Engsol! Engine would start-run for 3-4 sec and die,then I started again
after I checked thermostat-was OK,changed oil and filter.,I pushed the
throttle almost to the max ,black smoke,muddy,greasy,heavy smoke came out
with some water-engine run for 2 min and continue spiting this black water
and stopped abruptly,cut like a knife-mechanic was present when we did that
and said that he doesn't know what is wrong.He has spent 2 hours checking
what was wrong and left me without answer.Of course took the money for
trying.
Ytter
"engsol" wrote in message
news
On Sun, 29 Feb 2004 15:28:58 -0800, "Ytter"
wrote:

Hi! I need your expertise or opinion.
I have diesel engine Volvo Penta MD3 on my sailboat .Just after refueling
in
one of the marina(in 10 minutes) engine reached temp 280 F
I had to run the engine for another 8-10 minutes to drop the anchor and I
shut off the engine which was red hot.I suspect that they pumped 20 gal
gasoline instead of diesel.Capacity of the tank is 40 gal.I still have
this
fuel in the tank.How can I check if gasoline is in the tank,mixed with
diesel ? Is it any method,way to analyze or find out.Maybe I should find
the
lab or place that can be determine what this fuel consists.
If they pumped the gasoline accidentally or not the engine is probably
damaged.Thank You For Your Help.
Ytter


Steve's suggestion of putting a sample in a jar is good. I'd also suspect
that
the sample would separate after a few hours...gas on top, diesel on the
bottom.

You mention above that the engine was "red hot" after shut-down. What were
the indicators? The temp gauge only? "Frying" noises and smell of a hot
engine?
Smoke/smell from hot paint? Could a stuck-closed thermostat be the
problem?

One thing I'm curious about is how the engine ran with a 50/50 mixture.
I'd
think that since gas has a much lower flash point (it does, doesn't it?),
it
would have ignited earlier in the compression cycle, and made a heck of a
racket,
and that power would be low. Also, I'd think the exhaust would be quite
smoky.

Good luck...hope your mechanic says all's well.
Norm

Ytter,

I have known of several gasoline in diesel engine situations.
I hope it did not actually happen that way. They seldom come out well.

After reading the entire thread - including your additions - I think you
may well have more that one problem - now. My personal bet (without any
actual contact) based on some experience, would be that the cylinder
head gasket got taken out. That will cause both the over heat problem,
the smoke and the bad running. I am somewhat surprized that the
mechanic did not have the cylinder head off.

Though I suspect your statement that the engine was red hot is an
exageration, if it got hot enough to blister the paint. You can count
on the engine requiring serious work before it is dependable again.
This will be as much as reboring the cylinders to get them round again
and doing a valve job because the seats are distorted.

If the engine is not easy to work on where it is, I suggest you
seriously consider getting it removed as that time required for the
minimum amount of work the engine is likely to require.

I leave you by saying that I sincerely hope that I am completely wrong.

Matt Colie
Lifelong Waterman, Licensed Mariner and Perpetual Sailor

Ytter wrote:
Engsol! Engine would start-run for 3-4 sec and die,then I started again
after I checked thermostat-was OK,changed oil and filter. I pushed the
throttle almost to the max, black smoke, muddy, greasy, heavy smoke came out
with some water-engine run for 2 min and continue spiting this black water
and stopped abruptly,cut like a knife-mechanic was present when we did that
and said that he doesn't know what is wrong.He has spent 2 hours checking
what was wrong and left me without answer. Of course took the money for
trying.
Ytter
"engsol" wrote in message
news
On Sun, 29 Feb 2004 15:28:58 -0800, "Ytter"

wrote:

