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ME445
Entry of Cooling Water into Lifeboat Engine Crankcase
Technical committee

Ship type Tanker

Date of build
Navigation route
Trouble machinery
Category Deck machinery
Name Lifeboat engine
Type Trunk piston type
Maker
Date of trouble May 2001

1. Outline of breakdown

a) In preparation of a trial operation of the lifeboat engine on this vessel, general-use fresh water was
supplied to the lifeboat cooling seawater line through a hose before starting the engine.
b) Cooling water flowed into the engine crankcase via the exhaust pipe and combustion chamber.
c) During an inspection of lubricating oil of the crankcase, emulsion oil was found.

2. Cause

The same pipe is use for the cooling seawater outlet pipe and the engine exhaust pipe. Before starting the
engine, exhaust gas pressure of the engine is equal to zero, thus allowing cooling water to flow back into
the exhaust pipe and into the engine. (See attached engine schematic diagram.)

3. Trouble Preventive Measures

1) To supply cooling water after engine is started.

2) Not to increase cooling water pressure beyond the necessary level.
3) When operating an engine on this vessel, to connect the suction side of the engine cooling pump to
a bucket filled with water via hose and to suck cooling water from the attached pump.

4. Special Remarks

1) Water also needs to be supplied to the cooling water line while the engine is operated in case of
washing the seawater line with fresh water after operating lifeboat on the sea.
2) Even when engine is operating, if excessively high-pressure cooling water is supplied to the cooling
water line, back-flow of cooling water can occur.
3) When a lifeboat engine is test-driven on this vessel, even it is for a short time, cooling water needs to
be supplied to protect the cooling water pump.
4) Lubricating oil used for a lifeboat engine is small in amount. Even if no special problem is observed,
it is desirable to replace lubricating oil at periodical intervals.

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Outline of Cooling Piping/Exhaust Pipe of Lifeboat