Diesel engines/exhaust/fuel question

Diesels are made to work under a load. If you are "easy" on the throttle there is a good chance of the cylinders glazing over.
 
Running diesels at idle for 15 minutes does no good, they probably wont really get to proper operating temp. Ditto 5 minute warm up before leaving slip, all that does is pi$$ of neighbors. Start 'em and go at low bow down load till the temp gauges come off the pegs then add load.
 
To answer part of the original question, get spare filters and make sure you know how to swap them. Take it out and run it hard on calm water first. If you have racors with clear bowls check them for water periodically. When you are all done and docked pull the racors and examine them. If all is well, next time go out in some rougher water and mix things up while repeating the checks during and after.
 
Running at the dock is worse than not running in my opinion. You don't get a load on the engines and don't really get them to loaded operating temps where you burn out oil in the rings, nor do you get the moisture out of the oil. Better to prep for non use than run ad idle at the dock. Better to put in fresh oil with a fresh corrosion package and not start the engines so that you don't degrade that additive package. Your engines will be much happier that way.

Go do the Italian tune up.

Also, polishing fuel does not restore what is lost, it just removes. This is exactly why I don't store full tanks. If you believe in condensation, which in rainy Pacific Northwest I have never experienced, I would much rather polish an empty tank in the spring and top off with fresh fuel, than polish a full tank with little ability to get rid of the old fuel.

Go run those engines!
 
100% agree with Ghost. When running a diesel engine doesn't matter if is on truck boat or generator etc. You must loaded. Years ago I had a gentleman was telling me he always used his 12 Kw diesel generator just to use the battery charger. I look at the hourmeter and show three hundred some hours. And the generator was not getting to speed to produce electricity. Well what happen was so much carbon on the heads which was clogging the fuel intake etc. Please when you want run your boat engine go out do not idle on dock. When you run your genny loaded the maximum you can. And make sure you use the right aditives.
 
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