Hi! I need your expertise or opinion.
I have diesel engine Volvo Penta MD3 on my sailboat .Just after refueling
in one of the marina(in 10 minutes) engine reached temp 280 F
I had to run the engine for another 8-10 minutes to drop the anchor and I
shut off the engine which was red hot.I suspect that they pumped 20 gal
gasoline instead of diesel.Capacity of the tank is 40 gal.I still have
this fuel in the tank.How can I check if gasoline is in the tank,mixed with
diesel ? Is it any method,way to analyze or find out.Maybe I should find
the lab or place that can be determine what this fuel consists.
If they pumped the gasoline accidentally or not the engine is probably
damaged. Thank You For Your Help.
Ytter

hi
truckers used to add petrol to diesel in the winter to stop the diesel
waxing up

fragged

"Ytter" wrote in message
.. .
Hi! I need your expertise or opinion.
I have diesel engine Volvo Penta MD3 on my sailboat .Just after refueling
in
one of the marina(in 10 minutes) engine reached temp 280 F
I had to run the engine for another 8-10 minutes to drop the anchor and I
shut off the engine which was red hot.I suspect that they pumped 20 gal
gasoline instead of diesel.Capacity of the tank is 40 gal.I still have
this
fuel in the tank.How can I check if gasoline is in the tank,mixed with
diesel ? Is it any method,way to analyze or find out.Maybe I should find
the
lab or place that can be determine what this fuel consists.
If they pumped the gasoline accidentally or not the engine is probably
damaged.Thank You For Your Help.
Ytter

Why mess around? Get in touch with your local Volvo distributor and get their
help. Draw a sample of the fuel and have it tested. If the fuel truly is
part-gasoline, they're the best authorities on diagnosing any damage.

Many years ago, a brain-dead yard mechanic fed gasoline to the new Westerbeke
diesel he'd installed for me. The yard paid to overhaul the injection pump and
the injectors. At last report, the engine was quite healthy.

Raise Hell!

Jim

Ytter wrote:

Hi! I need your expertise or opinion.
I have diesel engine Volvo Penta MD3 on my sailboat .Just after refueling in
one of the marina(in 10 minutes) engine reached temp 280 F
I had to run the engine for another 8-10 minutes to drop the anchor and I
shut off the engine which was red hot.I suspect that they pumped 20 gal
gasoline instead of diesel.Capacity of the tank is 40 gal.I still have this
fuel in the tank.How can I check if gasoline is in the tank,mixed with
diesel ? Is it any method,way to analyze or find out.Maybe I should find the
lab or place that can be determine what this fuel consists.
If they pumped the gasoline accidentally or not the engine is probably
damaged.Thank You For Your Help.
Ytter

"Ytter" wrote in message
.. .
Engsol! Engine would start-run for 3-4 sec and die,then I started again
after I checked thermostat-was OK,changed oil and filter.,I pushed the
throttle almost to the max ,black smoke,muddy,greasy,heavy smoke came out
with some water-engine run for 2 min and continue spiting this black water
and stopped abruptly,cut like a knife-mechanic was present when we did
that
and said that he doesn't know what is wrong.He has spent 2 hours checking
what was wrong and left me without answer.Of course took the money for
trying.
Ytter

It does sound like the head gasket went. I bet if you pull the glow plugs
and crank it you will get water out of the cylinders (the reason it stopped
abruptly). Take a half gal of your diesel to somebody who can test the
density (specific gravity) of the fuel. Go back to the same pump and get
another gal and get a receipt. Then get a gal at another marina and have
them all tested. If the density of your fuel is the same as the dock pump
and close to the third pump then you have all diesel. If the 1st marina has
a lower density fuel compared to the 2nd marina then the 1st marina's tanks
have a mix... Gasoline has a lower density then diesel, actually if you
have access to a extremely accurate scale you could weigh a little of each
(subtracting out the weight of the container) and still find the density but
it would be easier to find somebody that has a hydrometer or a petroleum
diffractometer. A good diesel mechanic should be able to determine the
damage. Volvo may help you if you contact their customer service dept.,
after all it is their engine and they want your return business.

good luck,
mark

On Sun, 29 Feb 2004 15:28:58 -0800, "Ytter"
vaguely proposed a theory
.......and in reply I say!:

If we are hearing the whole story....

