Diesel Sputtering?

[oakbaycat]

I have a 12hp Farymann diesel, about 15 years old, just had some work done in October (starter). Today I was running the diesel for about 15 minutes, shut down to sail. On starting again, about an hour later, it ran for about 4 minutes then started to sputter; was very weak and coughing. Shut the engine down, tried re-starting, and coughing/sputtering started. Waited about 3 minutes and re-started, got a good rev going for about 30 seconds, then back to coughing.

The boat is moored in a temperate climate, (Victoria BC Canada) with a temp range of around range of 3-10C (37-50F) in the winter, and I only use it about once per month in winter; this is the first time in the eight years I've owned the boat that I've experienced something like that. The tank is full, and was filled in October.

Any thoughts?

(luckily there was just a hint of wind and I was close to my dock when all this started)

 

[BobM]

Did you check your impeller? Perhaps you lost some vanes and they are blocking your exhaust elbow. Did you change your fuel filter? Although it doesn't sound like conditions were such that you were stirring sediment in your tank (low level of fuel and rough conditions). Did you try to bleed the system? Did you check the tank vent to see if it is blocked?

 

[Alan]

Dirty fuel filter.....is the most common cause of diesel engine poor or no run condition. For sure its not the only one but very common. If it were me that's the first place I'd look.

 

[Stu Jackson]

There are only two things diesels need to work, once you get them started, and to start, too, for that matter.

Air and fuel.

Check for both, step-by-step list is filters, valves, hoses, pickup screen inside tank, etc.

Check the fuel pump filter on the bottom if you have a Facet, and check to see the primary filter is before the pump.

 

[petersea]

These are typical symptoms of a dirty/clogged fuel filter as other have suggested. Change it out every two years minimum and treat fuel with biocide.

 

[druid]

Stu hit the nail on the head, which is why I love working on diesels. My money would be on:
1. dirty filter
2. non-working lift pump
3. air in the fuel line

Lack of air (or poor exhaust) is also a possibility, but I'd bet fuel. What's the exhaust like? cooling water coming out OK? any smoke? If no smoke, almost guaranteed not enough fuel.

The Bad News is that if it's a dirty filter, and the dirt has gotten to the injectors, it's rebuild-injector-time!

druid

 

[Union36]

Two things..

The thing with diesel engines is it needs air & fuel to run with those two things in tact they will run forever. Look at your fuel intake & the air flow.

Have a good day.

 

[sailaway78]

Fuel filter

As others have said, the first thing to check is the fuel filter. Many change them every year, whether needed or not. Second would be to check for some water in the fuel. Lots of things it could be, but my first drink bet would be on one of these two.

 

[Jalepeno]

Is your Farymann a single cylinder or two cylinders? If it is two, then it is possible that one of the cylinders is working properly but the other is intermittent due to compresion or injector problem. Also if two, you may be able to use your decompresion levers to determin which cylinder.
Here is a forum that may have more info.
(p.s. you will need to register)
http://boatdiesel.com/Forums/main.cfm?CFAPP=31&Forum_ID=31