Article
by Michel Cloutier, “Engine Maintenance”
From Sun Cruiser Magazine, Spring 2001
“A marine
engine that is used and maintained year round will be in better
condition than an engine with low hours and only used several
times during the summer months.”
OIL
Your oil may look clear, but regular oil checks are needed to
make sure that the oil is working properly and lubricating all
the moving parts in the engine. Smell your oil dipstick: if it
has a strong, “burnt” smell, your engine has overheated.
To test your oil, place some on a napkin; if it spreads out you
may have fuel leaking in your oil and this can cause wear on your
pistons and rings.
Check under the filler cap for condensation or rust. Oil containing
water will look creamy. Note: the engine may have to be warmed
up first. Any kind of moisture or rust found is a major concern
and one should get it looked at. Check the oil pressure when you
start the engine and again once it has warmed up to make sure
the gage is working. Low oil pressure at the start indicates a
potential problem with the oil pump, or a faulty pressure sending
unit.
COOLING
SYSTEM
This may be hard for most boaters to notice, but your manifold
and risers are one of the most likely areas to fail and cause
trouble. Separate the pipes in the manifold which carry water
and gases. These are then combined at the riser and are discharged
overboard. Keeping these two separate at the beginning is very
important. The manifold will corrode over time allowing water
to enter the cylinders. Manifolds in salt water may only last
three years.
One quick way to see of your manifolds are running at the same
temperature is to put the same amount of water droplets on each
riser and see if they evaporate at the same rate. If one evaporates
faster, there may be a water flow restriction and it should be
looked at. Check yo7ur hoses to verify proper water flow. You
may simply have to take the manifold off and clean it.
EXHAUST
SMOKE & STEAM
When you first start your engine, look for exhaust smoke. All
engines will smoke when first started, but the smoke should not
continue for more than 10 seconds. If any smoke lasts up to a
minute, get it checked out. Black smoke is usually caused by fuel
mixture, and blue smoke from oil accumulating in the combustion
chambers.
If smoke lasts longer than a minute there may be problems with
the rings. Exhaust steam usually means that water is getting into
the combustion chamber and it should be looked at by a mechanic.
Once you feel comfortable that your boat will take you away from
dock and bring you back, take it for a good, long ride. Hearing
the boat at home in the driveway with the leg-earmuff is no substitute.
For most engines, the best horsepower is produced around 4400
rpm. If you are not getting a good feeling for the engine’s
performance at this rpm, you may have a problem. If the engine
is “missing” or stuttering, it may be the spark plugs,
wires or possibly water in the fuel. If you feel an excess of
vibration, you may have a problem with your propeller or shaft.
COMPRESSION
Make it a priority to get a compression test done on the engine.
This will tell you the condition that the cylinders are in. As
a result of the test, a mechanic will tell you the compression
in each cylinder and whether rings or valves may be a problem.
HOSES
I can not emphasize enough how important it is to check all the
hoses from time to time. Make sure they are not bulging, showing
excessive wear or coming apart. Most hoses will fail from the
inside as the hose ages. Cracks form in the rubber and absorb
water/coolant. If the hoses feel soft and week at any place, change
the.
10
GREEN BOATING TIPS
Courtesy of Sun Cruiser Magazine
Spring 2001
1) Keep your
bilge clean…don’t pump oily water overboard.
2) Use bilge
sorbents in place of detergents
3) Don’t
pump your sewage in confined water…use a holding tank.
4) Observe
local and federal sewage regulations.
5) Bring your
garbage home…don’t litter.
6) Use detergents
sparingly…even “biodegradable” cleaners are hard
on the aquatic environment.
7) When refuelling,
don’t top off tanks. Clean any spilled fuel.
8) Use only
paints approved for marine use.
9) Avoid shoreline
erosion…watch your wake and propeller wash.
10) If fishing,
practice catch and release.
Report pollution
when you see it?
Please feel free to call us at 250-762-7759
