Marine Diesel Engine Maintenance

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Using Glow Plugs Or Heater Plugs In A Marine Engine

December 1st, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Marine diesel engine glow plugs or heater plugs.

Because of its compact form, the open combustion chamber system presents only a small surface area to the compressed air, and the amount of heat lost by conduction to the combustion chamber is relatively small. As a result, the temperature of the compressed air at the moment of injection is always considerably higher than the fuel’s self-ignition temperature, and the fuel ignites readily.

Click Here For Marine Engine Service Manual 

Unfortunately, the other combustion chamber systems present a large surface area to the compressed air, resulting in a large loss of heat. When the engine (and combustion chamber) is cold, the large difference in temperature between the compressed air and the combustion chamber causes a rapid transfer of heat from the air to the chamber. This heat loss, coupled with the fact that compression only raises the air temperature a certain amount above its initial temperature, makes starting a marine engine from cold a problem.

Many systems of overcoming this have been developed, the most common being:

• heater plugs or glow plugs

• thermostart devices

• the Ki-gass system, and

• the use of a volatile fuel.

Heater plugs or glow plugs for your marine diesel engine.

These units screw into the combustion chamber and supply additional heat to the air during the compression stroke. A heater element on the plug lies flush with the combustion chamber wall and, when prior to starting, a current of 20 to 35 amperes is supplied from the battery for from 30 to 40 seconds, this element glows bright red. If the engine is then cranked, some of the heat from the element will be transferred to the compressed air, giving a final air temperature that is high enough to ensure efficient ignition and combustion.

Heater plugs may be divided into two types – single-pole glow plugs and double-pole glow plugs. The difference lies in the terminal posts on the plugs – single-pole plugs have only one electrical terminal or connection, and double-pole plugs have two.

Single-pole glow plugs
Single-pole glow plugs are said to be connected in parallel. This means that the current is supplied from the battery to the single terminal of each plug, and the circuit is completed through the cylinder head to earth. In this system, full battery voltage is applied to each plug, and one plug can fail without affecting the others. Thus for a vehicle using a 12 volt electrical system, 12 volt single-pole glow plugs can be employed.

Double-pole glow plugs
Series connection is used with double-pole glow plugs, the current from the battery passing through one plug and on to the next. Thus the battery is connected to one terminal of the first plug, whose other terminal is connected to one terminal of the second plug. This system connects all the plugs, the free terminal of the last plug being connected either to earth on the engine, or earth at the battery.

Discover how to use glow plugs and make marine diesel engine repairs here.

MARINE DIESEL ENGINE COURSE

November 12th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Take a basic marine diesel engine course and learn how to keep your friends and family safe when boating. Find out how to service your marine diesel engine and know that it is properly maintained. Understand which marine diesel spares you must carry on board to make running repairs. Discover how to make emergency marine diesel repairs on the water.

Click Here For Downloadable Marine Engine Manual

Whether you are a weekend boater or a long-distance sailor you must be able to maintain your marine engine and make repairs when on the water. Lack of marine engine knowledge can lead to disaster!

So, if you want to understand your marine diesel engine … then please keep reading.

Here’s why …

A couple of years ago I met shipwright Laurence Burgin when he was doing some work on my boat. Laurence is a shipwright with more than 20 years experience on a wide variety of vessels. He also teaches marine diesel engine maintenance for beginners at yacht clubs around Sydney.

I attended one of Laurence’s marine diesel maintenance courses and the knowledge I gained has enabled me to do much of the regular engine maintenance on my boat myself. I still get the service guy from the engine manufacturer to do some of the more complex maintenance but with what I can now do myself I’ve saved thousands of dollars in maintenance costs.

More importantly, I have confidence that I can handle an engine emergency out on the water!

Laurence’s marine diesel engine course is now available as a downloadable e-book. So, whether you want to do your own marine engine maintenance or just gain a better understanding of how your marine engine works for your family’s safety then this book will be of huge benefit to you.

