On 2008-04-04 05:01:39 -0400, "Edgar" said:

"Lew Hodgett" wrote in message
news:iMjJj.10032$s27.7854@trnddc02...

"Bruce in Bangkok" wrote:

read a reference to one of your posts, quoted in part by Roger, that
sounded as though the RPM was only unstable at low RPM, I remember
something about 1,000 RPM.


Most diesels need to idle in the 1300-1500 RPM area in order to generate
enough waste heat to prevent
"wet-stacking" which will cause glazing of the cylinder walls, creating a
VERY expensive repair.

Much better to cut out prolonged idling and get some load on sooner.
Start up, and by the time you have checked the exhaust for cooling water,
gone forward and cast off the mooring ropes the engine is ready to go.
In other words, just long enough to spread some oil around inside the
engine.
If you cannot get load on for some time then stop the engine until you are
ready.

Yours is actually off the original topic (though entirely appropriate
for the newsgroup), but exactly describes my techniques over the past
15 or so seasons.

It's almost disappointing that those techniques have resulted in zero
required adjustments or repairs in over 1000 hours' operation. I do the
tests, the tests say "no problem".

--
Jere Lull
Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI trips & tips: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/