How to Detect If Your Fuel Pump Has Gone Bad

February 27, 2020

Your boat's fuel pump moves fuel to a cylinder to generate energy in the engine. When this part breaks or begins to fail, it can cause problems with running or starting your boat. Learn how to identify a failing diesel fuel pump so you can replace it. Causes of a Failing Fuel Pump of a Diesel Engine A broken fuel pump can have causes like: - Too much water getting in your diesel fuel, making its way to your cylinder and overwhelming the filter - Algae or fungi growing in your fuel tank - Dirt, water or microbes in your fuel tank getting churned…
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Oil Pump Failure and What Causes It

February 24, 2020

In the early days, oil was delivered to an engine's components much differently than it is today. The first engines were lubricated with drip feed systems, which dropped oil into all its moving components, and on ships, there were workers known as "oilers" who filled up pots of oil above the moving parts. Since the beginning of the 20th century, however, internal combustion engines began using a force-feed system, in which oil is pumped around, or forced, to the engine's many parts. Engines today use a completely forced-feed lubrication system, and a critical component of this system is called an…
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Reaching the Cloud Point

February 6, 2020

When you operate a boat, it’s important to keep a close watch on conditions and factors that could compromise its efficiency, safety or service life. Just as many components can have an impact on the functions of your marine diesel engine, the cold weather can take its toll as well. Colder areas of the world make diesel engines especially susceptible to these effects. If you live in a region where the temperatures drop significantly, there’s a critical condition you’ll need to keep in mind — the cloud point. What Is the Cloud Point of Diesel Fuel? The cloud point of diesel…
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What Is the Life Expectancy of a Marine Diesel Engine?

December 16, 2019

Marine operations can be brutal on engines. Between the inconsistent environments and the constant presence of water, a motor operating in this scenario needs incredible resilience. Fortunately, resilience is one of the defining features of a diesel engine. Even in this challenging environment, the life expectancy of a marine diesel engine is an impressive 5,000 hours on average. With attentive maintenance, that lifespan can reach 8,000 hours. By comparison, a gasoline-powered marine engine will begin needing attention after a mere 1,000 hours in a marine application, and it will be lucky to reach 1,500. A well-maintained diesel marine engine could…
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How Much Horsepower Do You Need for Your Boat?

December 12, 2019

When you're deciding how much power you want driving your boat, the obvious answer may be "as much as possible." However, raw power doesn't necessarily translate to capability. While a boat's manual or capacity plate will state the maximum horsepower that can be safely harnessed to that vessel, jumping straight to that upper limit will yield diminishing returns. When calculating boat horsepower needs, it's best to consider your boat's size, weight and intended use to inform your engine selection. A well-chosen motor setup will offer an optimal combination of handling, stability and performance.   Key Factors for Calculating Boat Horsepower Once…
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Common Diesel Engine Fuel Problems

November 26, 2019

Diesel engines are efficient, durable and the engine of choice for heavy equipment and boats. If you're a boat operator, you're probably no stranger to diesel engine fuel problems. It's important to know the signs of trouble as soon as they begin.   How to Spot a Problem in Your Boat's Diesel Engine Fuel Here are some of the most common diesel engine fuel problems you're likely to encounter: Deposits in the Combustion Chamber Conventional gasoline burns more cleanly than diesel, which means diesel engines are prone to developing deposit buildups. This reduces the total usable volume of the chamber and…
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