- Joined
- Jun 16, 2005
- RO Number
- 17851
- Messages
- 1
Last week on our cruise through the Gulf Islands to Victoria and back, our starboard engine lost power and shut down twice. We have 3208AT Caterpillars, which each draw from their own tank through Racors. On both occasions, the problem happened shortly after some very quick pitching after running through much heavier than usual seas. Both times we were at 1600 rpm, the engine started to run roughly, lost power and quit.
Both times, because we were rather close to our destinations, I simply continued on one engine until a few minutes before going alongside the float, then tried to flashed-up the dead engine to manoeuvre. Both times it started immediately and ran smoothly until we were secured alongside and I shut it down. Both times, the Racors were clean.
I am suspecting that there is some sludge in the bottom of the starboard tank that kicks-up and clogs the intake line. Does this seem a reasonable explanation? Or is there something else I should consider before committing money to the problem?
Both times, because we were rather close to our destinations, I simply continued on one engine until a few minutes before going alongside the float, then tried to flashed-up the dead engine to manoeuvre. Both times it started immediately and ran smoothly until we were secured alongside and I shut it down. Both times, the Racors were clean.
I am suspecting that there is some sludge in the bottom of the starboard tank that kicks-up and clogs the intake line. Does this seem a reasonable explanation? Or is there something else I should consider before committing money to the problem?