Our engineers have been working on an interesting engine in the workshop recently which I thought I’d share with you. The engine in question was sent to us by a marine operator for a full overhaul: nothing out of the ordinary there. The engine in question, however, IS out of the ordinary: A Cat 3126A with 2 valve cylinder heads and combined pump injectors. Caterpillar only made a few of these engines, and thanks to various issues with timing,...

Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen an increased number of operators in the UK marine sector get in contact for help with their propulsion and generator diesel engines. And – unusually – it’s not because they’re experiencing more complications. Instead, it’s because the lockdown and travel restrictions are making it difficult for UK operators to use support companies from overseas; in many cases, it’s simply not an option. Clearly we all want...

Our engineers have just come back from attending an emergency generator with a Deutz BF6M 1013E engine that had reported fuel in the oil. During this attendance, our engineers were really surprised in what they found, and once again provided an example of the benefits of carrying out thorough engine checks. This engine is a standby set, so it’s rarely used, with just 53 hours on the clock. Despite this, it was emitting smoke so thick that the...

How are you finding things with the COVID-19 restrictions in place? Whilst there are more than enough trials for those having to adjust to being constrained at home, you’ll also be aware of the challenges of supporting critical engines which are still relied on, even with the UK’s partial lockdown. In case you haven’t seen, we’ve put together a completely free 24-hour technical hotline on +44 1206 645070, where we will work with you to rectify...

Last week, while one of the engineers was changing the coolant pump and oil cooler on a #Caterpillar 3412, he came across some further issues that couldn’t be ignored. Even with travel restrictions in place, the UK #oilandgasindustry is managing mobilisations with additional pre-flight checks to enable work on their critical equipment, but even with increased pressures, corner-cutting only results in problems. To remove the coolant pump, the...

You’ll be fully aware of the advice from the World Health Organisation in the fight against COVID-19: The key message is to keep your hands and environment clean and keep your distance from others where possible. We would never profess to be health experts and offer health advice (engines and mechanical equipment is our thing in case you hadn’t realised!), but when our engineers recently attended a tugboat they saw a classic example of...