Not meaning to be rude, but instead of sitting around discussing this,
get a move on. Get the fuel tested. It might cost $50. If it has
petrol in it and the situation at the fuel dock was such that you are
_sure_ that it was the dock's fault (you will need to argue this in
court maybe) then move fast to start asking for a fix. The longer you
leave this, the harder it will be for you to prove that you did not do
this yourself. If you really think that it is the dock's fault, then
do not run or touch the engine any more. Get the fuel tested and start
asking.

Again, iIf we are hearing the whole story.... I don't think much of
the mechanic that came out to look at the engine. After 2 hours he has
no idea of why an engine is spitting oil and water?

Hi! I need your expertise or opinion.
I have diesel engine Volvo Penta MD3 on my sailboat .Just after refueling in
one of the marina(in 10 minutes) engine reached temp 280 F
I had to run the engine for another 8-10 minutes to drop the anchor and I
shut off the engine which was red hot.I suspect that they pumped 20 gal

************************************************** ** sorry

..........no I'm not!
remove ns from my header address to reply via email

Spike....Spike? Hello?

Larry,I didn't destroyed the guy who pumped the gas did !!!!!
"Larry W4CSC" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 29 Feb 2004 14:12:51 -0800, "Steve" wrote:


If your still not sure, then pour a little out into an open pie tin and
toss
a match in to it. If it flashes right up, then it's most likely it has
gas
in it.. The straight diesel will just burn like kerosene (may even put
the
match out).

Is now a good time to mention that gas mixed with fuel oil is one of
the most explosive mixtures this side of dynamite or fuel oil and
fertilizer?

Sorry you destroyed your engine. I always found the pumps clearly
marked.



Larry W4CSC

No, no, Scotty! I said, "Beam me a wrench.", not a WENCH!
Kirk Out.....

If there is anything close to the amount of gasoline mixed with your diesel
fuel that you suspect, you will easily be able to smell it. Pull a small
sample and sniff it or first just simply take a whiff from your fuel fill .
It doesn't take much gasoline mixed with diesel for the gasoline smell to
become apparent. Obviously, this will not be scientific but it will give you
a direction to head.

--
Ron White
Boat building web address is
www.concentric.net/~knotreel

On Mon, 1 Mar 2004 19:35:29 -0500, "rock_doctor"
wrote:


"Ytter" wrote in message
. ..
Engsol! Engine would start-run for 3-4 sec and die,then I started again
after I checked thermostat-was OK,changed oil and filter.,I pushed the
throttle almost to the max ,black smoke,muddy,greasy,heavy smoke came out
with some water-engine run for 2 min and continue spiting this black water
and stopped abruptly,cut like a knife///
Ytter

It does sound like the head gasket went. I bet if you pull the glow plugs
and crank it you will get water out of the cylinders (the reason it stopped
abruptly). Take a half gal of your diesel to somebody who can test the
density (specific gravity) of the fuel.
////
mark


Worthy advice - but the relative densities are quite close.
Better to test for viscosity.

This is not difficult: prepare a can with a nail hole knocked into
its base. Fill with each fuel in turn. Time the period to empty the
container. The way-slow one is diesel. This is the right test.

My opinion, as always.

Brian Whatcott Altus OK

Larry W4CSC wrote:
On Sun, 29 Feb 2004 14:12:51 -0800, "Steve" wrote:



If your still not sure, then pour a little out into an open pie tin and toss
a match in to it. If it flashes right up, then it's most likely it has gas
in it.. The straight diesel will just burn like kerosene (may even put the
match out).


Is now a good time to mention that gas mixed with fuel oil is one of
the most explosive mixtures this side of dynamite or fuel oil and
fertilizer?

Sorry you destroyed your engine. I always found the pumps clearly
marked.



Larry W4CSC

No, no, Scotty! I said, "Beam me a wrench.", not a WENCH!
Kirk Out.....
Why is gasoline mixed with fuel oil any more explosive than gasoline by
itself? I can see that it might have more thermal energy, but why should
it be MORE explosive than gasoline by itself?

--
"There ain't no such thing as a free lunch"