Isuzu Engine Wanted.

[vindyboy]

Hi just asking if anyone has for sale an Isuzu 3KC 18EA Engine for sale.

 

Just purchased a 45 foot Trad with a non running engine. Compression is down, engine turns over A okay but will not start. Looking at a rebuild, however just wondered if there was one ready to drop in as a replacement.

Thanks.

[LadyG]

I would ring around some engine agents, they may replace one with another, but I think they keep some in their sheds, just in case. 

[vindyboy]

Okay, thank you.

 

[MtB]

Its usually very difficult to find a second hand engine of an exact make and model. Places to look would be apolloduck, motorboats and outboards, ebay. A better bet IMV is to call around the engine reconditioners for an exchange base engine.

 

But all this is jumping the gun. When a diesel won't start, you need to find out why before just assuming it needs a rebuild. What if you get a new second hand engine and that won't start either, once installed in the boat?

 

Have you done a compression test as a starting point? Also when cranking it over, what comes from the exhaust? White, grey or dark coloured smoke? Or nothing at all? Have you checked fuel is arriving at the injectors by loosening the nuts?

[vindyboy]

Hi, Okay thanks.

 

Yes all checks have been carried out by two seperate engineers, both have tested compression and all 3 cylinders are showwing 100 psi, manual says should be around 240 psi so well down. . Basically we understand previous owner just lived on er and never left the marina. Suspecting rings are stuck or rusted, she seems to be blowing back. We know the fuel tank is contaminated. Engine may have not been started for years. Looks like we are going to have this engine rebuilt, just thought someone might have had a reconditioned one that we could have had a deal with. Engine will not even attempt to start on Easy start.

[MtB]

Yeah 100psi is way too low at starter motor cranking speeds for a diesel. Would probably run ok if started using Ezy-Start though.

 

People say not to but once an engine is that low on cranking compression, I can't see the harm frankly as starting it on ether could wring another five years out of it! 

Edited February 27, 2022 by MtB
Clarify.

[Tony Brooks]

10 minutes ago, MtB said:

Yeah 100psi is way too low at starter motor cranking speeds for a diesel. Would probably run ok if started using Ezy-Start though.

 

People say not to but once an engine is that low on cranking compression, I can't see the harm frankly as starting it on ether could wring another five years out of it! 

 

If what the OP says about the engine never running I think  I would get some penetrating oil/diesel/3:1 oil into the cylinders and let it soak for a couple of days before trying to start with Easystart. I can't do any arm and with a bit of luck, once its running, the heat may free the rings, if that is the cause of low compression.

[MtB]

3 hours ago, vindyboy said:

Looks like we are going to have this engine rebuilt, just thought someone might have had a reconditioned one that we could have had a deal with. Engine will not even attempt to start on Easy start.

 

This seems odd given 100psi cranking compression, I'd expect it to start. Probably need to clean up that contaminated fuel you mention.

 

But I notice you did not answer my question about  the colour of the emissions from the exhaust during cranking over. 

 

 

 

[MtB]

3 hours ago, vindyboy said:

just thought someone might have had a reconditioned one that we could have had a deal with.

 

You seem to think people here have reconditioned Isuzus lying around for want of a buyer! I think you're probably better off buying a new one given the work involved in rebuilding one properly. It always strikes me the only way to make good money out of 'reconditioning' a run-of-the-mill motor like an Isuzu profitably is to take quite a few short cuts. 

[vindyboy]

8 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

This seems odd given 100psi cranking compression, I'd expect it to start. Probably need to clean up that contaminated fuel you mention.

 

But I notice you did not answer my question about  the colour of the emissions from the exhaust during cranking over. 

 

 

 

 

[vindyboy]

Nothing coming out of the exhaust.

Engine has had fresh diesel from a seperate source, injectors bled off, still will not even cough not even with easy start.. Compression tests were carried out by 2 seperate mechanics and both tests show 100 psi.

Looking now to purchase a rebuild kit and strip and rebuild this engine.

[Tony Brooks]

2 minutes ago, vindyboy said:

Nothing coming out of the exhaust.

Engine has had fresh diesel from a seperate source, injectors bled off, still will not even cough not even with easy start.. Compression tests were carried out by 2 seperate mechanics and both tests show 100 psi.

Looking now to purchase a rebuild kit and strip and rebuild this engine.

 

Maybe price up a short motor and change the marine bits plus possibly the sump, head and end plates over.

 

If it really is just seized rings i would have thought it cheaper to draw the pistons and rods so you can break the rings out, clean the ring grooves, and fit new rings. At the same time you can assess the bore wear.

[vindyboy]

9 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

You seem to think people here have reconditioned Isuzus lying around for want of a buyer! I think you're probably better off buying a new one given the work involved in rebuilding one properly. It always strikes me the only way to make good money out of 'reconditioning' a run-of-the-mill motor like an Isuzu profitably is to take quite a few short cuts. 

I was asking if there was a recon engine maybee for sale. Thats all.

6 minutes ago, vindyboy said:

9 minutes ago, vindyboy said:

Funny enough, when it was checked yesterday 2nd opinion this has been done and he is going to attempt to try and start it again next Thursday. If no different he is going to remove engine and strip. inspect and rebuild.

