Auto-Rx + JD turbo diesel

[TomServo]

My dad's boat has a pair of john deere turbo diesels - inline 4 cyl models. His portside motor's not running as well as the starboard, they both have new turbos, new fuel filters, recent oilchanges, and the injectors are all fine (ie the portside motor runs the same with the starboard motor's injectors, and the starboard runs the same with the portside injectors). At full throttle, the difference is like 200-250 RPM - the portside motor also has a newly rebuilt head. We were thinking of trying auto-rx in it, but as it's a boat engine, what sort of duration would be reccomended? I was thinking of taking the 1500 miles, divided by an average of say 60mph and going with that number of run hours or a bit more?

These #@$%! things hold 14 quarts of oil so it's going to take a lot of auto-rx...

Is it safe to use auto-rx in 'red' diesel?

 

[Rick20]

I would think that running 25 hours would provide a good cleaning cycle duration. That would mean most of it being at a work load higher than idle speeds for most of the 25 hours.

So I take it at maximum throttle the vessel wants to steer left. That is annoying.

Forgive my ignorance, What do you mean by "red" diesel?

 

[Strjock81]

I have used ARX in farm tractor engines, including a turbocharged Deere 239ci I-4 diesel, I never really have noticed any drastic differences, but there may not have been much for it to do, as they always had regular oil changes with good brand oils.

I would venture to guess that the ARX application will do absolutely nothing to solve your problem in this case. Most of the problems ARX can take care of are not oging to slow the engine down 250 RPMS unless it is so sludged up nothing can move.

My best guess is

A) Injection Pump needs work or adjustment--A worn out IP can cause the engine to run poorly or with less power/ revs than normal

B) The rebuilt head has something to do with it, be it valve adjustment, etc

Surely the ARX treatment will not hurt anything, but like you said, it costs a lot to treat 14 qts of oil, and it is very likely NOT the problem. If this engine has had regular oil changes with good name brand oil, I would save the money for the IP rebuild.

 

[Rick20]

I was thinking more in the line of a dirty ring pack or two leading to less efficient combustion in the lagging motor. Provided that the rings are wornout I would think this would be worth a shot. I would think that two bottles would be sufficient to run a cleaning cycle in the port side motor.

Strjock81, Is there a method of testing the injector pump for performance, such as pressure guage. I would think that a comparison of injector pump performance between the two motors would pan out this theory.

 

[TomServo]

Thanks, guys! I wasn't sure if it'd help to use the auto-rx - I'll ask dad if he's tested the injector pump. I'll let him know it may not help also. I know he's concerned one of the new turbos may not be boosting the proper amount.

strjock-81: that's probably the engines that are in the boat - i think they're rated at about 160HP?

rick: off-road diesel or stained diesel.. no road taxes on it but it's got a red dye to identify it

 

[ebaker]

Maybe the boost pressure isn't equal.

 

[Strjock81]

TomServo:

A good diesel tech should be able to test IP pressures pretty easily. It could be as simple as dirty/worn injectors or could require a pump rebuild. At this point in time you're looking at process of elimination, and the fuel system sounds like the first place you ought to be looking.

The turbo issue never really crossed my mind, but I suppose that is a possibility as well. But unless that one motor is blowing black smoke(unburnt fuel) then I would probably look elsewhere. Air and fuel filters all up to date?

 

[Rick20]

With all that has been corrected with the starboard motor, new head, injectors, etc., for less than 50 bucks I would still consider ARX and a possible dirty ring pack issue. The plus side would be the elimination of this possibility and a good cleansing will more than likely add to expected life for the motor.

 

[Strjock81]

No doubt the ARX will not hurt anything and can only help. Still think you're barking up the wrong tree, but you never know.

My money is on the fuel system.

 

[Rick20]

Port side engine head was rebuilt or replaced. Good chance that the portside motor was running very poorly before, still a good chance that this motor was gunked up, cleaning make pretty good sense to me.

 

[TomServo]

It's kind of a moot point, dad's selling the boat (already has a different one)...

The head didn't "need" to be rebuilt, but my dad tends to nip these things in the bud - until it gets too expensive... he's probably put $15000 in fixing the engines in this boat already. Time to move on. The engine was running approximately the same before the head was rebuilt, I seem to recall it gained about 100 rpm or so.

 

[Frank]

Tom Servo- Auto-Rx is safe in red diesel we have done several boat engines and many diesel turbos. Since i guarantee your satisfaction with Auto-Rx or your money back why not try it?
go to www.auto-rx.com and type in what you need to know on web page search engine. Hope to hear from you.

 

[Rick20]

Frank,
I think the boat is up on the selling blocks as is, they have already purchased a new boat. May be the recently purchased unit is a candidate for ARX.

 

[TomServo]

Nah the new boat is a much smaller Twin-Vee 19' with a honda 135... and he bought a second one with only 200 hours on it.
I'll be using the auto-rx for a run in my transmission, and a second run in my engine... then regular maintenance doses.