Engine trouble

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SEADANCE

SEADANCE

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Mar 28, 2007
211
Hunter 33' Cherubini Biloxi Back Bay,MS
removehtml]Hi guys and Gals! Long time no post! Hope everything is well with you and yours~ Question for you...had a touch of cold here the last few weeks and went down on one of the coldest days this past weekend to start the engine and check on my Lady. Engine would not start..sounded like she wanted too at first and then the battery got hot(new battery)..would there be a faulty something to the starter? Where do I start? Hubby is too busy with a new job so this is my problem for now. Thanks and appreciate your help and input. B/ SeadanceError: Error: expected [/URL], but found [/removehtml] instead[/removehtml]
 
Dennis W.

Dennis W.

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Nov 28, 2004
209
Hunter 310 San Pedro
Cold Starting

Seadance, I will assume you have a diesel. Depending on the how cold the coldest day is your engine may require a preheat to warm both the oil and the fuel. Both get thicker as they get cold and eventually will gel. All is wonderful after it returns to a more friendly tempuratue. Most diesels also employ a glow plug to assist in the starting process. My suggestion would be to find a way to warm the engine, make sure your starting battery is topped up and check the oil before you crank it. If the oil won't drip off the dipstick it is probably still too cold. Dennis W. S/V FullSailed
 
sailaway78

sailaway78

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May 11, 2005
3,431
Seidelman S37 Slidell, La.
Seadance

The cold is probably your problem. That engine doesn't have any glow plugs, so is probably necessary to pre heat a little before starting her up. The little Yanmar in my S2 is difficult to crank when it gets down below 40 or so. Will finally start but have to crank on it quite a bit.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,347
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
If you have shorepower and a charger

then you could use your house bank or both to start the engine without the start bank getting hot. Once the engine gets started and the alternator starts working, disconnect or turn off the charger - not harmful but no reason to have two sources of input to the batteries. If you crank too long, be sure to drain the muffler to avoid water backing into the engine.
 
BarryL

BarryL

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May 21, 2004
1,119
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409 Mt. Sinai, NY
What engine

Hello, What kind of engine do you have? Generally, diesel engines do not like the cold. If you don't have a glow plug that makes it even worse. Some manufacturers state to turn the engine over with the decompression lever set. This makes it easier to get the engine spinning. Do you have the owners manual? If not, you should get one, it may have some good hints. Do you have access to shorepower? If so, a dipstick heater will help a great deal. A hairdrier can be used to heat the air going into the intake manifold. As a last resort, some ether (AKA starting fluid) can be used to get the engine going. Please note that either should only be used if you HAVE to get the engine going and have no other options. If you use ether, splay a little (very little) into the intake manifold, wait a minute or so, and then try and start the engine. My last comment, it does not help to start the engine if all you are going to do is run it for a few minutes. IMHO, you might as well just let it sit until you are ready to use it. This assumes you will not need the engine for 6 months or so. If you are going to leave the engine longer than that, it should be properly decommissioned. Good luck, Barry
 
SEADANCE

SEADANCE

.
Mar 28, 2007
211
Hunter 33' Cherubini Biloxi Back Bay,MS
engine

Yanmar diesel 2Qm15 have several operation manuals says troubleshooting for when the engine won't start is: 1.the fuel system 2.insufficient compression pressure(perform compression pressure check) 3.check valve adjustments 4. empty fuel tank(not so) 5.dirty or plugged fuel filter 6.air in injection lines 7.faulty fuel feed pump 8.faulty fuel injection pump 9.faulty governor------okay what is this??? 10.misadjusted controls 11.improper fuel injection timing 12.poor valve seating 13.damaged cylinder head gasket 14.worn or broken piston rings I'm wondering just by looking at the map of the engine... would the fuse to the key switch have anything to do with it? I will be going down this weekend to play with her a bit. B/Seadancer
 
RAD

RAD

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Jun 3, 2004
2,330
Catalina 30 Bay Shore, N.Y.
Do not use starting fluid!

If you have to use any thing than use WD40 but never never use starting fluid. The hair dryer will work to preheat if you blow it into the air filter good luck!
 
B

Brian M H23

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Oct 3, 2006
1,033
Hunter 29.5 Toms River
Why so much against hatred

against using a little starting fluid? Nothing hurts an engine more than spinning round and round with little oil pressure. We've got an old diesel truck that needs to crank for maybe 15 seconds after the glowplugs heat up, or about 2 with a tiny shot of ether + glowplugs. If the engine is actually so cold that the diesel won't ignite, are you really worried about internal damage by a few seconds of ether going off? Now, yes. Spraying a hot engine full of ehter can do lots of damage. Use sparingly - but it's a good way to get your engine fired up and pumping oil/fuel as well as to see if you have a fuel issue.
 
