Know Your Boat's Diesel Engine

Introduction

1. How Diesel Engines Work

The Four-Stroke Cycle

Turbocharging

Aftercooling or Intercooling?

The Two-Stroke Cycle

Direct and Indirect Injection

2. The Fuel System

What Is Diesel Fuel?

The Basic Fuel System

The Tank • Diesel "Bugs" • The Ideal Tank • Water-Separating Filter (Pre-Filter) • Fuel Lift Pump • Fine Filter (Secondary Filter)

The Injection Process

Common Rail Systems

3. The Air System

Air Filters

Exhaust

Siphon Breaks • Watertrap Silencers • Exhaust Temperature Alarms

4. The Engine Cooling System

Raw-Water Cooling

Indirect Cooling (Heat Exchanger)

Keel Cooling

Parts of the Cooling System

Thermostats • Seacocks and Strainers • A Pair of Pumps

5. The Electrical System

Electrical Circuits

Ground Return • Insulated Return

Alternators

Better Charging

Types of Batteries

Engine Starting

Stopping the Engine

6. The Lubrication System

What Is Lubricating Oil?

Oil Filters

Oil Pump

Gearbox Lubrication

Oil Coolers

7. The Transmission and Drive Train

Direct Drive via Gearbox, Shaft, and Propeller

Gearboxes • Shaft Couplings • Stuffing Boxes • Shaft Bearings • Propellers

Integrated Drives

Stern Drives • "Pod" Systems • Sail Drives • Water Jets

8. Engine Controls

Cable Systems

Dual-Station Controls

9. Starting and Stopping Your Engine

Pre-Start Check

Starting

A Few Running Checks

Stopping the Engine

10. Troubleshooting Your Engine

The Engine Won’t Turn Over

The Engine Turns Over but Won’t Start

The Engine Runs but Exhibits Abnormal Symptoms

Smoke 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 Sounds

11. Maintaining Your Engine

Basic Maintenance Intervals

Daily When in Use • Weekly When in Use • Annually

As Recommended by the Engine Manufacturer

Scheduled by the Seasons

Winterizing • Once Spring Has Sprung

Tools

Mechanical Toolkit • Electrical Toolkit

Spares

Electrical Spares

12. Critical Procedures and How to Do Them

Take Care of Your Fuel Filters

Draining a Watertrap • Replacing Filter Elements • Cartridge-Type Filters • Replaceable-Element Filters • Spin-On Filters

Bleeding the Fuel System

Changing the Oil and Filter

Extracting the Old Oil • Replacing the Filter • Refill the Oil

Changing Gearbox Oil

Changing or Adjusting the Alternator Belt

Adjusting a Packed Gland

Repacking a Stern Gland

Changing a Thermostat

Testing a Thermostat

Renewing the Freshwater Coolant

Replacing the Raw-Water Pump Impeller

Adjusting Valve Clearance

Battery Maintenance

Replacing Engine Anodes

Care of Air Filters

13. Emergency Procedures

Engine Overheats because of Thermostat Failure

Bypassing the Ignition Switch or Solenoid

Stopping a “Runaway” Engine

Dealing with an Engine Fire

Index

The Diesel Engine Manual for the Rest of Us

If you were surprised to learn that your boat’s engine has no spark plugs, you’re not alone. If you’re like the rest of us, you want to know how your engine works and how to keep it working, but you haven’t come across a simple, nontechnical treatment of the subject.

Until now, that is. Designed especially for non-mechanically inclined boatowners, Know Your Boat's Diesel Engine is clear, direct, and richly illustrated to show you what your engine’s components look like and how they work. Developed by the Royal Yachting Association--whose seamanship courses are considered the worldwide gold standard for boating education--the book has been fully revised and adapted for North American boatowners. You’ll find:

• Simple yet complete information on how your engine works and the half-dozen things to check first when it fails to work as it should
• Easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions for troubleshooting, maintenance, and repairs
• Everything powerboaters and diesel-auxiliary sailboat owners need to know to use their engines with confidence