Diesel Troubleshooter by Don Seddon

I drive a diesel powered four-wheel-drive vehicle which smokes away and grumbles along at a surprising rate. I love it. I now also understand it a little bit better after reading Don Seddon’s little book.

In his foreword the author says that his aim is to give a boat owner a basic understanding of how a diesel works and how to keep it in running order, but also how to ‘troubleshoot’ and fix the problems. I think he succeeds admirably. In clear, concise terms he runs through how it works, fuel, lubrication, installation, maintenance, electrics, gearboxes and troubleshooting.

It is very easy to read, so easy that even an old technophobe understood it. There’s not much else to say, is there? Except, perhaps, that if you run a diesel-powered boat, you would be a fool (or Len Gilbert) not to keep this book handy.

Published by Fernhurst Books, England. 94pp softback. ISBN 1 898660 21 2