C

CharlieCobra

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May 5, 2006
1,140
Knutson K-35 Yawl Bellingham
I drove truck for a number of years and used

starting fluid in diesels many times without issues.
 
Fred Ficarra

Fred Ficarra

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Dec 2, 2003
4,245
- - Seabeck WA
Seadance, you're in good hands here.

Get that critter warm and use a hairdryer like you were told. It'll run. Welcome back. Where ya been?
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Get a hairdryer on steriods called a heat gun.

The home hardware stores have them. You can even use them to heat the cabin. 1200 watts is standard.
 
D

Don

Use of starting fluid

Starting fluid shouldn't be your first choice although it would work but only as a last resort. Not that WD40 is a good lubricant but it is far better than ether and the only thing worse than slow cranking with little oil pressure is slow cranking with little oil pressure and ether which removes any latent oil lining the cylinder walls and rings. Not doubt some have used ether but both diesel training classes I attended, given my independent sources, were unanimous in their disdain for ether.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,347
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
would the fuse to the key switch have anything to do with it?

ONLY if it doesn't turn over at all. If it turns over it means that the connection from the key switch (or start button, same thing) is OK. No noise, at all, check fuse. Noise, it's one or more of the other things. Given the experience of those with Yanmars, too, use heat first. Can't hurt to do it step-by-step.
 
M

Mike8193

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Dec 13, 2006
68
Beneteau 323 Milwaukee
maybe air in the lines

At a yanmar diesel class for sailors the instructor said the most common problem with starting was air in the lines. Warm it up like everyone is suggesting but bleed the low pressure side also to remove any air. If it doesn't start then bleed the high pressure side and try to start it.
 
RichH

RichH

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Feb 14, 2005
4,773
Tayana 37 cutter; I20/M20 SCOWS Worton Creek, MD
Heat the engine ........

In all probability you still have a 'summer weight' (10-W30) lubricating oil in the engine. Higher viscosity oil at colder ambient temperature will make it harder to turn over the engine (thus more battery/starter strain) than winter weight (5-30W, etc.). If at all possible, warm the engine compartment (electric heater, turning on the galley stove, etc. etc. etc.) to raise the engine's block/crankcase temperature (while you charge the battery) .... if the engine started when the weather was warm, once you 'warm' the engine, it should start. Suggest you leave the fuel system bleeding as a very last resort to start. You can help warm the engine block by taking a 'hair dryer' and send its hot air into the engines air intake to help heat the 'engine block'. If you live in the 'northern' states, take your auto's dipstick crankcase heater and use it on the boat's dipstick/crankcase, etc. Warm the engine's block, fully charge the batteries ..... then START the engine! I'd avoid spraying ANYTHING (WD40, or any 'oil-based' chemical) into the engine ... as you will risk a 'run-away' engine if you 'really' dont know what you are doing !!!!! Be sure NOT to leave the batteries in a discharge or semi discharged state.
 
B

Brian M H23

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Oct 3, 2006
1,033
Hunter 29.5 Toms River
About oils

If it's so cold that your oil is starting to solidify, look into synthetic oil..It stays free-flowing to a much lower temperature. That's pretty darn cold though! NOTE: I don't want to start a synthetic-vs-conventional argument in any way.
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
BrianM23 B/Seadance is in Biloxi , It doesn't get cold

there. just cool enough that your beer doesn't get warm. ;D
 
Paul Akers

Paul Akers

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Dec 3, 2003
2,101
Hunter Legend 37 Portsmouth, RI
Light Bulb to Warm Engine.

If you can, go down to local HW store and buy a light fixture. A cellar light inverted on a board will do. Ask for help. Plug it in and place under the engine. Try a 60W bulb first overnight to warm it up. If it doesn't warm enough then try a 75W, then a 100W. When it warms up overnight then try to start it. You should be good to go. Good Luck!
 
Paul Akers

Paul Akers

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Dec 3, 2003
2,101
Hunter Legend 37 Portsmouth, RI
The Fuse to Keyswitch!

After reading further down about fuses then, if it is a fuse then the fuse is a line-fuse. It is on the starter wiring. It is right beside the starter and is enclosed in a long (2"), plastic case that opens "The long way". Mine was taped shut w/ electrical tape abound the "waist" of the fuse holder. That is what my 3GM35F has. It is a 30a "slow-blow", glass, barrel-type of fuse.
 
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