Book excerpt: Most diesel engines will develop a problem at some point in their lives, but armed with the right knowledge a skipper needn't worry. The Reeds Diesel Engine Troubleshooting Handbook is a compact, pocket-sized guide to finding solutions to all of the most common engine problems, and many of the less common ones too. The perfect format for quick reference on board, this book will help skippers fix troublesome engines themselves, avoiding costly engineer fees if the problem is simple to sort out, or enabling an emergency patch-up for a more serious problem until they can get back to port. Each topic addresses a particular engine problem, and gives clear step by step instructions with helpful colour photographs and diagrams showing exactly what to do. Straightforward and accessible, the Reeds Diesel Engine Troubleshooting Handbook should be an essential part of any skipper's DIY toolkit - and perfect for slipping in the pocket.