Volvo Diesel Engine Starting, Operation And Shutdown

This article mainly talks about Volvo diesel engine starting, operation and shutdown.

Starting

Make it a habit of giving the engine and engine room a visual check before starting. This will help you to discover quickly if anything abnormal has happened, or is about to happen.

Also check that instruments and warning displays show normal values after you have started the engine.

WARNING!

Never use start spray or similar agents to start an engine. This may cause an explosion in the inlet manifold. Danger of personal injury.

Before Starting

• Check that the oil level is between the MIN and MAX marks. Refer to the “Maintenance, lubrication system” chapter.

• Open the fuel taps.

• Check that no oil, fuel or coolant leaks are present.

• Check the air filter pressure drop indicator. Refer to the “Maintenance, Engine, general” chapter:

• Check the coolant level and that the radiator is not clogged externally. Refer to the “Maintenance, cooling system” chapter:

WARNING!

Do not open the expansion tank cap when the engine is hot. Steam or hot fluid may spray out.

• Switch on the main electrical power.

IMPORTANT!

Never disconnect power with the main switch(es) when the engine is running. This can damage the alternator.

• Set the engine speed control to idle, and disengage the clutch/gearbox.

Starting the Engine

The engine control lever must always be in neutral before starting. The EDC 4 system makes sure the engine receives the correct amount of fuel even during cold starts.

Start the engine.

Adapt the preheating period to suit engine temperature if the engine is fitted with preheating.

Starting in Extreme Cold

Certain preparations must be made to enable engine starting in extreme cold, and in some cases to make starting possible at all:

• Use a winter grade fuel (of a well-known make) that is approved for the prevailing temperature. This reduces the risk of paraffin wax precipitation in the fuel system. At extremely low temperatures, we recommend the use of a fuel heater.

•  Use a synthetic engine oil of a viscosity recommended for the prevailing temperature to achieve satisfactory lubrication. Refer to Viscosity page 58. Synthetic lubricants are able to handle a wider temperature range than mineral based lubricants.

• Pre-heat the coolant with a separately-installed electric engine heater. In extreme cases, a diesel fired engine heater may be necessary. Ask your Volvo Penta dealer for advice.

• Make sure the cooling system is filled with a glycol mixture. Refer to Maintenance page 44.

• The batteries must be in good condition. Cold weather reduces battery capacity. Increased battery capacity may be necessary.

Never Use Start Spray

WARNING!

Never use start spray or similar agents to start an engine. This may cause an explosion in the inlet manifold. Danger of personal injury.

Starting Using Auxiliary Batteries

WARNING!

Explosion hazard. Batteries contain and give off an explosive gas which is highly flammable and explosive. A short circuit, open flame or spark could cause a violent explosion. Ventilate well.

1 Check that the auxiliary batteries are connected (series or parallel) so that the rated voltage corresponds to the engine system voltage.

2 First connect the red (+) jumper cable to the auxiliary battery, then to the flat battery. Then connect the black (-) jumper cable to the auxiliary battery and to a location that is somewhere away from the discharged battery, e.g. the main switch negative terminal or the negative terminal on the starter motor.

3 Start the engine.

WARNING!

Do not touch the connections during the start attempt: Risk of arcing.

Do not bend over any of the batteries either.

4 Remove the cables in the reverse order.

IMPORTANT!

The ordinary cables to the standard batteries must not be loosened under any circumstances.

Operation

Correct operating technique is very important for both fuel economy and engine life. Always let the engine warm up to normal operating temperature before operating at full power. Avoid sudden throttle openings and operation at high engine rpm.

Reading the Instruments

Check all instruments directly after starting, and then regularly during operation.