Turning a diesel in winter

[Andre K]

I may be asking a question with an obvious answer... In winter, when your boat is on the hard, and the diesel engine is nicely winterized, when you go to visit your boat, do you turn the engine just a couple of rotations: either by hand or crank by battery? Is there any benefit to it : so things don't seize up? Or should it just be left alone, untill it actually can be fired up?Any suggestions?Thanks

 

[Bill O'Donovan]

No reason to

Just wait till spring and do as Yanmar says.1. Hold out the stop pull.2. Crank 10 seconds to let oil lube.3. Wait 30 seconds and crank 10 again. I recommend warming up the engine with a hairdryer as well, so it will crank more easily.Be sure to keep the raw water intake closed until ignition, to avoid flooding.

 

[Franklin]

Reason NOT to

As an engine sits, the oil drains. The longer it sits, the less oil is on the parts. By cranking just a couple of times, you are moving the parts without any oil on them and definately not cranking enough to push the oil around enough for it to make a difference with the seals. Plus, cold metal real doesn't like to move. Really, only two good options here. Let it sit all winter and come back and get her started the first time and let it run at idle for a while or two...stop by and start it 3 times a week and let it run for a while at idle. The only thing this will do is keep the seals moist.