There will be places that do injectors and pumps for highway and farm 
tractor diesels, so you don't have to go to marine services by default if 
the pump is the problem.
Don

-----Original Message----- 
From: gordon white via Public-List
Sent: Friday, August 02, 2019 9:01 AM
To: public-list at lists.alberg30.org
Cc: gordon white
Subject: Re: [Public-List] diesel woes

    Our Alberg, Brigadoon II, has a Westerbeke diesel, installed some
years ago by the prior owner. Usually it runs well, with occasional
issues with fuel that has sat in the tank(s) too long. In that case,
usually, the engine just stops until things are cleaned out. This time,
on a 3-day trip to Yorktown for the fireworks (no wind until we had tied
up at the marina there) the engine would suddenly slow down almost to a
stop, and occasionally it would stop. But usually after drastically
slowing it would come back to our usual RPM (2,100) and on we would go.

     Thinking that one set of our parallel Racor filters was gummed up I
switched filters but eventually the engine would slow again almost to a
stop. We have two tanks, so I switched tanks. Same thing. Eventually
(after an hour or two) it would slow or stop, then resume regular RPM,
or stop and be re-started and go on. Last time it happened we were in a
dicey place entering our channel, but it re-started in time.

     Having since been away on a road trip, I haven't done anything
about it except think.

     Anyone have any ideas? Mine, at this point, is that as my switching
tanks and filters seemed not to cure the problem is that they are not
the issue. There is another small filter right at the injectors that I
could not, out there, readily switch, so that is my first job this week.

     But why it drastically slowed then regained full speed for an hour
or two does puzzle me.  Unless there is something floating in the system
that occasionally plugs it up, then falls away -

     Anyway - anyway, does anyone have any ideas?

thanks

  - Gordon White (Deltaville, Virginia)

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