How to Maintain Marine Diesel Engines According to Routine Schedules

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A marine diesel engine has to be maintained in conformity with the various international rules and regulations as per the ISM code. The advice of the manufacturer, as well that of the class and the Administration has to be followed.

Thus all marine diesel engines have a maintenance schedule that is normally integrated into the preventive planned maintenance program of the company. It is kept on a dedicated computer with specialized software, which when fed the daily running hours gives you the work to be done, the work becoming due, and the work which is overdue. The ship’s data is synchronized with the head office data by the ways of data exporting twice a month. This allows a superintendent engineer to monitor the ship from the shore office and instruct the chief engineer accordingly.

A maintenance schedule has been discussed in this article to give a rough guideline to the marine engineers. However, the specific maintenance schedule given by the manufacturer should be followed and the local conditions, the load on the engines, would make it necessary to have a shorter maintenance interval. Engines running on light loads would require more frequent cleaning of the exhaust spaces and the pistons due to the higher likelihood of fouling.

In addition to the above, any unusual operating conditions, increase in sound, exhaust temperature, etc. must be investigated promptly and corrective actions are taken.

DAILY CHECKS ON THE ENGINE
The following are the daily checks on the engines that should be made by all the watchkeeping engineers in their duty hours.
1. Check the fuel level in the service tank and drain the service and settling tank of any water.
2. Check the lube oil level in the sump of the engine.
3. Check the governor lube oil levels.
4. Check the lubrication of the rocker arms (if running)
5. Check lube oil pressure, water pressure, exhaust temperatures, cooling water temperature, lube oil inlet temperature, etc. (if running).
6. Drain the condensate from the scavenge manifold and the air coolers.
7. Lubricate the fuel racks, linkages, and fuel pump rack operating gear.

250 HOURS ROUTINE
After an engine has run for 250 hours the… To complete reading, click https://www.ugpeotechnique.com/How-to-Maintain-Marine-Diesel-Engines.html

The above is just a guideline, but the management in consultation with the engine manufacturers may change the schedule of maintenance. Today’s new engines have a running period of 16,000 hours before taking out the piston. However, the old ships still follow the 8000 hours routine.

Sometimes the management company likes to over maintain the engine so that it reduces the interval between the overhauls.

Need maintenance of your marine engine (on/off-deck)? Let us help you today. Call us on: (+234)706 247 6068 or visit www.ugpeotechnique.com