Engine winterizing question

[GeorgeH]

I would be interested in hearing thoughts or suggestions from the people on this board about whether or not I should start up my diesel engine that I winterized last year and never got a chance to run because I never put my boat in this season.

The only reason why I would consider starting and running the engine is to make sure it starts and to circulate the oil to coat the inside of the engine for another winter's nap. Any thoughts?

[mgphl52]

Maybe you should move south and sail year round?

[GeorgeH]

And give up ice fishing??

[tjr818]

I would not start it unless you are going to let it warm up completely. If you have a hand crank, as we do, I would turn it over a revolution two just to move things around.

[mgphl52]

And give up ice fishing??

Fishing for ice??? We just get it out the ice maker...

[David van den Burgh]

I, too, am of the opinion that you should only start it if you're prepared to bring it up to temperature, run it for a bit, and then winterize it again. If you're not interested in doing that, I'd be inclined to rotate it slowly by hand - if possible - or leave it alone till next season.

[Maine_Buzzard]

I like to drain the muffler and the exhaust hose when laying up, as it eliminates a pocket of damp air that can reach back to the exhaust valves and cylinder walls if a valve happens to be open.

Multi year storage? Remove the glow plugs and spray fogging oil in the intake while cranking. (Rag over the top of the head.) A squirt down the glow plug holes and replace them loosely. Overfill the oil and transmission oil, and hand crank slowly every three months to re-coat the internals.

Desiccant inside and plastic sealing of the intake and exhaust.

Fresh antifreeze and a drained raw water system, impeller pulled.

Keep it dry and an engine is good for five years.

Fogging oil in a warm engine cranking over makes for an exciting runaway for a few seconds!

[CD_Sailor]

... The only reason why I would consider starting and running the engine is to make sure it starts and to circulate the oil to coat the inside of the engine for another winter's nap ...

Just pull out the "kill switch" and turn the engine over for a few seconds. This circulates oil to the cylinder walls and other places and should achieve what you want to do. I once had my CD28 sit for several seasons and observed no ill result.

Of course the eventual result depends on the quality and extent of the initial winterization process.

[tjr818]

I have often thought of doing that, but wouldn't that squirt raw diesel into the cylinders? I think you would have to hold the decompression lever at the same time, I don't have enough arms to do that.

[Maine_Buzzard]

The engine kill cuts fuel delivery to the injectors, and turning the engine over with it active will splash a bit of oil on the cylinder walls, but the top end stays dry.

[CD_Sailor]

The engine kill cuts fuel delivery to the injectors, and turning the engine over with it active will splash a bit of oil on the cylinder walls, but the top end stays dry.

Note also that many of the older owner manuals for small diesels suggest using the "kill switch" technique to pre-start a cold engine in cooler weather if there is no other method or facility to warm the injectors. Not sure I have all the preferred jargon here, but the technique should be obvious.