Stress-Free Engine Maintenance

Preface

1. Introduction
- Why you need to look after your engine
- Reasons for learning about your engine

2. Principles of the engine
- How a diesel and petrol engine works
- The difference between a diesel and a petrol engine
- What happens if you donât know the difference between a diesel and petrol engine
- Anecdote: Putting the wrong fuel into the tank
- Video: How diesel and petrol engines work

3. Fuel system
- Get to know your fuel system
- Looking after your fuel tank
- Tips on changing filters
- Common symptoms of fuel problems
- Anecdote: What happens if you do not look after your fuel
- Video: Different types of fuel and contaminated fuel
- Video: how to change a fuel filter

4. Cooling system
- Differences in types of cooling systems
- Getting to know your cooling system
- Tips on changing impellers and clearing blocked raw water systems
- Common causes of cooling problems
- Anecdote: What can happen when the cooling system fails
- Video: How to change an impeller and how to check cooling efficiency

5. Air systems
- Why air is important to your engine
- How your engine accesses air
- Common causes of air system problems
- Anecdote: What happens when your engine doesn't get enough air
- Video: How to change an air filter and air filter examples

6. Engine electrical systems
- The basic electrical system
- How to look after your electrics
- Common causes of electrical failure
- Anecdote: What happens if your electrics fail
- Video: Battery checks and the basic electrical system

7. Lubrication system
- Why lubricating is important
- What do we lubricate?
- How to look after your lubrication system
- Anecdote: What happens if you donât lubricate enough
- Video: Where to check oil levels and types of oil

8. Gear boxes and drives
- Shaft drive
- Stern drive
- Sail drive
- Azipod
- Outboard

9. Checklists
- Checks before starting your engine
- Checks once your engine is running
- How to protect your engine between visits
- Anecdote: What can happen if you forget to prepare your engine
- Video: The engine checks

10. Importance of servicing and winterising
- Minimum annual service requirements
- The importance of servicing your engine
- How to leave your engine unused for prolonged periods (winterising)
- Anecdote: What can happen if you donât look after your engine
- Video: Flushing out the cooling system

11. Most common causes of breakdown
- Types of breakdown
- Why breakdowns are more common on boats
- Tips on preventing breakdowns occurring

12. How to troubleshoot a breakdown situation
- Symptoms of different engine faults
- What are the most common causes of these faults
- Tips on how to diagnose engine faults
- Anecdote: Examples of causes of breakdowns
- Video: Failed engine parts

13. Spares and tools
- Why do we need spares?
- What should we keep as spare parts?
- Anecdote: What can happen if you keep the wrong parts onboard
- Video: Showing examples of spares to keep