[null, {"document_url": "http://bettiedelmar.blogspot.com/2012/01/girls-guide-to-diesel-engines.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-luOFeWzMxmU/Twxq1vQgMPI/AAAAAAAAANo/ZC2OowCuVsI/s320/engine+.jpg", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-luOFeWzMxmU/Twxq1vQgMPI/AAAAAAAAANo/ZC2OowCuVsI/s320/engine+.jpg", "formatted_filename": "engine", "rendered_width": 239, "rendered_height": 320}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://bettiedelmar.blogspot.com/2012/01/girls-guide-to-diesel-engines.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RPvvwDE_uZk/UQV1HLZPAAI/AAAAAAAACXc/B-TNDgZ-54E/s190/photo-17.JPG", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RPvvwDE_uZk/UQV1HLZPAAI/AAAAAAAACXc/B-TNDgZ-54E/s190/photo-17.JPG", "formatted_filename": "photo", "alt_text": "Howdy!", "rendered_width": 133, "rendered_height": 190}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://bettiedelmar.blogspot.com/2012/01/girls-guide-to-diesel-engines.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hdSjLDKZtp8/UEs-t9Me_RI/AAAAAAAABiE/F4AFVdEiRUQ/s190/E15.jpg", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hdSjLDKZtp8/UEs-t9Me_RI/AAAAAAAABiE/F4AFVdEiRUQ/s190/E15.jpg", "alt_text": "We'd love to hear from you", "rendered_width": 150, "rendered_height": 94}, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null]

A Girl's Guide to Diesel Engines I'll be completely honest. I don't know squat about diesel engines. I can turn it on and off, and I think I can point out where the alternator is. But if our beloved Yanmar 3GM quit working, my solution would be to hit it with a wrench. Thank goodness Vlad's here or the thing would be covered in chipped paint.

I've noticed that many liveaboard women out there are in the same boat, so to speak. Whenever engine troubles or maintenance issues come up, we often turn to someone else - usually our dudes - to fix it. I realize that's a complete and total generalization, but for most women and a lot of men, too, this is foreign territory. And wouldn't it be nice to actually figure out how this stuff works? I mean, what is this engine business all about anyway?

In order to answer my own question and to maybe help out other mechanical neophytes, I'm going to write a series of weekly posts exploring the diesel engine, routine maintenance and common problems. I know I'm calling it a "girl's" guide, but obviously anybody who's new to engine work might find it useful and possibly even entertaining, especially when I start throwing wrenches.
Posted by Bettie del Mar at 8:45 AM