If you remember, a couple days ago I re-did my engine fuel filtering system. At the time, I couldn't get the engine to start back up afterwards and decided to let it just sit for awhile to see if it would miraculously start later. If it didn't, it would mean that I'd have to go through and bleed the air out of the fuel system. So far, I've never had to do that as the Westerbeke is "self-bleeding".
I tried starting the engine a couple of times on Wednesday and again on Thursday and, after a few tries, it didn't start. I was not hopeful and set aside to day to get it running again.
But, today, after only a few cranks, she fired right up. True, she died after a few seconds a some trapped air presumably hit the injectors, but she started right back up and never died again. I let her run for 20 minutes or so, most of that time in gear, to let her reach operating temperature. She just ran along smooth as can be. So far, I love this engine. However, since I won't always be able to wait a few days for the air bubbles to work their way out, I'm following my cousin Curt's lead and installing a hand-operated priming pump - one of those bulb pumps they use for outboard motors. That'll save me the trouble of having to keep some clean diesel to fill the filters back up with following a filter change.
Other than my fuel issues coming down the coast, the only thing I've had to do on this engine, which was installed in the early 90s but only has about 900 hours on it, is replace the heat exchanger when we first bought the boat. The old one was pretty well rotted out.
Now if, a few months or years from now I start cursing the engine, please don't copy and paste this blog entry into the comments section to remind me what I said today. Because right now, I love my Westerbeke.
1 comment:
We've had priming issues with our engine, too. I like the idea of using the bulb pump.
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