In our ever-changing economic climate, no detail can be overlooked when performing maintenance on your vessel’s engine. Even if you’re using high quality MTU parts in your marine diesel engine, one overlooked detail can mean the difference between a pleasurable hobby and an economic liability. Making sure that each individual system of your marine diesel engine is performing optimally is the best way to maintain its overall functionality and longevity.
It is important know that many components have changed since the clunky diesel engines of years-gone-by. In an effort to both improve performance and lower the level of harmful emissions, most modern diesel fuels now contain a significantly smaller amount of sulphur content. While overwhelmingly positive for the environment, this change to chemical makeup of diesel fuels raises new concerns when performing fuel system maintenance. The lower sulphur content in most modern diesel fuel means that it also provides less lubrication, and as a consequence components such as fuel injectors may be susceptible to higher rate of wear and tear. That said, it is now more important than ever to change or rebuild your fuel injectors regularly to the specifications of the manufacturer. Making sure that all the components of your craft’s engine are properly lubricated is the first step in maintaining a healthy diesel engine. Not only does the oil keep everything moving smoothly, it also plays a key role in keeping your engine’s pistons and cylinders cool from constant movement and heat. The oil itself can also serve as a protective seal against invading particulates and other contaminants. Changing the oil and filter regularly is the best way to make sure that your engine continues to run smoothly. Literally.
Air, and more to the point, clean air, is also integral for the continued functionality of any healthy combustion engine. It takes quite a bit of air to burn the fuel in your engine, so making sure it is of pure quality is paramount. Just as contaminated fuel can deal some significant damage to your engine, dirty air can yield the same unfortunate results. Fortunately, marine diesel engines are all equipped with air cleaners for just this reason. Like the fuel filters, this air cleaner must be regularly maintained – if it becomes blocked, the engine may begin to burn more fuel than is needed, negatively impacting the integrity of the engine and your fuel efficiency.The same issues can arise in a neglected emission system. Blockage to these delicate systems can result in diminished performance and a shorter lifespan for your engine. Any filter in the air cleaner that appears visibly dirty must either be cleaned or replaced to ensure your craft’s engine is operating at full capability. Working in tandem with the intake system is the exhaust system. The key to maintaining this system is to make sure that everything is properly routed when the engine is installed to prevent the buildup of soot in the engine. Checking this periodically for cracks and corrosion can be the difference between the open seas and being left high and dry.
With all the heat required to burn diesel fuel, making sure that your engine’s coolant system is functioning optimally is also very important. With modern diesel engines, it is no longer enough to simply make sure that the fluid levels are topped off. Many of the metal compounds in contemporary diesel engines can change the ph level of the coolant fluid and quickly cause corrosion to an otherwise healthy coolant system. It is highly recommended that the ph balance is tested regularly either with a home testing kit or by sending a coolant sample to a laboratory for testing. Any diesel engine can only remain as clean as the fuel being pumped through it. When the injectors deliver the pressurized fuel mist into the cylinders, even the smallest particles of dirt can eventually wreak havoc on an otherwise healthy injection system. Despite how beautiful it may look from the deck of a yacht, water is equally bad news for any marine diesel engine. Water getting into the fuel system can cause damage to the injection pump and injectors, not to mention the rust and bacteria that can eventually accumulate, requiring a fuel tank cleaning to be performed. Changing the components of the fuel filters regularly will greatly diminish the damage your fuel system from condensation and other harmful particulates. It is highly recommend that you never leave port without spare components for these filters as you never know when they may need to be changed.
It is highly recommended that regular maintenance begins early in the life of a marine diesel engine. To accurately determine the time table on which you must perform regular upkeep, refer to the manufacturer’s specifications. The craft’s electronic systems, if kept up to date, will also aid a service technician in determining how an engine is being used and how often general maintenance should be performed accordingly. But while we live in a digital age, healthy mechanical components are no less important today than before. The intense heat and vibrations generated by a marine diesel engine can also have negative long term effects on a marine diesel engine’s mechanical system. As the engine mounts bear the brunt of these powerful forces, periodic maintenance of these mechanical supports is critical in avoiding damage to both the engine and the structural integrity of the craft’s hull that supports it. These supports must remain sturdy, so examining for cracks or corroded hardware on a regular basis is highly recommended by most manufacturers.
While modern marine diesel engines may require more attention and maintenance than the antiquated models of the past, the benefits of this regular upkeep are myriad and well worth the time spent. A well-kept diesel engine will improve your vessel’s power and fuel efficiency, increase overall performance, and result in cleaner fuel emissions for our waters’ delicate ecosystems. By checking the engine’s systems on a regular and individual basis, problems can be spotted early and a maintenance schedule based on your specific performance needs will be easier to determine, greatly simplifying the process of keeping your vessel ship-shape in the future.
