Hello All
I have a 1980 Ericson 30+ fitted with a 2 cylinder 16 hp Universal marine diesel engine with 2200 hours on it. I have never had problems with loss of engine power until recently.
Initially the engine starts and runs normally and then for no apparent reason starts to slow down as if the throttle has been pulled back. The engine doesn't actually stop (so far) but it sounds a bit uncertain in terms of whether it will carry on or not and then after about 10 to 30 seconds speeds up again and runs normally for while. And then it slows down again and so on repeating the problem every 10 or 20 mins. This has happened repeatedly lately each time I have been out running the engine at higher rpm for more than maybe an hour.
It seems like a fuel flow problem to me so I changed the Universal's fuel filter (which was fairly new anyway) and replaced the 10 micron Parker Raycor water separator filter cartridge (also very new) and bled the system and ran it and all seemed well. (Neither of the used filters seemed dirty when I inspected them.) Anyway after running happily for several hours next time out on the water the problem started again.
Note Most of the rubber hoses between the fuel tank and the filters and the injector pump are in good condition (or new in fact) and there doesn't seem to be any fuel leaks anywhere. Also the electric fuel pump seems to be working OK from what I can tell. And the fuel in the tank is also relatively knew. A hand bulb in the line from the tank pumps fuel with ease through the system when I bleed it. So I don't think there is a blockage in the fuel line coming from the tank unless there is some gunge or dirt in the tank that is moving around and periodically partly restricting the fuel flow. During one of the loss of power episodes I removed the fuel filler cap in case there was some kind of airlock happening in the tank but this didn't seem to effect or remedy the problem.
So I am wondering if perhaps the injector pump is starting to fail intermittently. Does this seem possible or likely? Does anyone have any other thoughts on the source of this problem and ways to trouble shoot it?
Many Thanks Geoff
I have a 1980 Ericson 30+ fitted with a 2 cylinder 16 hp Universal marine diesel engine with 2200 hours on it. I have never had problems with loss of engine power until recently.
Initially the engine starts and runs normally and then for no apparent reason starts to slow down as if the throttle has been pulled back. The engine doesn't actually stop (so far) but it sounds a bit uncertain in terms of whether it will carry on or not and then after about 10 to 30 seconds speeds up again and runs normally for while. And then it slows down again and so on repeating the problem every 10 or 20 mins. This has happened repeatedly lately each time I have been out running the engine at higher rpm for more than maybe an hour.
It seems like a fuel flow problem to me so I changed the Universal's fuel filter (which was fairly new anyway) and replaced the 10 micron Parker Raycor water separator filter cartridge (also very new) and bled the system and ran it and all seemed well. (Neither of the used filters seemed dirty when I inspected them.) Anyway after running happily for several hours next time out on the water the problem started again.
Note Most of the rubber hoses between the fuel tank and the filters and the injector pump are in good condition (or new in fact) and there doesn't seem to be any fuel leaks anywhere. Also the electric fuel pump seems to be working OK from what I can tell. And the fuel in the tank is also relatively knew. A hand bulb in the line from the tank pumps fuel with ease through the system when I bleed it. So I don't think there is a blockage in the fuel line coming from the tank unless there is some gunge or dirt in the tank that is moving around and periodically partly restricting the fuel flow. During one of the loss of power episodes I removed the fuel filler cap in case there was some kind of airlock happening in the tank but this didn't seem to effect or remedy the problem.
So I am wondering if perhaps the injector pump is starting to fail intermittently. Does this seem possible or likely? Does anyone have any other thoughts on the source of this problem and ways to trouble shoot it?
Many Thanks Geoff