 

 

44 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

 

If what the OP says about the engine never running I think  I would get some penetrating oil/diesel/3:1 oil into the cylinders and let it soak for a couple of days before trying to start with Easystart. I can't do any arm and with a bit of luck, once its running, the heat may free the rings, if that is the cause of low compression.

 

 

7 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

 

Maybe price up a short motor and change the marine bits plus possibly the sump, head and end plates over.

 

If it really is just seized rings i would have thought it cheaper to draw the pistons and rods so you can break the rings out, clean the ring grooves, and fit new rings. At the same time you can assess the bore wear.

 

[vindyboy]

You are most probably right. Bores have been oiled up and he is going to see if it makes any difference and try to start it again next Thursday.

[bizzard]

I'd use the original Redex ucl in the bores to free off piston rings, and will decoke piston crowns at the same time.

[vindyboy]

Yes, good advice. Thanks

[BEngo]

If you can, stuff a blowlamp or an electric heat gun up the air intake at the same time you attempt to start it.  If the compression temperature is too low to fire easy start (mainly di-ethyl ether which ignites at about 320F) some serious added heat is needed.  IIRC the ignition point of diesel is about 440F and you have to overcome he cooling effects of the inlet  and the cylinder walls.

 

N

[vindyboy]

Okay, will give it a try. Thank You.

[john.k]

Despite whats said...I worked for an engine rebuilders...and they had a huge warehouse full of recoed short and long motors of every kind ,shrink wrapped and waiting for a buyer.........They used to do car engines in runs of 1000,and would reco anything......when I was there they recoed a sleeve valve Willys Knight  Six.........and the owner couldnt afford to pay for it when he came to pick it up........One of the bosses got the car ,and its still running today.

[Athy]

7 hours ago, john.k said:

Despite whats said...I worked for an engine rebuilders...and they had a huge warehouse full of recoed short and long motors of every kind ,shrink wrapped and waiting for a buyer.........They used to do car engines in runs of 1000,and would reco anything......when I was there they recoed a sleeve valve Willys Knight  Six.........and the owner couldnt afford to pay for it when he came to pick it up........One of the bosses got the car ,and its still running today.

Is this company still in business? They could be just what the O.P. is looking for.

[MtB]

24 minutes ago, Athy said:

Is this company still in business? They could be just what the O.P. is looking for.

 

I wonder what the cost would be to deliver a recon engine from Australia to the UK, and the scrap unit the other way...

 

 

 

 

 

But an interesting observation from john.k, there must be firms here in the UK doing similar. An exchange recon unit will be MUCH easier to find as I suggested in post 4.

[john.k]

In UK, All Diesels might be a goer..........anyhoo,if the block and crank are in one piece ,reco the motor ...three cylinders are cheap to fix ...and easy to take out due to low weight .

[Alan de Enfield]

44 minutes ago, Athy said:

Is this company still in business? They could be just what the O.P. is looking for.

 

There was (is ?) a company advertising on ebay 'pre-used engines'. The photos show 100s of engines stacked in racking in a big warehouse, they are not 'car' engines, but 2, 3, & 4 cylinder commercial engines from diggers, dumpers, mowers, boats etc etc.

They are not re-conditioned, but guaranteed to start and run.

 

They had pretty much every make/manufacturer you could imagine, I had them saved in 'favourites' but they are there no longer.

[BEngo]

22 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

I wonder what the cost would be to deliver a recon engine from Australia to the UK, and the scrap unit the other way...

 

 

 

 

 

But an interesting observation from john.k, there must be firms here in the UK doing similar. An exchange recon unit will be MUCH easier to find as I suggested in post 4.

Reconditioning companies are very thin on the ground in UK. The cost of the labour, energy, etc. makes it uneconomic, except for specialist stuff, and the vintage market.  Go ask one of the big parts companies how many engine internal  parts they sell these days.   FPS Distribution aka Ferraris Piston Services now do negligible amounts of piston sales where once it was their bread and marg.  None of the car manufacturers any longer offers anything like the old BMC Gold Seal scheme either  and for a car, if you wreck the motor, the only way forward is either a scrap yard or a new engine ex factory.

 

That said, recon kits for the Isuzu CK series appear to be available on e-bay. The picture show pistons, liners bearing shells etc.   I note that the replacement liners are only semi finished so will need to be honed to final size.

 

N

[john.k]

If the boat is earning money running seven days a week,then swap motors........if a few weeks is neither here or there,rebuild your motor.....Its pretty simple to hoist a small motor out of a boat,especially a steel hull...just tack weld a bit of a gantry over the engine ,lift and swing aside.......most boaters would have no trouble dismantling a small motor on the deck...the crank is light enought to be an easy lift,same with the head,flywheel ,gearbox etc.....or leave the gearbox in situ ,if thats easier.

Just as a matter of interest,sea freight is astronomically expensive at the moment..................a container delivery that cost $2000 two years ago,now costs up the $25,000 for the same trip....The guy who has my yard now told me he was quoted $34,000 for a 40 ft container from Oz to the Emirates..........which makes his business uneconomic.