Brief Crank during winter

D

DS410

New Member
Oct 9, 2006
107
Baltimore, MD
Boat Info
Boatless
Engines
Boatless
Is it advisable, or not, to periodically crank the engines (3116 CATS) for only about 1 second, while they are winterized, just so parts don't sit in one place for 3 or 4 months? Thanks.

David
 
I have never done it to my boat with 3126's. Not sure what you gain and actually may be doing some harm. No oil pressure, no oil in the cylinders......just my $.02.
 
I wouldn't recommend it. Your just turning it over without any oil or oil pressure. If you did that periodically it would take it's toll. I'd just wait until spring. BUT, I'm definitely NOT an expert!
 
I do it, very, very briefly. I KNOW the impellers appreciate it. On the theory side, it might help avoid the rings sticking...

(heated, in-water storage)
 
Want the right answer- call Bruce Dudley at CAT customer service 877-228-9900.
I got tired of the "2 micron or 10 micron" debate and discussed it with him...
 
I used to work as a machanic and was always "told" to turn them slightly to release the valve springs under compression but I think tobnpr has the best answer.
 
Hello from Croatia!!!


You CAN crank them and do that as often as you can and you will not do any harm, only good to your engine!!!
You can do it with starter or if accessible by wrench on crankshaft pulley, most larger engines have specially designed tool for that, older cummins had tool installed on them as factory option...
It is good to crank your engine from time to time to change the position of internal components, pistons rings changing place inside cylinder prevents from scoring, valves that were opened are now closed and the other way around, preventing oxidation on valve seats, crankshaft bearings change place and keep from getting oval, etc. etc...

Did you also know that it is advisable to turn long shafts by hand to change place to keep them from bending while sitting???

Do not worry about impeller, light cranking from time to time will not do harm, it can only do good to it...

Do not worry about oil pressure, all internal components are not so "dry" as you might think...

Believe it or not, even your batteries will last longer...


Oh yes, I almost forgot, if you take out the impeller from time to time, you can actually start your engine and let it idle 5 to 10 minutes without even considering something bad might happen as long as it is filled with coolant,
this is the best thing you can do to your engine!!!!

Best regards, Goran!
 
gmurtic said:
Oh yes, I almost forgot, if you take out the impeller from time to time, you can actually start your engine and let it idle 5 to 10 minutes without even considering something bad might happen as long as it is filled with coolant,
this is the best thing you can do to your engine!!!!

Best regards, Goran!
Click to expand...

Goran,

I can understand how this might not HURT the engine while it warms up, and before it gets too hot, but how can this be "the best thing you can do to your engine"?

And are you talking about doing this during the season or while it is winterized? Or either time?

David
 
Goran,

Nevermind, I think I just figured out your meaning - during winterization, to keep engine parts well lubed and moving, run engine without impeller just briefly. Right?

Respectfully, I'm a little skeptical on that one. Thanks for the info though. Always learning new tricks.

David
 
David,


You asked how can starting engines help your engines?!

You try laying for a few months and then get up and run...
It is not too different with engines.

Of course best way is to run them with water, but not too necessary.
I work with engines allot, own three boats with diesels also maintain quite a few of them...

I know what I am talking about...

Goran
 
gmurtic said:
You try laying for a few months and then get up and run...
It is not too different with engines.

Goran
Click to expand...

There is a bad analogy here. If a human were to lay around for a couple of months muscle mass would be lost from lack of exercise. Machines don't do that. Especially a machine that is broken in.
I caution against running the engine without cooling. Yes it has a tank full of cold coolant and will take a few min to warm that up. The inability to cool the coolant can result in a temperature spike quickly with no way to negate it.

Turning it over by hand to change valve spring tension would be ok, but on the difficult side. I agree with turning the props every month or so.
 
This is in line with what we were advised, (by an expert), - just to tap the starter switches so as to change the position of valves, etc. And IF the engine should start, it's no big deal - just turn it off. That'd be a good idea since I have no intention of opening the seacocks for the engines.

Goran, Thank you again for your advice. I think there's probably a lot of merit in actually letting the engine(s) run for a few minutes. I'm just not convinced that it's actually necessary. Your sound advice has been added to my knowledge base.

David
 
I think it's an issue best answered by the diesel manufacturer. If it's a good thing, or even the best thing you can do for your engine, why is there no discussion about it in the manuals?

JJS
 
never monday said:
I caution against running the engine without cooling. Yes it has a tank full of cold coolant and will take a few min to warm that up. The inability to cool the coolant can result in a temperature spike quickly with no way to negate it.
Click to expand...

To say something about cooling/heating of an engine you need to understand how it works first...

We are not talking about few minutes here, be sure that the engine will work at least 15-20 minutes to reach its temperature when the thermostat valve start to open.


Please understand that raw water goes only trough the heat exchanger which cools engine coolant that is normally mixture of water+antifreeze, so when you start your engine cold it runs with closed thermostat valve which does not allow coolant to go trough heat exchanger, but circulates trough engine, only when it reaches the temperature where thermostat valve starts to open then some of the coolant goes to heat exchanger and some still circulates trough the engine, only when it reaches its fully open temperature all water goes to exchanger.
So there is no spikes that can harm your engine as long as you look at the temperature gauge...
And now physics basic: As long as there is coolant in the engine, you cannot overheat your engine at idle!
Why??
You can heat fluid as much as you want, but it cannot get to more than boiling temperature as long as it is fluid and not steam!
David,
I did not say it is necessary to start your engines, I only wanted to say you cannot do any harm if you start them without impellers and let them idle for a few minutes, that can only do good to them...

Goran
 
gmurtic said:
And now physics basic: As long as there is coolant in the engine, you cannot overheat your engine at idle!
Why??
You can heat fluid as much as you want, but it cannot get to more than boiling temperature as long as it is fluid and not steam!
Click to expand...

Ha ha ha ha ha ha

Did you take that "Physics without Math" course in college?!

Ha ha ha ha

So what is the "boiling temperature" when the pressure goes through the roof?

Geez... Just remember... at CSR there are no stupid questions... but there *are* stupid answers.
 
gmurtic said:
To say something about cooling/heating of an engine you need to understand how it works first...

And now physics basic: As long as there is coolant in the engine, you cannot overheat your engine at idle!
Why??
You can heat fluid as much as you want, but it cannot get to more than boiling temperature as long as it is fluid and not steam! Goran
Click to expand...


Gary, can you help this man?

Oops, you've already started. We're anxious to see how this shakes out.
 
That response is just too silly to discuss... good gosh.

I'm off to the boat to weld my radiator caps shut on the coolant tanks so the engines will never overheat.

Ha ha ha ha
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,118
Messages
1,426,556
Members
61,035
Latest member
Lukerney
Back
Top