Visit the Marine Diesel Secrets website for a full description of what this book covers and grab your copy today. It is an instant download e-book so you’ll be reading it immediately after purchase and it comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee if you’re not completely satisfied.

 

Marine Diesel Fuel

September 9th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Fuel injection is the way of the future, but not necessarily because of its power increasing capabilities! In fact, fuel injection itself does not add significant horsepower to the engine. Fuel spills can be harmful to the water, fish, or other wildlife common to the area. You should always obey any postings from the Department of Natural Resources regarding noise regulations and no-wake areas.

Click Here For Marine Diesel Maintenance Manual

Marine diesel fuel systems, cooling systems, lubricating systems, electrical systems, exhaust and intake systems, and more will all be explored and thoroughly explained in layman’s terms. Mechanical problems are almost always the result of some human weakness or deficiency, and you must have a boating survival plan.

Fuel expands as it warms, so fill only to 90% and fill up just before leaving on a trip. Use oil absorbent cloth to catch drips and overflows. Marine fuel, for engines or for stoves, is the most common component of boat fires or explosions. Leaks in systems and ventilation shortcomings are the usual problems. Fuel overflows from gas tanks are dangerous to people and toxic to fish and other marine life. The traditional method for determining if you have a full tank is to look for fuel spilled from the tank overflow vent.

Fuel spills are harmful to aquatic life as well as to boats. Exposing hulls to fuel spills will cause the hull finish to deteriorate.

Safe Boating Course

July 26th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Keeping family and friends safe on the water should be of paramount importance to any boater. All new boaters should consider a boating safety course before they head out on the water. Even long-time boaters will benefit from taking a boating safety refresher course.

Click Here For Marine Diesel Engine Basics

For those in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut Boating Safety America is a premier source for a safe boating course.

At their website you can find class locations and register for a boating safety course, learn about current Federal and State boating laws, together with meeting the State and Federal requirements for operating a vessel or personal watercraft in the above areas.

The Mechanical Cycles Of A Marine Diesel Engine

July 9th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Most reciprocating piston internal combustion engines work on one of two mechanical cycles—the four-stroke cycle or the two-stroke cycle. Marine diesel engines work in the same manner. The cycles designate, in correct sequence, the mechanical actions by which (a) the fuel and air gain access to the engine cylinder, (b) the gas pressure (due to combustion) is converted to power, and (c) the burnt gas is expelled from the engine cylinder.

Click Here For Basic Guide To Marine Diesel Engines

The basic four-stroke cycle marine diesel engine

From the name, it is obvious there are four strokes in one complete engine cycle. A stroke is the movement of the piston through the full length of the cylinder, and, since one such movement causes the crankshaft to rotate half a turn, it follows that there are two crankshaft revolutions in one complete engine cycle. The four strokes, in correct order, are:

1. The inlet stroke. With the inlet valve open and the exhaust valve closed, the piston moves from top dead center (TDC) to bottom dead center (BDC), creating a low-pressure area in the cylinder. Clean, filtered are rushes through the open inlet valve to relieve this low-pressure area, and the cylinder fills with air.
2. The compression stroke. With both valves closed, the piston moves from BDC to TDC, compressing the air. During this stroke the air becomes heated to a temperature sufficiently high to ignite the fuel.
3. The power stroke. At approximately TDC, the fuel is injected, or sprayed, into the hot, compressed air, where it ignites, burns and expands. Both valves remain closed, and the pressure acts on the piston crown, forcing it down the cylinder from TDC to BDC.
4. The exhaust stroke. At approximately BDC the exhaust valve opens and the piston starts to move from BDC to TDC, driving the burnt gas out of the cylinder through the open exhaust valve.

For more help with your marine diesel engine grab your copy of “Marine Diesel Engines For Beginner“

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Credits: Work From Home | Matteo Turchetto | Andreas Viklund