Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 17-12-2018, 12:02   #1
Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Mallacoota
Boat: Lakes Cruiser 28ft
Posts: 9
Perkins 4.108 Engine Trouble

Hi everyone, I need your help my perkins 4.108 just stopped in the middle of the lake in a choppy day and had to be rescued by the coast guard.

Here is the lead up to the failure.... Engine starts with no trouble but lately it still started but seemed to fire on one cylinder for a few seconds and then all others kick in.

On the day of the breakdown I was returning to the jetty and it was rather choppy the boat shook and tilted and bounced up and down. I had been travelling for nearly an hour then all of a sudden the engine started to slow then DEAD. 2 hours after the rescue and when safe and tied up to the home jetty it started with no trouble and started the next day and will run with not chocking or miss-beat. My theory is the water was in the tank and after shaking up the water mixed into the fuel or the old girl is loosing compression when running for a while - any thoughts and advice please - k
bombayfonz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17-12-2018, 20:53   #2
Senior Cruiser

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: May 2013
Location: Oregon to Alaska
Boat: Wheeler Shipyard 83' ex USCG
Posts: 3,494
Re: Perkins 4.108 Engine Trouble

Debris more likely, a clogged filter, or air in the lines. Firing on 1 cylinder, or less than 4 is usually air in the lines. A slowing engine is usually starving of fuel. In the tank, the pickup can slowly clog, but when the engine stops and the pump is no longer sucking fuel, the vacuum drops and releases the debris. Or the fuel filter is clogged. If you have a primary with a bowl you would see the water if any. There are cheaper filters with a bowl. Bigger boats use dual filters so a new one is ready to go.

If you add a vacuum gauge between the primary filter and the lift pump, you can see as your filter gradually clogs. Mine starts at zero and gradually climbs. With experience I can tell how soon I need to change filters.

If you don't want surprise fuel problems you should add a diesel stabilizer/biocide every fueling and use a Racor type primary filter. In 60 years on the water, I've never had a fuel problem. But fixed fuel problems for many others.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	Diesel-Fuel-Filter-Spin-On.jpg
Views:	145
Size:	30.2 KB
ID:	182404   Click image for larger version

Name:	Racor-dual.jpg
Views:	115
Size:	39.3 KB
ID:	182405  

Lepke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-12-2018, 01:45   #3
Registered User
 
GrowleyMonster's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: New Orleans
Boat: Bruce Roberts 44 Ofshore
Posts: 2,841
Re: Perkins 4.108 Engine Trouble

Check your fuel tank vent.


Very likely either air leaking into the lines, or debris clogging the fuel pickup. Thinking big flake of rust, or similar. Water? Yeah, maybe. Do you have just a single tank? What sort of filter setup do you have? Nice to be able to see the fuel. As Lepke said, duplex filters are a VERY good idea, on any single engine boat where you rely heavily on the engine. Turn a couple of valves, and you are running on a fresh filter and can drain, change, or inspect the offline filter. A most highly recommended upgrade, that.
__________________
GrowleyMonster
1979 Bruce Roberts Offshore 44, BRUTE FORCE
GrowleyMonster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-12-2018, 01:51   #4
Registered User

Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Nice, France
Boat: Hunter Marine 38
Posts: 1,342
Re: Perkins 4.108 Engine Trouble

What posters 2 and 3 already said. A very rough ride stirrs up all the sh*t on the bottom of the tank. It then clogs the wire mesh at the fuel pickup tube. Engine starves for lack of fuel. Then no more suction, all the debris is no longer held in place by the suction and falls off. Engine starts without s problem.
Tank cleaning is best solution, using biocide is next best.
sailormed is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-12-2018, 09:37   #5
Registered User

Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Southport, NC
Boat: Pearson 367 cutter, 36'
Posts: 654
Re: Perkins 4.108 Engine Trouble

Quote:
Originally Posted by sailormed View Post
What posters 2 and 3 already said. A very rough ride stirrs up all the sh*t on the bottom of the tank. It then clogs the wire mesh at the fuel pickup tube. Engine starves for lack of fuel. Then no more suction, all the debris is no longer held in place by the suction and falls off. Engine starts without s problem.
Tank cleaning is best solution, using biocide is next best.
I had a similar experience in June - I got knocked around big time coming out of Beaufort inlet. I stupidly failed to check my fuel filter the next day, and the engine stopped about 15 miles from home. Luckily, I was able to sail into Masonboro Inlet and onto the ICW to get to an anchorage. The strange thing in your case is I did not hear you say you drained water from the Racor or changed the filter. Filters don't clear on their own.

