Engine trouble during the sailing season is inconvenient, costly and potentially a risk to the safety of everyone onboard. The good news is that breakdowns and issues with any modern marine diesel engine can be virtually eliminated with preventive maintenance and regular servicing – tasks which are best completed when winterizing your boat. A few hours spent on crucial processes, checks and inspections before you leave the boat on the hard or in the water during the colder months will ensure your engine is ready for a hassle-free launch in the spring and a smooth, carefree season.
At VETUS, we have decades of experience in engineering onboard systems, including the development of a complete range of certified marine diesel engines, designed to ensure reliable propulsion.
Applicable to VETUS engines and for integration with many other brands, VETUS also offers ‘Around the Engine’ accessories, supporting boaters with a complete marine engine set-up including key auxiliary and ancillary systems.
Whether you have a VETUS engine or another brand onboard, VETUS recommends several important steps when winterizing your boat to keep your diesel engine running season after season.
If possible, complete the initial checks on the engine while the boat is afloat as problems are more easily located when the engine is running in the water.
There are several key tasks to prioritize during an effective engine winterization procedure. However, VETUS also recommends devoting sufficient time to fully service the engine before lift-out or lay-up at the end of each season, or approximately every 100 hours.
Before you leave the boat for the winter, the engine should have clean fuel, fresh oil, new filters, a cooling system prepared for storage and properly maintained battery. All engine components should be inspected and openings (including air inlet, exhaust outlets) covered to keep damp air out. Any required repairs must be noted for attention and make sure you remove the seals when you return in the spring.
It is crucial that clean fuel is always going into your engine. During the winter, condensation can build up with the fuel. The fuel filter on the engine separates out the water and the dirt to ensure there is clean fuel in your engine, so it is vital you change your fuel filters regularly. If the water gets beyond the filter, it can result in rusting on the fuel injection pump which is very expensive to replace.
Before the winter, first remove and check the primary fuel filter, changing the seals if necessary, and then check the secondary fuel filter. Bleed the fuel system of air and check the fuel filters for leaks around their seals.
The engine is reliant upon clean oil for lubrication. Winter condensation can again be a problem, as it can form on the inside of the engine block and mix with the oil and any sulphur present from the combustion process. Changing the oil filter so that fresh oil sits in the engine over winter ensures there is no risk of sulphuric acid forming which can damage the metal inside the engine.
During the winterization process, warm up the engine to thin the oil and make suction easier and then drain the oil from the engine. Remove and replace the oil filter, placing a small amount of new oil on the sealing ring. Fill the engine with fresh oil.
It is important to winterize the engine’s cooling system. Antifreeze or coolant guards against frost damage, but also contains rust and corrosion inhibitors to protect the inside of the engine.
With a closed-circuit cooling system, check the fluid level in the coolant tank and top up the antifreeze.
Boats with a raw water-cooled engine should have the engine flushed through with a 50-50 mix of fresh water and antifreeze. This can be done on the hard, using a hose to feed the antifreeze mixture through the raw water intake on the outside of the hull, or in the water, ensuring you shut off the engine when the raw water system is full of antifreeze.
If necessary, clean the raw water strainer and check the seal between the lid and housing after reassembling the strainer to prevent air being sucked in by the raw water pump.
Modern diesel engines rely on a starter motor and a battery to start the engine. To make sure your battery is in good condition over the winter months, disconnect the battery cables, remove the battery and charge it fully so that you have enough power to start your boat in the spring.
Further additional engine winterization and service steps are also recommended, including:
Inspect your fuel tank and check for any evidence of diesel bug. It is a good idea to fill the tank to the top to discourage growth of diesel bug. A fuel additive can be used to stabilize the fuel during storage.
Change the raw water impeller if worn or misshapen.
Remove and check the alternator drive belt. A sign of a worn belt is black dust all around the area of the alternator. Replace if necessary and re-tension after an hour of running.
Check the seawater strainer and clean out any weed to prevent debris getting as far as the water pump.
Check the condition of the prop and shaft for wear, damage and corrosion.
Clean the engine controls with fresh water and lubricate the control levers.
*This is a guide only. Please refer to specific guidelines from the manufacturer when carrying out engine maintenance.
Built to improve comfort and pleasure onboard, VETUS’s certified marine diesel engines are suitable for a diverse range of boats.
Benefits of owning a VETUS engine include reliability, high quality, fuel efficiency, safety and sound reduction, with in-house development and marinization for optimal performance.
The VETUS reputation for system innovation provides further advantages. These include a unique water-cooled, aluminum top cover that significantly reduces temperatures by absorbing radiant heat to improve the combustion of the engine. The sturdy top cover with an air-filter housing reduces the sound level of your engine and also serves as a convenient step.
A VETUS engine also brings easy installation and minimal maintenance, meaning more time on the water and lower maintenance costs. All the maintenance parts, such as fuel filters, relays, impellers and oil filters, are on one side of the engine for easy access. The wiring placement offers easy connection and extra safety, while fuel filter replacement is more convenient due to VETUS’s self-bleeding fuel system.
The complete VETUS range includes M-Line, H-Line and D-Line engines, as follows:
Exceling in power, torque, reliability and fuel efficiency, the VETUS M-Line engines are ideal for yachts, canal boats and cabin cruisers up to 52HP. They are available in 12 different models, with or without saildrive.
VETUS H-Line engines are robust, durable and reliable, exhibiting remarkably low noise and vibration levels. Coming in 63HP and 80HP versions, they feature superior power-to-weight and fuel efficiency, ideal for diverse application, ranging from cabin boats and small fishing vessels to large canal boats.
Ideal for long-distance cruising and heavy displacement boats, the D-Line engines offer smooth performance at low rpm. The D-Line is available in four different versions from 122HP to 210HP.
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