TECHNICAL START YOUR ENGINES

Dennison Berwick gives you a complete guide to getting your engine fired up and ready for the new season

- Dennison Berwick

Getting the engine ready for service after lay-up (sometimes called ‘summerising’ in contrast to ‘winterising’) should be straightforward and not difficult or time consuming, especially if some of the necessary tasks were completed during laying-up. If these tasks (such as oil change and impeller inspection) were not completed, now is the time – before an engine breakdown spoils time on the water. Preventative maintenance is the key to reliability and well worth the modest investments of time, effort and cash. When we think of our summer sailing it is rare we imagine ourselves motoring along but it is an absolutely essential piece of equipment to keep functioning well

MAINTENANCE LOG

Keeping a maintenance log may sometimes feel like an extra chore, but having one greatly simplifies getting re-acquainted with the diesel system after months away from the boat – jobs done, items taken apart (such as raw water pump), tasks yet to be completed, and items removed from the boat. A log is simple and easy to keep; don’t trust to memory for information on which the engine depends. A double-page spread in a plain notebook works well. It can feel like a big task but if it is something you get into the habit of filling out after any work it adds little to the time it takes to complete a task.

ENGINE SYSTEM OVERVIEW

Before tackling specific tasks, it’s a good idea to use a strong light and take a look at the engine compartment, the engine and components, under and behind the engine, and in the bilge to ensure everything looks okay. It’s surprising how much can be picked up by a glance:

-Has any insulation or debris fallen onto the engine?

-Are there any signs of rust or leaks – a clean engine helps with this!

-Inspect the bilge for oil, fuel, coolant or water. Locate the source.