On Fri, 4 Apr 2008 22:20:30 +0200, "Edgar"
wrote:


"Wayne.B" wrote in message
.. .

We once had a post here from a guy who was responsible for diesel
maintenance on a fleet of trucks at a gold mine in northern Canada.
He said that basically the trucks idled all winter, over 3,000 engine
hours each. He said that by spring the engines were mostly junk if I
recall correctly.

In contrast, a heavy duty diesel in normal service, and with good
maintenance, will go 5,000 to 10,000 hours between overhauls.

That figures.
Many years ago my employers sent me to Canada in the winter to find out how
they managed to start diesels on oilrigs in winter. I found that basically
they never stopped them and even moved them from place to place still
running. I learned some drastic and time consuming methods they had devised
to start an engine that had been allowed to get really cold with the oil in
the sump turned to thick goo.

I never worked up north but we did do some bids with one of the
Canadian drilling companies and I had assumed from what they told me
that all the winterized rigs had water and oil heaters installed in
the engines. Certainly the floor and mast are protected and heated
well enough that you can work there.

..
Bruce-in-Bangkok
(correct email address for reply)

"Bruce in Bangkok" wrote in message
...
That figures.
Many years ago my employers sent me to Canada in the winter to find out
how
they managed to start diesels on oilrigs in winter. I found that basically
they never stopped them and even moved them from place to place still
running. I learned some drastic and time consuming methods they had
devised
to start an engine that had been allowed to get really cold with the oil
in
the sump turned to thick goo.

I never worked up north but we did do some bids with one of the
Canadian drilling companies and I had assumed from what they told me
that all the winterized rigs had water and oil heaters installed in
the engines. Certainly the floor and mast are protected and heated
well enough that you can work there.

Thet may well do so now. Like I said it was _many_ years ago and things were
more basic then..