Engine Maintenance

1
Engine Maintenance
8 Emergency Repairs Afloat
P/C Harl Porter, JN on Wind Elephant
2
Emergency Repair Parts

• Duct Tape, 2 roles, Best Quality
• Electrical Tape
• WD-40
• Impeller and Housing Gasket
• Fuel Filters (Primary and Secondary)
• Engine Oil and Filter
• Transmission Oil
• Antifreeze and Fresh Water
• Hose Clamps
• Belts and Hoses
• If Gas Pre-gapped Plugs and Ignition Parts

3
Preventive Maintenance

• Spring Service
• 1st of Month (checklist show and tell)
• Pre Start Checks (checklist show and tell)
• Augmented Tool Box (show and tell)
• Engine Manufactures Manual (with IPB)
• Nigel Calder (books show and tell)
• Boatowners Mechanical and Electrical Manual
• Marine Diesel Engines

4
Boat Engines 101

• Listen to Engine
• Sound (what normal, what different?)
• Gauges and Alarms (Oil Pressure, Water
  Temperature, Etc.)
• Visual and Smell
• Shut Down if No Oil Pressure
• If Engine Stops
• Get out of Ship Channel
• Why underway with sick engine?
• Anchor if drifting into danger
• Remain Calm

5
Gas Inboard(4 Cycle and Crankcase Oil)

• What engine sounds just before it stopped?
• What recently changed?
• Ignition (visual, wires, spark, plugs)
• Fuel (none, valves, vent, dirt, water, filter)
• Cooling (visual, valves, belts, impeller, hoses)
• Caution Gas and Gas Fumes

6
Gas Outboard(2 Cycle with Gas/Oil Mix)

• What engine sounds just before it stopped?
• What recently changed?
• Ignition (visual, wires, spark, plugs)
• Fuel (connected, none, vent cap, dirty, water,
  filter)
• Caution Gas and Gas Fumes
• My last outboard was a Honda 4 cycle

7
Diesel

• What engine sounds just before it stopped?
• What recently changed?
• Clean Fuel
• Clean Fuel
• Clean Fuel
• Fuel
• Know how to bleed fuel system
• none, valves, vent, dirt, water, filters
• Cooling (visual, valves, belts, impeller, hoses)
• Diesel Fuel is safe and no ignition noise or
  problems

8
If All Else Fails

• Read Owners Manual
• Call for Help
• VHF (normally not an Emergency)
• Hand Signals
• Commercial Tow
• Insurance?
• USCG Aux Tow
• Only when in immediate danger
• Only to nearest safe haven

9
Summary

• Emergency Repairs Afloat
• Preventive Maintenance, Tools and Parts
• What engine sounds just before it quit?
• Visual Inspection and Remain Calm
• Check easy to fix
• Ignition (visual, wires, spark, plugs)
• Fuel (none, valves, vent, dirt, water, filter)
• Cooling (visual, valves, belts, impeller, hoses)
• If cant fix, then call for help