Causes of Engine Trouble

Please study the enclosed Ford owner’s manual thoroughly. In the following, we have assembled the chief facts about maintenance and adjustments, adding our own experiences. We often refer to the manual and recommend you to make yourself familiar with it, especially the
fault-finding chart. It may be very useful to know it well.

As a rule, surveying the engine performance, hatches opened, is a measure worth taking at times. Check for odd noise, fan belt, and possible water or oil leaks.

Also, check the tightness of the battery terminal clamps periodically. Poor contact may pass unnoticed until using the starter motor, which demands a great deal more current than most service circuits. Another reason for failing starting may be falling voltage due to an insufficient water level in the batteries.

In the checking lists of the manual and below, you will find what checks are to be made as regards oils and liquids. However, in general, one cannot check the engine oil, gearbox oil, cooling liquid, and battery water level too often. Evaporation in the batteries is higher in the
summer, or with constant charging.

One important cause of engine trouble is fan belt damage, which happens if the alternator bolts slip and the alternator pulley is out of line. Check, therefore, while the engine is running, that the fan belt runs straight in the groove and that the pulleys are in line.

Remember that proper tools can often be harder to find than qualified craftsmen.

Always keep the following spare parts on board:

  • Alternator fan belt
  • Seawater pump impeller
  • Oil filter
  • Fuel filter

On longer trips also:

  1. Injection pump nozzle
  2. Flexible fuel pipe or one spare fuel pipe with fitted connection pieces
  3. One set of engine gaskets (“top overhaul set”)

Special tools:

  1. Torque wrench
  2. Feeler gauges for adjusting valve clearance
  3. Cleaning brush for cables and battery terminal clamps
  4. Engine turning bar

IMPORTANT: Study the Ford manual SUMMARY OF REGULAR MAINTENANCE thoroughly, and note especially the “after first … hours” measures!