Any place you haven't checked is ripe for problems. Any assumptions you make now will seem more obvious in the future.
The simple fact that one thing keeps happening: your engine is cutting out So you trace back from there, what does the engine need to run? Well it turns out that most sailboat diesels only need an adequate and precise fuel delivery. Some have turbos, some have electronic injection systems. Most just have a diesel tank that is approaching 30-50+ years old, along with mixed components from similar vintages. On Tue, Jun 27, 2023, 10:23 AM Della Barba, Joe via CnC-List < cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > I have a fuel pressure gauge that has proven enormously useful. > > > > Joe > > Coquina > > > > > > *From:* Joel Aronson via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> > *Sent:* Tuesday, June 27, 2023 1:02 PM > *To:* Stus-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> > *Cc:* Joel Aronson <joel.aron...@gmail.com> > *Subject:* [EXTERNAL] Stus-List Re: Engine strangeness > > > > Dave, > > > > Start with the fuel tank. Look for crud in the tank and in the screen for > the fuel pick up. Check every hose clamp in the system. Be sure the > overflow outlet is not plugged. Be sure top of Racor is seated properly > and vacuum gauge is tight. Change the filters just for peace of mind. > > > > Two stories - Racing on a friend's boat. One the way to the start, engine > stalled. EVERY hose clamp on the fuel system was loose. Tightened, bled > and made the start. > > My genset would start and die. Followed my advice.. Found loose hose > barb, bad hose, bad clamp, then finally found the problem - the bleed screw > was the loose. > > > > Good luck! > > Joel > > > > > <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail> > > Virus-free.www.avg.com > <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail> > > > > On Tue, Jun 27, 2023 at 12:46 PM David Knecht via CnC-List < > cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > > So I am back to my engine problem hoping someone can help clarify things. > I have had the engine quit several more times, but with no consistency as > to when or why it happens. We were on a cruise recently and used it often > and for long periods going in and out of harbors. Mostly it worked fine > but had it stall several times: start and run for a few minutes, then > stall, restart then stall, restart then stall, then run fine for 20 min or > more. This happened in two separate situations a few days apart but no > stall several other times. In all cases, it has eventually restarted and > ran for extended periods. These intermittent problems are the hardest to > diagnose in my experience. This seems most likely to be a fuel related > issue so now I am trying to fully understand the fuel system. > > > > I installed a Racor 500 unit last summer with a T-handle vacuum gauge on > top. Fuel goes from the tank, through the shutoff lever to the Racor, then > to the fuel pump, then to the secondary and on to the engine. If I > understand this correctly, the gauge on the Racor unit will measure > restriction in the fuel flow upstream of the gauge, ie the primary (30 µm > in my case). I know the gauge works because if you partially shut off > the fuel lever, you see the gauge gradually increase in vacuum reading. > But it seems that it will not tell you if the secondary is plugged. > > > > 1. I don’t see how the secondary (10 µm in my case) could be plugged if > the primary is fine but I guess not impossible. My temptation is to > replace the secondary since the primary is not showing any sign of being > plugged (from the gauge), but I don’t see how this could lead to an > infrequent intermittent stall. > > 2. Fuel pump problem (loose wire etc.)? You can hear the fuel pump > running when the engine is off and I have never heard it stop or pause. > Can fuel pumps fail like this? Can that lead to an intermittent stall? > > 3. Air getting into fuel line- seems possible, but I don’t see how that > can be the cause if the engine runs for an hour continuously once restarted. > > > > Any ideas welcome! Dave > > > > S/V Aries > > 1990 C&C 34+ > > New London, CT > > > > > Please show your appreciation for this list and the Photo Album site and > help me pay the associated bills. Make a contribution at: > https://www.paypal.me/stumurray > Thanks for your help. > Stu > > > > > -- > > Joel > Please show your appreciation for this list and the Photo Album site and > help me pay the associated bills. Make a contribution at: > https://www.paypal.me/stumurray > Thanks for your help. > Stu
Please show your appreciation for this list and the Photo Album site and help me pay the associated bills. Make a contribution at: https://www.paypal.me/stumurray Thanks for your help. Stu
