NW Explorations
DREAM CATCHER OPERATING MANUAL
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37
4J2: Checking the Engine
The engines require a regular, daily check, since once underway, you will
probably not check them while in use, tucked away as they are in the engine
room. Please perform this check each morning (when the engine room is
cool!):
Check the Oil
The oil level should be between the two marks on the dipstick located on
the inboard forward side of each engine. The stick “pulls out” upward. Use a
paper towel from the roll provided, wipe the stick, reinsert, and take reading;
since the dipsticks are quite long, handle them carefully, guiding them so they
are not bent!
The distance between the two marks is about 1.5 quarts. Add
only enough oil to bring it up above the “add” mark, say a quart, using the
oil provided on the boat. The oil fill on each engine is a T-handle cap on the
inboard valve covers. Unscrew the T-handle a few turns, then pull the cap up.
Be sure to secure the caps when re-installing by moderately tightening their t
handles!
If oil is required often, check under the engine carefully to be sure there is no
oil leak, and if there is, have it corrected promptly.
Check the Coolant Level
The heat exchanger coolant tanks are located forward of each engine. Be
sure coolant is at or above the “Low-Add” line when cold. If coolant is
needed, determine if there is any sign of a coolant leak under the engine,
and if there is, do not run the engine; if no leak, add coolant from the jug of
pre-mixed antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor/water supplied on the boat. With
the engine “cold”, add only to a level above the line, no more: The coolant expands and fills the tank when the engine
gets warm!
Check the Room
Whenever you’re in the engine room, ask yourself, “Does everything look right?”. Look at the pads under the engines and
transmissions: while some drips are normal, there shouldn’t ever be substantial accumulations of any fluids!
Check the Sea Strainers
Once a week or immediately if any engine (either generator, or the mains)
runs “hot”. The main engine strainers are is by the forward end of each
engine. The 20kw genset strainer is in the aft end of the engine room, and
the 8kw strainer is forward of the starboard engine; follow the hoses from
the generators to their respective strainers. The air conditioning sea strainer
is at the bottom of the engine room just aft of the workbench (the hose leads
to the large pump.)
To check a strainer, shine a flashlight through it. While some “fuzziness” from
trapped thin growth is normal, you should see the light clearly on the other
side; if obscured, you should clean the strainer. See below page 4.41.
4J3: Engine Controls
Dream Catcher is fitted with Morse cable engine controls. There are main
engine controls at both helms.
Starboard engine dipstick (fill is on
valve cover aft end.)
Starboard engine’s Coolant Tank
Sea strainers just forward of the port engine.
Only one is in use; the other is capped. The most
important strainers are those for the engines in
front of each, and for the gensets, below them in
the hull, plus the air conditiong strainer.