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

engsol wrote:

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?

We bought our boat used and as we were taking it home it appeared to overheat.
I sweated about that and got a diesel guy in, and he found that it was a
malfunctioning voltage regulator. It was cranking up the temp gauge.

If the temp gauge was the only indication, I'd certainly recommend a
consultation with a qualified mechanic before you take your engine out and shoot
it.

engsol wrote:

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?

We bought our boat used and as we were taking it home it appeared to overheat.
I sweated about that and got a diesel guy in, and he found that it was a
malfunctioning voltage regulator. It was cranking up the temp gauge.

If the temp gauge was the only indication, I'd certainly recommend a
consultation with a qualified mechanic before you take your engine out and shoot
it.

Subject: Gasoline pumped to diesel tank.....
From: "Ytter"

How can I check if gasoline is in the tank,mixed with
diesel ? Is it any method,way to analyze or find out.

Smell it?

Dennis

Ouch! To bad!

Just to do a preliminary test, draw a sample from the fuel line so you
getting the same fuel your engine was getting. You could do this by
disconnectin the fuel pump discharge line and operating the hand priming
lever.

Put it in a clear glass jar and then go get some marine diesel a the fuel
dock and compare the two.. You should be able to tell from the color, if it
was deluted to 50/50. Of course the marine diesel should have a purple
color.. If you got the fuel at a highway gas station, the the diesel will be
almost clear in color..

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).

If you ran your engine for even 8-10 min even with straight diesel at 280,
you are in trouble. It's a wonder it didn't seize. If she kept oil pressure,
the bearings may be ok but your cylinders may be scored. The fact that you
estimate a 50/50 mixture, may be enough to have saved them.. However if your
able to establish the liability of the fuel dock, then your fuel injector
pump and injectors will need to be tested by a shop and rebuilt or
replaced..

Good luck and hope for the best.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

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

Subject: Gasoline pumped to diesel tank.....
From: "Ytter"

How can I check if gasoline is in the tank,mixed with
diesel ? Is it any method,way to analyze or find out.

Smell it?

Dennis

nobody mentioned just take the filler cap off the tank and sniff..


"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

nobody mentioned just take the filler cap off the tank and sniff..

what a concept!!!

also, no one mentioned that diesels can and do run just fine on up to 10%
gasolene, so even 20% should not have been an ungodly problem. Not good maybe,
but not an ungodly problem.

also, no one mentioned that diesels can and do run
just fine on up to 10% gasolene, so even 20% should
not have been an ungodly problem.

I have a 1990 Ford F250 with the 7.3 NA 'Binder engine. It has 22.5:1
compression. The manual says it can run up to 30% gasoline. I have
never tried this, as I am already concerned about the lubricity of my
Calif fuel. I always add a lubricant to the fuel. :-)