Engineers
History of diesel, from sperm whale to compression-ignition engine
RED: Motoring Rhode Island was a thriving British colony in the mid-1700s, and the hub of its wealth was the city of Newport. It was one of the five largest…
Like medicine, fuel additives can treat specific engine issues
Cybersizzle, Hot Stuff, TNT-Ultra, The Force, Greased Lightning all sound like the names of energy drinks that should be part of the roll call that includes Red Bull, Monster and…
Fear of violation guides oily water separation technology use
The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) was developed in response to the major oil spills caused by the wrecks of the oil tankers Torrey…
Science and physics say magnets positively affect diesel fuel combustion
OK, I admit it. I was skeptical at first. During one of my first jobs as a yacht captain back in the early ’90s, I flew to Mallorca where a…
Onboard fuel polishing serves as dialysis for your diesel
The cornerstone of a diesel fuel maintenance program aboard a yacht is installing an onboard system that will polish the fuel and clean all the tanks. Fuel polishing systems can…
Tier 4 diesel engines require cleaner fuel
If you have been to any major boat shows in the past few years, and lurked around the tents and booths of companies that make the engines for yachts, you…
Even well maintained fuel tanks have microbial growth
Microbial contamination of diesel fuel is a fact of life. It is not a matter of “if”; it is just a matter of “when”. As a general rule, whenever diesel…
Biodiesel and petrodiesel may be in your yacht’s future
“I have never had a large yacht request biodiesel,” Larry Lawrence said. “Most yachts would not want to use straight biodiesel due to microbe and water issues.” Lawrence should know.…
Distillation, flash point, sediment tests key to diesel health
Most diesel engine failures start in the fuel tank. If all the mechanical parts are in good condition and the cooling, air intake and lubrication systems are all working properly,…
Diesel fuel’s perilous journey from refinery to yacht
In 1859, when crude oil was discovered in Pennsylvania, the only product that oil refineries made from it was kerosene. That became the inexpensive alternative to whale oil, which lit…
