Safety and Ecological Benefits of Decarbonisation for Marine Engines

Blog | January 27th, 2022

There’s no denying that high-performance architecture. Yanmar diesel engines are built to satisfy the toughest, most elevated engineering criteria in the world. However, there’s no getting around one basic design tenet. It is that diesel engines produce carbon. While it’s true that filters and catalysts, plus a great deal of design excellence, can reduce this fuel byproduct, carbon deposits will accumulate inside a diesel engine.

The Decarbonization of a Yanmar Diesel Engine

It’s impossible to take a large wire brush and scrub away the sooty deposits. Even if it were, that would be an impractical solution. Wire brushes abrade high-tolerance engine parts, so let’s call upon the aid of a technology-based solution. Gone is the terrible notion of some system-violating wire brush, and that tool replaced by a more refined carbon ejecting mechanism. A chemical “decarb” is injected through the engine air inlet, where it’ll break down the black film and restore the engine to its peak performing former condition. Before taking this route, though, let’s see how this pitchy deposit can affect (infect?) a Yanmar Diesel Engine.

Regarding Yanmar-Tuned Performance Hits

Run at a low temperature, a carbon film begins to accumulate. Or perhaps the grade of fuel, filled from some dubious marine fuel source, is so poorly formulated it discharges sooty grains. Whatever the reason, a finely tuned Yanmar Diesel Engine is suffering from a growing number of performance hits. The carbon forms a gritty discharge, which scars the cylinders. The inside surfaces of those cylinders glaze and darken. Fuel economy figures suffer next, then the lifespan of what should be a long-lasting component shortens drastically. The head piston is the last to fail. It blows, the engine comes to a sputtering halt, and the boat is stuck until a tow can be arranged. Only, just like any other maintenance routine, all of that could have been avoided just by carrying out a few cylinders and seal preserving checks.

That’s the real takeaway from this situation, the fact that it can be avoided. Run a boat engine to see if there’s smoke coming from the engine outlets. If this telltale sign is present, take immediate action. Just because it’s a tough-as-nails Yanmar mechanism, that doesn’t mean it’ll withstand this mistreatment for long. Tightly engineered engine clearances are vulnerable to carbon-grained scarring effects. Take the engine out of service, clear that smoke, and treat it with a chemical decarbonisation agent. As for low temperature or RPM issues, run a Yanmar Diesel Engine within its design specs. To do otherwise is to invite that sooty film.

YANMAR is one of the leading marine diesel engines sold within Australia and New Zealand. The YANMAR brand is a dominant name in marine, industrial and power generation applications. JME has the knowledge and experience to assist with your YANMAR Large diesel and compressor application needs. We understand your expectation for good quality engines, and we will do our best to assist you with technical support and spare parts.

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