Diesel nightmare!

[Drains]

Well we've had diesel advice, now it's my turn.

Perkins 6354, on the boat, runs fine for about ten minutes then hunts a bit, up, down, up a bit, down, stop. Wait a minute, start her up no problem, after a couple of minutes it does the same behaviour, fast, slow stop.

I've checked the fuel system, it's fine. So I reckon it's either a seize, blowing cylinder head gasket or a fault in the rotary fuel injector pump.

This has happened before then all gone back to normal for a few hours of good running.

Any suggestions? I'm close to giving up. It's not worth my time doing any sort of rebuild as the boat's for sale and I have too many other things to get on with.

Anyone want to buy a dutch barge that needs a bit of fettling?

 

[tigler]

With diesels it can only be fuel, air or compression.
Head gasket wise, is there water in the oil, oil in the water, are the coolant hoses going hard, steam in the exhaust ?

 

[rtbcomp]

Does it have one of those flame-thrower cold-start devices? If so, is it dribbling?

 

[tigler]

Another possibility is water in the fuel.

 

[oilcooled :)]

scoring of the fuel pumps and injectors is a big problem in ireland since we have switched to new low sulfur agricultural diesel, giving the exact sympthoms you mentioned, i dunno if its a agri diesel your using, but basically, when you take sulfur from diesel you lose lubrication, and diesel becomes more solvent like cause more wear, also if stored in a tank, it can be more suceptable to moisture getting into the fuel. alot of tractors and diggers gave trouble here since the changeover.

 

[Hitch]

Air leaks ruled out, maybe a sticky valve?

 

[500e]

http://boatdiesel.com/Forums/index.cfm?CFAPP=2&Forum_ID=68&P=1

Lots of info on the Perkins

Perkins 6354 problems . goggle is your friend

 

[madkayaker]

How old is the fuel it might have grown sludge in it that's blocking the pump

 

[the snooper]

have had dirt block a banjo on the injector pump before causing the same problem.
my guess would be dirt / blockage especially given its repeat behaviour.

same as a petrol tank vaccuum runs so long then stops

 

[zzr1200]

Some Perkins lift pumps have a mesh filter in them as a first line of defence against crap check to see if its blocked, also I've know the fuel return to tank line to become blocked causing the injection governer to slow/shut down the engine. Theres the possibility of moving blockage in the fuel tank cutting of the supply/suction pipe and then allowing fuel to pass when suction decreases.

Disconnect the fuel supply to the injection pump, get a small can and fit a gravity feed supply hose to the injection pump and replace the fuel return hose. If the engine runs ok the fuel system has a blockage.



I spent 2 hours looking for an intermitent running problem, it turned out to be a very small piece of wood floating about in a pipe cutting off the fuel in an elbow. It turned out Paddy checked the fuel level with a wooden stick...

 

[the snooper]

Disconnect the fuel supply to the injection pump, get a small can and fit a gravity feed supply hose to the injection pump and replace the fuel return hose. If the engine runs ok the fuel system has a blockage.

exactly what i did

 

[Drains]

Tigler - I can't see any evidence of water oil mixing so head gasket seems pretty unlikely.
Roger - it does have a flamethrower but I don't think it's dribbling - I'll check. It shouldn't shut off the engine though.
Oilcooled - you're not helping
Tigler, MK - Water in fuel - i've jury rigged a tank off a jerry can to see if it made any difference - it didn't- , and checked the fuel in the main tank. No sludge or crud (well not much crud...).
500e, I'll get reading.
Snoop - I like your thinking, I will see if I can break through the thick paint and remove the banjos without breaking the fuel lines.
zzr - also good thinking, I shall strip off the mesh and give it a rinse. As I say, I've bypassed the tank and first filter, but a gravity feed to the injector pump is worth a try.

Thanks guys. It's good to get a bit of help thinking through these problems. It's appreciated.

The boat's still for sale though

 

[madkayaker]

It's not something stupid like the windings braking down on the stop solinoid as it gets hot? Presuming it is electrical solinoid of course!

 

[Drains]

It's not something stupid like the windings braking down on the stop solinoid as it gets hot? Presuming it is electrical solinoid of course!

You're making me laugh MK. Solenoid... chuckle...

 

[madkayaker]

Had that problem on an old escort van I did think it was a long shot but you never know

 

[oilcooled :)]

The boat's still for sale though

sail it across to me and ill buy it or scuttle it

 

[pedrobedro]

A friend of ours had a camper with a Perkins engine and whenever it was cutting out it was always fuel. He just used to change the filter and bleed it and it was away again for ages till it needed doing again. The drop tank to the injection pump should show it up.

 

[anto]

What type of pump is on it?

 

[zzr1200]

The boat's still for sale though

50p......



Failing that dont forget to disconnect the return pipe to the tank, from the engine....

PS. If it has a metal return pipe on top of the injectors connecting all the injectors together check that for blockages as well. Run the engine until it starts running rough, then undo the six 7/16 AF banjo bolts on top of the injectors, might get a bit messy (spill pads are the answer here)...

hth

 

[Drains]

What type of pump is on it?

Rotary CAV pump

50p......


PS. If it has a metal return pipe on top of the injectors connecting all the injectors together check that for blockages as well. Run the engine until it starts running rough, then undo the six 7/16 AF banjo bolts on top of the injectors, might get a bit messy (spill pads are the answer here)...

hth

Aye' I'll try that too. Replaced pipes and filters today, checked connections for leaks, dirt etc. All OK.
Someone else suggested possible hole in lift pump diaphragm.
Gravity feed tomorrow, bypass as much as possible and see what happens.

Had no time to run the engine up to temp today.