Stress-Free Engine Maintenance

Stress-Free Engine Maintenance is an accessible and practical guide to understanding what is going on with your boat's engine, how to look after it, spotting the signs when all is not well, and how to fix it. Learn how to change a filter and impeller, how to ensure the engine doesn't overheat, and much more.

This visual and jargon-free book covers all the essentials for looking after your engine, in one place, including:

• Basic principles of how an engine works
• Fuel, cooling and air systems
• Engine electrical systems
• Gearboxes and drives
• Checklists (e.g. before starting and once running)
• Most common causes of breakdown
• Troubleshooting

Like the other titles in Duncan Wells' bestselling 'Stress-Free' series, the information is presented in an accessible, manageable way, with the use of diagrams, quick reference tables, box features, QR videos, clear explanations, top tips and checklists, making maintenance and basic repair of your engine straightforward, and with minimum stress. There are also plenty of amusing anecdotes and useful lessons learned. If you find the prospect of fixing anything to do with the engine daunting, then this is the book for you. Stress-Free Engine Maintenance is a key addition to any boat's bookshelf, ready to remind the skipper how to deal with problems and keep everything running smoothly.

Includes QR codes redirecting you to usefull online video material.

Table of Contents

Preface

1. Introduction and philosophy
- Jonathan says

2. Principles of the engine
- How does an engine work?
- Types of engine
- The fundamentals of a four-stroke engine
- The fundamentals of a two-stroke engine
- How does a four-stroke diesel engine work?
- How does a four-stroke petrol engine work?
- How to hand crank or turn over an engine
- Turbos and superchargers
- How a hybrid setup works

3. Gearboxes and drives
- Shaft and propeller
- Stern glands – Stuffing boxes, lip seals and face seals
- Sail drive
- Sterndrive
- V drive
- Pod systems
- Other drives
- Propeller pitch
- Bow and stern thrusters
- Modes of travel
- Jonathan says

4. Fuel systems
- How the fuel system works
- Changing filters
- Symptoms of fuel-system breakdowns
- Fuel tanks and gauges
- Jonathan says

5. Cooling systems
- Raw-water system
- Fresh-water and raw-water system
- Common causes of overheating
- Cooling system for an outboard engine
- Exhaust systems
- Jonathan says

6. Air systems
- How does your engine access air?
- Common causes of air system problems
- Jonathan says

7. Lubrication system
- Why lubricating is important
- Camchains and cambelts
- Gearbox lubrication
- Look after your lubrication system
- Changing an oil filter
- Jonathan says

8. Electrical systems
- The basic electrical system
- Looking after the electrics
- Common causes of electrical failure
- 240-volt systems on board
- Jonathan says
- Engine instrumentation
- Jonathan says

9. How to look after your engine
- 1. Optimum temperature
- 2. Optimum fuelling
- 3. Cooling the engine down

10. Checks, servicing and winterisation
- Everyday checks and checklists
- Servicing
- Winterising your boat

11. Cautionary tales
- Jonathan says

12. How to troubleshoot a breakdown
- Flow charts
- Diagnosing common problems
- Tips and secrets to reliability

13. Spares and tools
- What spares to carry
- Tools
- Jonathan says

Glossary
Index

Duncan Wells is an RYA instructor and sailing school principal. He has written for many leading boating magazines in the UK and US. He is also the author of Stress-Free Sailing, Stress-Free Navigation, Stress-Free Motorboating, Stress-Free Mooring and 101 Tips for Stress-Free Sailing (Adlard Coles Nautical), which have helped countless sailors and motorboaters learn helpful boat handling and berthing techniques. He lives in Buckinghamshire.
Jonathan Parker is an engine and breakdown expert and Managing Director of boat servicing and repair company, Parker Marine Services. For 17 years he worked as Operations Manager of Sea Start, the AA of the sea, where he repaired over 3.000 boats at sea and on land, both motor and sail. He also spent many years teaching the RYA Diesel Engine Course.