Diesel engine smoke
 

We're looking at a 1984 Chien Hwa trawler with a 135 Hp Perkins diesel
with 2200 hours.
The diesel smokes a bit. The seller said the reason it smokes is
because he's burning home heating oil instead of diesel fuel.
Will using home heating oil cause the smoke? Also is there any harm in
using heating oil instead of diesel?
Thanks for any info.
Mike

Diesel engine smoke
 

On 3 Sep 2006 10:02:41 -0700, "Mike fp"
wrote:

The diesel smokes a bit. The seller said the reason it smokes is
because he's burning home heating oil instead of diesel fuel.
Will using home heating oil cause the smoke? Also is there any harm in
using heating oil instead of diesel?

What is the color of the smoke? If black, the engine is over injected
and the smoke is unburned fuel. Long term that is tough on the engine
and indicates a problem. If the engine is turbo charged, the turbo
may be carboned up. Expensive repair. Blue smoke, if it does not
clear up in a short time after warm up, generally means the rings are
worn or not seated properly for some reason. A rebuild may be
required - very expensive.

Use of home heating oil requires a cetane boosting additive. Without
the cetane booster there is a risk of engine damage.

I would either walk away and look for a better boat, or low ball the
offer on the assumption that some serious engine work is required.

Have you hired an engine surveyor? If not that would be a good next
step if you are still interested.

Diesel engine smoke
 

home heating oil is basically the same as diesel fuel.
How much smoke soot is coming out of the exhaust?

How many diesel powered boats do you see on the water with smoke
pumping out of the exhaust? Not to many, would the CG see this and stop
you?

Oil sheen on the water is up to $10000 dollar fine.
Just imagine your going along at speed and the engine blows up on you,
now your stuck, probably pumping out oil and the CG people when they
show up will have to get the oil containment boom out.

Diesel engine smoke
 

"sdowney1" wrote in message
oups.com...
home heating oil is basically the same as diesel fuel.
How much smoke soot is coming out of the exhaust?

How many diesel powered boats do you see on the water with smoke
pumping out of the exhaust? Not to many, would the CG see this and stop
you?

Oil sheen on the water is up to $10000 dollar fine.
Just imagine your going along at speed and the engine blows up on you,
now your stuck, probably pumping out oil and the CG people when they
show up will have to get the oil containment boom out.


To be realistic, just about every diesel powered boat that I've seen, new or
old, smokes a bit at startup (some worse than others) and leaves a slight
sheen in the water from the exhaust. Many engines have aluminum pistons and
until the engine warms up they will smoke for a while. Fire up a diesel
that does not have engine block heaters when it's cold and it will smoke
worse.

Best thing to do with a diesel is start it up just before casting off and
put it under a easy load to warm the engines up. A cold, idling diesel,
even with the revs kicked up a bit never warms up.

Eisboch

Diesel engine smoke
 

If you are looking to buy why don't you get a qualified mechanic to look at
the engine (and a Surveyor to look at the boat). Tell the owner that if
there is nothing wrong I will pay for the call and if there is something
wrong then you pay. The owner has already said that there is nothing wrong.

With 2200 hours it may just need the injectors cleaned. If I remember right
that engine is a Ford 6 cylinder engine. Their life is legendary in
trawlers but if the previous owner mistreats the engine you don't know what
you are getting. Not sure where you are but a call to American Diesel may
be inorder.



"Mike fp" wrote in message
ups.com...
We're looking at a 1984 Chien Hwa trawler with a 135 Hp Perkins diesel
with 2200 hours.
The diesel smokes a bit. The seller said the reason it smokes is
because he's burning home heating oil instead of diesel fuel.
Will using home heating oil cause the smoke? Also is there any harm in
using heating oil instead of diesel?
Thanks for any info.
Mike

Diesel engine smoke
 

Just leaving a visible sheen on the water makes you liable to a CG
fine.
But I suppose it is at their own discretion and your attitude toward
the event also has an effect on how much the fine will be..

10 years ago, my sterndrive gear case cracked and I got towed back to
the warwick river dock by the CG out of the Elzabeth river in Norfolk.
It was late at night,dark and perhaps there was oil in the water, I
dont know, but the subject never came up.

If you boat starts up leaving a visible sheen on the water, that says
to me your boat engine needs work and you are at risk of getting cited
as a polluter. They can be totally ruthless if they so wish. Better to
be proactive.

Do fines go toward funding the CG?