My diesel engine is a nightmare. It only starts when cold. When I motor out for a sail, then sail around a bit, I have to wait till the engine cools off to start her. Then when it starts up, it will cut off again when the engine temperature rises to 165 (started at 120 or less) which is about 5 minutes. This happens religously-- so I go into port under sail and turn the engine on at the last approach so i have some time to dock. What could be causing this? I have had starting problems with a warm engine that no sailor or mechanic around here has solved and now I am having these "temperature-related" running problems once I start the engine. The engine's running temperature is between 160-180 depending on RPM. The motor starts to throttle down once it reaches that 165 until it dies (and I can't throttle it up to keep it going). My boat is a 1990 Catalina 30 with a Universal M3-20 Diesel (Kubota made engine). Joe
Diesel Engine Cuts Off
- Thread starter PrincessCat
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Injectors?
This must be a fuel related problem so I would pull the injectors and clean or replace them. There could also be a loose fuel fitting that is letting air into the line when it moves due to expansion. Why not try running it at the dock for a few minutes then tap on the fuel line or injector with a screwdriver? That's my best guess.
This must be a fuel related problem so I would pull the injectors and clean or replace them. There could also be a loose fuel fitting that is letting air into the line when it moves due to expansion. Why not try running it at the dock for a few minutes then tap on the fuel line or injector with a screwdriver? That's my best guess.
Maybe
Perhaps your engine problems are not temperature related, but elapsed time. It may be that the time it takes to reach 165 the eng is starved for fuel. I would check the fuel delivery system starting at the injectors and working back, looking for a blockage. Bleed the system at the injectors to see if a good supply of fuel (with out bubbles) is getting there. Do it after the engine stalls. The system may be partially clogged. If not enough fuel is reaching the injectors, go to the next component in the system and check for good fuel flow there and work your way back to the tank until you find a blockage. I once worked on an engine that would run out of fuel only if the vehicle was moving. If the engine idled or the truck stood still it would use up all the fuel in the tank OK. Seems a piece of shopping bag type of plastic got into the tank. If the truck were moving the plastic would slosh around and get stuck in the pick-up tube and starve the engine. When the truck stopped, the plastic would float or sink away from the pick-up tube and the engine would start again. That was a tough one to find!
Perhaps your engine problems are not temperature related, but elapsed time. It may be that the time it takes to reach 165 the eng is starved for fuel. I would check the fuel delivery system starting at the injectors and working back, looking for a blockage. Bleed the system at the injectors to see if a good supply of fuel (with out bubbles) is getting there. Do it after the engine stalls. The system may be partially clogged. If not enough fuel is reaching the injectors, go to the next component in the system and check for good fuel flow there and work your way back to the tank until you find a blockage. I once worked on an engine that would run out of fuel only if the vehicle was moving. If the engine idled or the truck stood still it would use up all the fuel in the tank OK. Seems a piece of shopping bag type of plastic got into the tank. If the truck were moving the plastic would slosh around and get stuck in the pick-up tube and starve the engine. When the truck stopped, the plastic would float or sink away from the pick-up tube and the engine would start again. That was a tough one to find!
Have you removed the fuel pick up screen?
at the inlet to the fuel pickup in your fuel tank? http://c34.infopop.cc/eve/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=329609511&f=829605811&m=527608302&r=181601502#181601502 Stu
at the inlet to the fuel pickup in your fuel tank? http://c34.infopop.cc/eve/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=329609511&f=829605811&m=527608302&r=181601502#181601502 Stu
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