Troubleshooting Marine Diesels [Hardcover]

Peter Compton (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0070123543 | ISBN-13: 978-0070123540 | Publication Date: September 1, 1997 | Edition: 1

This densely illustrated, hands-on guide to diesel engine maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair renders its subject more user-friendly than ever before. Finally, boatowners who grew up with gas engines can set aside their fears about tinkering with diesels, which are safer and increasingly more prevalent. As in other volumes in the International Marine Sailboat Library, every step of every procedure is illustrated, so that users can work from the illustrations alone. The troubleshooting charts in the second chapter--probably the most comprehensive ever published--are followed by system-specific chapters, allowing readers to quickly diagnose problems, then turn to the chapter with solutions. Diesel engine systems covered include: mechanical; oil; fresh- and raw-water cooling; low- and high-pressure fuel; exhaust; starting; charging; transmission and stern gear.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Diesel Troubleshooting By The Pictures--It's Never Been This Easy Before. This simple, hands-on guide to practical diesel engine care makes repair and maintenance more user-firendly than ever before. Now, even boatowners who grew up with gas engines can set aside theirs fears about tinkering with diesels.

About the Author

Peter Compton's dream of bluewater cruising finally became reality when, after 20 years in the Aerospace industry, he quit his job in 1986 to build a small catamaran and sail south with his family in search of sun and sand. Some 11 years and 20,000 miles later, the Comptons have settled in the British Virgin Islands. With a background in troubleshooting that includes several years as Engineering Department Head analyzing complex system designs, Peter now applies these skills to the marine diesels he deals with every day. Peter's current project is an independent and informative website that covers every aspect of marine diesels. Visit it at www.boatdiesel.com.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 173 pages
• Publisher: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press; 1 edition (September 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0070123543
• ISBN-13: 978-0070123540
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 8.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #286,186 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth waiting for!, December 9, 1999

By 

Paul Reuberson (Ringwood Hants UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Troubleshooting Marine Diesels (Hardcover)

When you are looking for a simple explanation to a complicated set of directions you usually ask a friend, not in this case, just look at the book. I found Peter Compton's book a very helpful and interesting guide to trouble shooting your way out of a frustrating situation. I am teaching marine engineers and running courses for weekend sailors and would have no hesitation in urging them to buy a copy for their book shelf. The diagrams are first class and I use the book as an example to my students. Well done Peter for giving me the tools to make the job easier.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Without the book we would not have found the problem..., November 7, 1999

By 

Casey (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Troubleshooting Marine Diesels (Hardcover)

Last Friday evening I gave your book to a friend as a gift. The next day we all went out on their boat to enjoy the Fleet Week festivities. About 1 mile offshore the engine just quit, no warning just quit running. The first thing we did was to drop the hook, the second was to get your book out.

We went down the trouble shooting tree, checking each item and following the Yes-No flow. Well, 45 minutes later we had the engine running. The beauty of it was that without the book we would have NOT found the problem. (The problem was in the fuel return line) Without the book we would never had thought to check there for the problem.

Needless to say my friends just LOVE your book.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Think like a Diesel Mechanic!!!!, May 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Troubleshooting Marine Diesels (Hardcover)

When you read this book you suddenly realise that diesel engines are extremely reasonable creatures that behave or misbehave for reasons that are usually very predictable.

The main problem with owning a diesel engine is that you can pay a "diesel" mechanic a lot of money for him to find the cause of a problem,and then pay a lot more for to fix it.

The whole process can be made a lot cheaper and quicker with this book as it explains, in simple english, how to troubleshoot your way from the symptom back to its most likely cause.

So even if you don't intend to do any of the work yourself, Trouble Shooting Marine Diesels puts you on a resonably equal information-footing with a mechanic and stops them exploiting your ignorance in order to pay for their childrens' college education.