[C38] engine problem

Angelika - A Room With A View rwaview9 at bigpond.com
Thu Jan 17 06:07:48 EST 2013


Thank you Tom (and Paul and Les) for all your helpful information re our
vexing problem.

Gary recalled having seen a droplet of diesel near the injectors recently
and went to break and re-tighten the flare nuts as suggested to find that
one was indeed quite loose.  We went out for a sail after re-tightening the
nut and so far so good.

The weather here has been sublime, so the conditions were fairly benign.  We
hope that this Saturdays club racing will prove more of a test.  Fingers
Crossed.

Will keep you posted
Cheers
Angelika 
Boheme 362


-----Original Message-----
From: listserve-bounces at catalina38.org
[mailto:listserve-bounces at catalina38.org] On Behalf Of tdtron at earthlink.net
Sent: Tuesday, 15 January 2013 12:55 PM
To: rwaview9 at bigpond.com,Catalina 38 Listserve
Subject: Re: [C38] engine problem

Hello Gary,

It's hard to diagnose a boat by email and there are several possibilities
of why your engine experiences temporary rough running.  One potential
problem that keeps coming up in my mind is a possible air leak that is
breaking the fuel prime on one or more cylinders.  Do you find any diesel
fuel around the injectors or injector pump?  I have seen lines leak with no
pressure but seal again when pressure is applied after cranking.  Even a
small bubble in one of the injector lines will greatly lean the mixture
until the bubble is finally passed through the injector.  A small bubble
can completely kill the operation of one cylinder and even a very tiny one
can greatly lean the mixture to the point of ignition failure.  If only one
cylinder is lean, the other cylinders will run the engine long enough for
the faulty cylinder to prime itself after a few minutes of running.

The tell tale will be even a small amount of diesel fuel anywhere along the
high pressure path fittings from the injector pump to the injectors.  If
this is your problem, just breaking the flare nuts and tightening again
will usually seal the lines.  The lines have to be absolutely leak free.

I hope this is your problem.  It is also the cheapest potential remedy you
will encounter.

Good luck,
Tom Troncalli




> [Original Message]
> From: <rwaview9 at bigpond.com>
> To: Catalina 38 Listserve <listserve at catalina38.org>
> Date: 1/14/2013 7:18:04 PM
> Subject: Re: [C38] engine problem
>
> Thank you for the suggestion Paul however the fuel filters have been
changed many times over the last six years of ownership of Boheme (ie both
primary and secondary filters). 
> We have had diesel mechanics maintain that dirty fuel is the most likely
culprit. In our early days of cruising we discovered that the Breather line
was allowing sea water into the fuel in rough seas and we've made
adjustments to avoid that happening again. 
> Despite changing filters, adding fuel additives and finally replacing all
fuel after a tank flush we discovered we had a bug had taken hold in the
fuel tank. Another complete clean and installation of a De-bugger apparatus
has not eliminated the rough start after active sailing. 
> We are naturally perplexed. And wondering if there is a possibility that
the motor is taking in water another way????? Or whatever?????
>
> While the boat is over 22yrs old the motor has had only 1500hrs usage yet
our head gasket needed replacing 18mths ago. 
> My husband is now concerned that whatever is causing the roughness may
have more sinister implications hence our hope of drawing on the wealth of
knowledge within the C38 Association. 
> Cheers angelika
> Sent via BlackBerryB. from Vodafone
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: PAUL NOTTE <panotte at shaw.ca>
> Sender: listserve-bounces at catalina38.org
> Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2013 07:59:21 
> To: Catalina 38 Listserve<listserve at catalina38.org>
> Reply-To: Catalina 38 Listserve <listserve at catalina38.org>
> Subject: Re: [C38] engine problem
>
> Did you change the fuel filter at the left rear{while facing the stern}
on the engine ?

----- Original Message -----
From: "Angelika - A Room With A View" <rwaview9 at bigpond.com>
To: "Catalina 38 Listserve" <listserve at catalina38.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2013 10:22:21 PM
Subject: [C38] engine problem










Hello Fellow C38 Owners 



I have a problem/frustration with my M35 diesel engine and wonder if
anybody else has experienced a similar occurrence. 



In settled conditions (eg harbour/marina) the motor starts and runs
smoothly 
however after an afternoonb






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