Maintenance for Your Diesel and Propulsion System

Maintenance is key for a reliable and efficient boat. We simply cannot stress this enough. Diesel engines are durable and dependable but all too frequently we find ourselves fixing systems that would not need repair or replacement if they had received the right care and treatment.

Below are what we consider to be the most crucial aspects of diesel maintenance

Fuel

Fuel must be dean and maintained in as fresh a condition as possible. You need to take steps to ensure that you obtain clean diesel fuel, that it is stabilized if stored for longer than a few months, that water is effectively removed or separated, and that the fuel is properly filtered before it reaches your engine. Proper fuel delivered to your diesel engine is a very important part of keeping it running efficiently and dependably. We can help you meet these conditions. For more information of fuel quality visit our page on Algae-X® Answers FAQ's on Diesel Fuel For information on how we can provide a system to ensure the cleanliness and freshness of your diesel fuel see our page on Advanced Fuel Filtering and On-Board Fuel Polishing or for a case study of an actual installation, go to Installation of an Advanced Fuel Purification System.

Oil and Filter

Change your oil and filter at intervals specified by your engine manufacturer. If you frequently use your engine for short periods of time or at reduced rpm you may want to change your oil and filter BEFORE the recommended interval or usage. This is because your engine may not be operating at optimal temperature for lubrication. Also, the engine may not heat up adequately or for a long enough period of time to drive out any moisture that may have accumulated in the oil.

Synthetic oil holds the promise of decreased wear, easier starts, resistance to high temperatures, and lower oxidation problems. There's lots of opinions on the matter. Check out our page on synthetic oils that are made just for diesels and see what the experts have to say.

Transmission Fluid

Transmission fluid should also be changed on a regular basis. Your marine transmission box is strong and dependable, but like your diesel engine, it needs regular maintenance. Did you know that there is a right and a wrong way to check your fluid level with a dipstick? Again, we've repaired way too many transmissions with problems caused by lack of maintenance.

Winterizing

We can't begin to tell you how may repairs and replacements we perform are the result of mistakes in "winterizing" an engine. Salt or fresh water expands with powerful force when it freezes and can destroy critical engine or transmission parts. We can winterize your boat and advise you to any special considerations that need to be made in the process. You'll thank us in the spring.

Cutlass Bearings

There are simple ways to determine if you need to replace the cutlass bearing. Failure to replace the bearing when indicated can lead to a list of expensive problems. We've also discovered CONSIDERABLE variation in the quality and durability of various manufactured cutlass bearings. When you haul out, let us take a look and we'll advise you!