YachtForums.Com - View Single Post - Will slowing down damage larger diesel engines

JHA · 03-13-2008, 10:47 PM

My experience has been with larger motor yachts. In one instance running Deutz 604BV12s and more recently 604BV16s it can be tremendously damaging to run at low RPMs. I had to replace (not personally but by the fine men at MSHS) 26 of 32 cylinder kits on the BV16s at a HUGE expense to the boss to avoid catastrophic failure... all because the previous captain ran the engines below the RPMs that were prescribed by the manufacturer. By the way I haven't been in the day-tripper / bahama cruiser mindset on this - You can run low RPMs but you oughta (inmho) blow them out with some high load runs at the start and end of a trip. Eg; departing from Panama headed for Galapagos (5 day trip give or take) get the engines hot for 20 mins each day to avoid the glazing issue and give them a good run on the last couple of hours before arriving.

03-13-2008, 10:47 PM	#13
JHA Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 78	Larger diesels My experience has been with larger motor yachts. In one instance running Deutz 604BV12s and more recently 604BV16s it can be tremendously damaging to run at low RPMs. I had to replace (not personally but by the fine men at MSHS) 26 of 32 cylinder kits on the BV16s at a HUGE expense to the boss to avoid catastrophic failure... all because the previous captain ran the engines below the RPMs that were prescribed by the manufacturer. By the way I haven't been in the day-tripper / bahama cruiser mindset on this - You can run low RPMs but you oughta (inmho) blow them out with some high load runs at the start and end of a trip. Eg; departing from Panama headed for Galapagos (5 day trip give or take) get the engines hot for 20 mins each day to avoid the glazing issue and give them a good run on the last couple of hours before arriving.