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Every page on Marine Diesel Engines Australia — 63 guide pages in 10 sections, plus the machine-readable sitemap.xml used by search engines.
Start here
What this guide covers and the order that makes it easiest to learn.
Engines & systems
Parts, the four-stroke cycle, fuel, air, cooling, oil, exhaust, electrics, instruments and sizing.
- 03Marine Diesel Engine Parts Explained
- 04How a Four-Stroke Marine Diesel Engine Works
- 05Mechanical vs Common-Rail Marine Diesel Engines
- 14Horsepower, Torque and RPM
- 15What Size Marine Diesel Does a Boat Need?
- 16Marine Diesel Fuel Systems
- 17Marine Diesel Cooling Systems
- 18Marine Diesel Lubrication Systems
- 19Air Intake, Turbochargers and Charge-Air Cooling
- 20Marine Diesel Wet Exhaust Systems
- 21Starting and Charging Systems
- 22Marine Engine Instruments and Alarms
- 23Engine Mounts, Couplings and Alignment
- 24Engine-Room Ventilation, Fire Protection and Noise
Propulsion & drives
Shaft drives, saildrives, sterndrives, pods and waterjets, gearboxes and propellers.
Maintenance & service
Pre-start checks, service schedules, oil, filters, impellers, anodes, alignment and lay-up.
- 25Marine Diesel Pre-Start and Shutdown Checks
- 26Marine Diesel Service Schedule
- 27Changing Marine Diesel Oil and Filter
- 28Changing Fuel Filters and Bleeding Air
- 29Raw-Water Pump Impellers
- 30Heat Exchanger and Coolant Service
- 31Belts, Hoses, Clamps and Mounts
- 32Saildrive Maintenance and Corrosion
- 33Shaft Seals, Bearings and Alignment
- 34Marine Diesel Lay-Up and Storage
- 35Marine Diesel Tools and Spares
Troubleshooting
Symptom-first diagnosis: no crank, no start, overheating, smoke, alarms, vibration and emergencies.
- 36Marine Diesel Troubleshooting
- 37Marine Diesel Will Not Crank
- 38Marine Diesel Cranks but Will Not Start
- 39Marine Diesel Starts Then Stops
- 40Marine Diesel Loss of Power
- 41Marine Diesel Overheating
- 42Marine Diesel Smoke Colours
- 43Marine Engine Alarm Troubleshooting
- 44Marine Diesel Vibration and Noise
- 45Gearbox, Saildrive and Propeller Troubleshooting
- 46Marine Engine Emergencies
- 47Diesel Bug, Water and Contaminated Fuel
Performance & fuel
Operating rpm, fuel consumption, cruising range and efficiency.
Repower & buying
Replacing an engine, installation and commissioning, used-engine surveys and ownership costs.
Generators
Marine genset selection, sizing, installation and fault finding.
Australian rules
Standards, compliance, refuelling and pollution rules, and when the work belongs to a professional.
Reference
Brands overview, service records, FAQ, glossary and printable checklists.
Engine brands
Independent brand references, with model pages published as each model's data is verified.
How-to guides
Step-by-step answers, one question per page.
- CoolHow do I tell if my raw-water impeller is failing?
- CoolHow do I check raw-water flow on a marine diesel?
- CoolHow do I clean a marine heat exchanger?
- CoolHow do I stop my engine overheating under load?
- FuelHow do I bleed air from a marine diesel fuel system?
- FuelHow do I change marine diesel fuel filters?
- FuelHow do I get water out of a diesel tank?
- FuelHow do I tell if I have diesel bug?
- ServHow do I change the oil on a marine diesel?
- ServHow do I know when my engine is due for a service?
- ServHow do I keep marine engine service records properly?
- ElecHow do I test a marine starting battery?
- ElecHow do I find a voltage drop on a boat?
- ElecHow do I tell if my alternator is charging properly?
- DrivHow do I check saildrive oil for water?
- DrivHow do I choose the right anode for my boat?
- OperHow do I tell if my propeller is overloading the engine?
- OperHow do I measure my boat's fuel consumption?
- OperHow do I respond to an engine alarm at sea?
- OperHow do I lay up a marine diesel for the season?
- BuyiHow do I choose a marine mechanic?
- BuyiHow do I assess a used marine engine before buying a boat?
- BuyiHow do I decide whether to repower or repair?
- BuyiHow do I size a marine generator?
Frequently asked questions
Each question on its own page, answered in full.
- QHow often should a marine diesel be serviced?
- QIs a saildrive less reliable than a shaft drive?
- QShould I lock the propeller while sailing?
- QCan I run a diesel at idle to charge batteries?
- QWhat causes black diesel smoke?
- QWhy does my engine overheat only at high rpm?
- QHow much fuel does a yacht diesel use?
- QCan I service a common-rail engine myself?
- QIs white exhaust smoke always a head gasket?
- QShould I replace an old engine before cruising offshore?
- QCan I install a larger engine during a repower?
- QDo I need a marine generator?
- QWhy does my fuel filter keep blocking?
Glossary
Every term defined on its own page.
- AAnode
- AAnti-siphon valve
- BBack pressure
- BBleeding (the fuel system)
- BBSFC (brake-specific fuel consumption)
- CCalorifier
- CCommon rail
- CCompression ignition
- CCutless bearing
- DDuty rating
- EECU (electronic control unit)
- GGlow plug
- HHeat exchanger
- HHour meter
- IImpeller
- IIntercooler or aftercooler
- LLift pump
- MMixing elbow
- NNMEA 2000
- PPrimary filter
- RRaw water
- RRaw-water strainer
- RReduction ratio
- SSaildrive
- SSaildrive diaphragm
- SSeacock
- SSecondary filter
- SStern gland
- WWaterlock
- WWet exhaust
- WWet stacking
Service by region
Local conditions and how to choose a technician, region by region.
Site pages
Everything outside the guide itself.