Anyway, as a result of my experience, I installed dual Racors, and an electric pump to allow fuel polishing while underway.
AJ_n_Audrey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-12-2018, 09:40   #6
Registered User
 
FionaJC's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: East Coast UK
Boat: Colvic 40' Ketch
Posts: 277
Re: Perkins 4.108 Engine Trouble

Its just a thought but I have heard of a diaphram going on the fuel pump of a Perkins 4107 /4108 and causing issues.
FionaJC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-12-2018, 09:44   #7
Registered User

Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 37
Re: Perkins 4.108 Engine Trouble

I had similar issues with my Perkins 4.154. Others are right: most likely debris in the tank. Mine had a strum box that had gone to pieces years earlier and filled the tank with FG shards. Cleaned out the tank and polished the fuel - no issues.
JDanielBryant is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-12-2018, 11:22   #8
Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Mallacoota
Boat: Lakes Cruiser 28ft
Posts: 9
Re: Perkins 4.108 Engine Trouble

Thank You Lepke, excellent advice - much appreciated k
bombayfonz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-12-2018, 11:29   #9
Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Mallacoota
Boat: Lakes Cruiser 28ft
Posts: 9
Re: Perkins 4.108 Engine Trouble

Thank you all ever so much - the boat is moored in a remote part of SE Australia (Mallacoota) and very few people with inboard diesels leave alone a perkins. People down there are extremely helpful but little experience in these matters.

Great advise from all - thanks again - k

Enjoy your winter - our boating season is just starting.
bombayfonz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-12-2018, 17:34   #10
Registered User

Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: PNW
Boat: Bruce Roberts Ketch 40
Posts: 477
Re: Perkins 4.108 Engine Trouble

Check your fuel filters 1st.
Maka is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-12-2018, 19:55   #11
Registered User
 
01kiwijohn's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Tacoma, Washington, USA
Boat: Casacde 36
Posts: 596
Images: 1
Re: Perkins 4.108 Engine Trouble

Quote:
Originally Posted by FionaJC View Post
Its just a thought but I have heard of a diaphram going on the fuel pump of a Perkins 4107 /4108 and causing issues.
That can be however, you will notice the engine "making oil" as that progressively fails.
01kiwijohn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-12-2018, 05:17   #12
Registered User

Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Tarpon Springs fl
Boat: Morgan 384/ 1982
Posts: 378
Images: 3
Re: Perkins 4.108 Engine Trouble

Check That fuel pick up screen on the very end of your fuel pick up tube !
Clean that Tank . Remove the fuel , Rag and stick to make a large swab and scrape clean that tank bottom . I have a 4 108 and have been thu all this. . I replaced the fuel hose and added a electric fuel pump right before the manual fuel pump . !
New fuel add the the enzyme fuel additive .
For the electric fuel pump i got power from the key switch. Put new fuel filter in too .
stnick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-02-2019, 13:19   #13
Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Mallacoota
Boat: Lakes Cruiser 28ft
Posts: 9
Re: Perkins 4.108 Engine Trouble

Thanks Lepke and all the others - I will get one of those duel filters. The engine only runs one weekend every month for about 4 to 5 hours each time on the lake. More in the summer months. I did post on how to bleed the system on an earlier model 4.108 - I will be replacing the filter it is of the insert type - i'm told it is near impossible to bleed when you change the filter - any advice will be much appreciated - K
bombayfonz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-02-2019, 01:58   #14
Senior Cruiser

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: May 2013
Location: Oregon to Alaska
Boat: Wheeler Shipyard 83' ex USCG
Posts: 3,494
Re: Perkins 4.108 Engine Trouble

Get a 12v pump to install inline. It makes bleeding and filter changes easy. Install it between the primary filter and existing lift pump. This one is AU $35 on ebay.au and does 150l/h, so filling a filter will go quickly. You don't have to have a dual racor, just a good primary filter that separates out water. Primary is usually 30 micron and secondary (filter housing on the engine) is usually 10 micron. Use a good fuel conditioner.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Universa...OuMz:rk:1:pf:0
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	fuel pump1.jpg
Views:	84
Size:	96.9 KB
ID:	185172  
Lepke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-02-2019, 09:49   #15
Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Mallacoota
Boat: Lakes Cruiser 28ft
Posts: 9
Re: Perkins 4.108 Engine Trouble

Thanks again Lepke - where would the power be connected to ?? the alternator or ignition ? - never heard of this gadget before - what if the engine cranks over but does not start will the engine get flooded?? - we learn every day - k
bombayfonz is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
engine, perkins

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Perkins 4-108 vs Westerbeke 4-108 world spectator Engines and Propulsion Systems 14 15-08-2010 17:33
For Sale: Perkins 4.108 Diesel Engine Spare Parts katwynne Classifieds Archive 0 02-10-2009 05:35
Perkins 4-108 engine needed. sailboatvern Classifieds Archive 1 25-06-2008 14:28

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:23.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.