Engine Not Started for 1 Year

[red_marine_28]

Yanmar Diesel in my Island Packet winterized last November(2015) by the yard where she sits on the hard. Unable to launch this summer. Concerned about damage to motor not started for a year...and winter approaches again. Should I ask the yard to winterize the motor again this year? What kind of damage can I expect to encounter with a diesel engine that has not been started for a year?

[Sailmonkey]

None.

Winterizing will have removed all the saltwater from the muffler. That's the #1 killer. Just leave it be and don't worry.


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[red_marine_28]

Thank you for the reply. A Seawind II is what I tried to get but could not find one for sale in Annapolis. I worked for a broker in Annapolis late seventies that sold new Seawinds. Ended up with an '84 Island Packet 31'...Steve

[bletso]

as long as it was winterised you should expect no problems.. I had my Perkins 4-108 down for 15 years and it cranked right over. I have since done some maintenance, but she purrs like she did when put on the hard and life got in the way.. Now if it was a petrol engine, different story and more involve to winterise. now the rest of the boat was another story altogether.

[Island Time O25]

Second bletso's post. My first boat was on the hard for 5-6 years when I first looked at her. I brought a fresh battery and the engine started like a charm. It was a 25-30 year old one banger Volvo.

[westwinds]

The diesel fuel would be old unless a diesel stabilizer was added once a year. Modern diesel fuels have refinery processing that makes them much more prone to degradation. Also consider a diesel biocide.

[bletso]

I forgot. before I even attempted a restart we used fresh fuel. One year barring contamination should be just fine

[a64pilot]

I would remove the injectors and either fog the cylinders or at least put some oil in there.
Leave the injectors loose so that they can be removed before the engine is started again, I prefer to spin an engine with no compression until oil is well circulated around everything, then install injectors and crank her up. Plus if you oil the cylinders spinning without injectors will expel any excess and ensure no possibility of hydro locking it.


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[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

.........I prefer to spin an engine with no compression until oil is well circulated around everything, then .............

I agree with this, but not the need for removing the injectors. The earlier posts appear more reasonable.

One of the very few times I've disagreed with anything a64 writes.

[a64pilot]

Well to get the oil in, the injectors come out, and my motor has no other way to not have compression, others have decompression levers of course.
Honestly I'd have them pop tested, can't hurt. Mine are no harder to remove than a spark plug really, and engine access is so good on an IP it just too easy to do.


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[DeepFrz]

+1 on a64pilot's post. Unless you were present when the winterization took place you have no idea what the yard did.

[barnakiel]

Make sure it turns free. Then start it. Then winterize it again. Often a dead battery makes it seem the engine won't start.

A properly winterized engine does not get any damage.

b.

[buzzstar]

If the engine was properly winterized there should be no more problem with the added passage of time. But, if there is doubt, the suggestions made previously in the thread each should be considered and implemented unless you are certain they are not needed. The risk is yours as is the decision.

[boeing1]

if you are going to let it sit for another winter, I also check your raw water impeller before you run the engine. sitting that long might have taken a set

[Cheechako]

For another year I wouldn't worry if the engine was winterized properly. I might worry if the salt water in the exhaust system is quite near to the engine? I could imagine corrosion buildup on exhaust valves etc from that. For longer term I like A64pilot's suggestion to remove the injectors and spray inside. But many diesels have sat for years without a big deal.