Diesel Question

[Tom23400]

I have a 12hp Westerbeke and was wondering what is the purpose on the "intake
silencer". It sure doesn't silence anything. Does it need to be replaced on
a regular basis?.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

it's a non-air filter

otherwise known as an air filter but since it often doesn't, it's also known as a silencer for lack of anything else to call it. Check the parts manual to see if there is a real air filter spec'ed for the engine as replacing it with a non-conforming one could restrict intake air. Although most diesels are obviously not subject to a lot of dust, it's often missing but the engine could intake belt dust as well as any other stuff floating around the engine so consider it cheap insurance.

 

[Warren Milberg]

Air Filters

Not sure about your specific air filter ("intake silencer"), but on many engines these are foam inserts -- and they can deteriorate or even disappear over time. Very easy to overlook cleaning them or replacing the element. It may be that your "silencer" isn't silent anymore because it has disintegrated....

 

[Hermit Scott Catalina30]

air filter silencer

I just rebuilt a yanmar 12 horse. I haven't even started it yet, I put it in the boat yesterday, but I won't start it until I put an air filter on it. That just seems like bad form to me. I am going to put a high flow after market car filter in place of the deteriorated silencer. I am sure with an air filter in place of the silencer it will be more silent. Also I am going to pull the air directly from the cabin so I get a colder flow as long as it doesn't make it too loud. I wouldn't worry about restricting air flow as long as you are using an automotive type, the foam type often used on lawnmowers and other single cylinder engines can and will restrict air flow. I'm pulling every trick in the book to try and get as much HP to the prop as possible from this little engine.