Is there a perfect engine?

Discussion in 'Diesel Engines' started by Northwindii, Mar 6, 2016.

  1. powerabout
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    powerabout Senior Member

    Love to see that happen
     
  2. powerabout
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    powerabout Senior Member

    Perfect engine
    Hand cranked air cooled diesel
     
  3. FAST FRED
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    FAST FRED Senior Member

    "I've thought for quite a while how well the DD would take to some modernisation:
    -high pressure common rail
    -modern injectors
    -electronic timing control"

    Except for the air police where the 2 stroke exhaust is unacceptable.
     
  4. powerabout
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    powerabout Senior Member

    thats what they said about 2 stroke outboards now they are cleaner than 4 strokes
    PS all diesel exhaust is unacceptable so all now need SCR or any other post combustion treatment
     
  5. FAST FRED
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    FAST FRED Senior Member

    "PS all diesel exhaust is unacceptable so all now need SCR or any other post combustion treatment,"

    Unless like VW you want a more efficient engine. More power with less fuel wasted

    I have yet to understand why a diesel on the NJ Turnpike must have a cleaner exhaust than what flows in thru the intake.
     
  6. mydauphin
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    mydauphin Senior Member

    Diesels are very efficient if they are moving cargo, people etc.. They are very inefficient if you are just idling. The whole reason I have DD is because they have no electronics, turbos, or fancy injection system. I have my Powerstroke for that, and about once a year, it gets some bad gas and I spend 2 days getting it running again. The Poor truck has 400k miles, the last victim is the fuel gauge, which meant I ran out of diesel. What a slight nightmare compared to my DDs. Going back to efficiency, my old PS F-250. Has buried many cars, moved mountains and has consumed less fuel per pound carried than many a Prius. It all depends on what you use it for.
     
  7. powerabout
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    powerabout Senior Member

    I remember years ago in areas like LA (so cal) the air was so bad Ford was working on a catalysing coating to the radiator combined with the car engines clean emissions and they worked out the air coming out the back of the car would be cleaner than what it drove into.
    I guess the air quality improved so that issue went away?
    But maybe if a VW diesel was in front of you it might be needed again?
     
  8. FAST FRED
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    Location: Conn in summers , Ortona FL in winter , with big d

    FAST FRED Senior Member

    For those that notice LA air horrors , simply read

    R.H. Dania "2 Years Before the Mast .

    He details how the local Indians would avoid the LA basin and transit the area , but never stay there, overnight..

    1820? 30?
     
  9. powerabout
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    powerabout Senior Member

    cold inversion layer holds all the stuff in, same a Melbourne in Australia
    At least it forced the fix and now the air is "clean"
     
  10. kapnD
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    kapnD Senior Member

    This thread has turned into a DD fan club meeting!
    I'd still like to hear from the OP clarification of what boat/motor he is talking about.
    Just for the record, and totally off the topic, I am NOT a DD fan.
    I do not like them because of their tremendous bulk and weight, their nasty leaks, and their inefficient use of the diesel they guzzle. Their design is anything but straightforward and simple, so your average Joe cannot begin to do any work or troubleshooting on them.
     
  11. powerabout
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    powerabout Senior Member

    well...
    they are 1930's technology
    they made more DD's than any other engine will ever be made for some reason and are still making them...
    inlines in a boat could be mirror images of each other and even reverse rotation.
    They have multiple accessory drives to run just about anything off the timing case on either side.
    Common parts from 2 cyl to 16 cyl
    if you cant work on one then you have no hope on a modern emission engine
     
  12. mydauphin
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    mydauphin Senior Member

    And there unnecessary bulk means they can run forever unless you take them past 1 hp per cubic inch of output. If you stay at 75%, they will last 10,000 hours or more
     
  13. makobuilders
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    makobuilders Member

    kapnD, I think your conclusions are unwarranted. To follow on what was just stated above:

    • When's the last time a DD blew an injector pump? Never - doesn't have one
    • When's the last time a DD had one of its 18-24 inch long fuel lines leak? Never - they're only a few inches long and protected inside the valve cover
    • If you did happen to get water in the fuel and blow the tip off an injector, how long did it take to replace the entire unit injector? About 10 minutes
    • When you needed a critical spare part in Panama, Wake Island or Qatar, were you able to obtain it? Yes
    • Is the engine easier to work on than a modern electronic engine? Yes
    • Does it leak like a sieve? No. It has some drips but those are easy to manage
    • Is it heavy and large. Yes. It's supposed to be. In a trawler that is plus because it should be designed as part of the ballast, and how can you dislike 2.4 cubic inches per hp???
    • Is it loud? Yes. Seriously. Loved my DDs but hated the lack of modern sound insulation in my boat and the lack of a hospital grade muffler.
     
  14. makobuilders
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    makobuilders Member

    They made a single cylinder also, but it's impossible to find. So cool to see - check out Youtube
     

  15. FAST FRED
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    Location: Conn in summers , Ortona FL in winter , with big d

    FAST FRED Senior Member

    A boat at cruise will usually operate at 3 hp per ton.

    If you have a matchbox motor you can hold in your hand a ton (2240lbs) of reliable engine will cost an extra 1/5 of a gallon per hour.

    A price many willingly will pay for reliability.

    Esp the 200-500hr a year yachties where the cost of 100Gal of fuel is meaningless compared to a breakdown under way.
     
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