This question is about the diesel engine in my sailboat. I have a 1990 Hunter 30 with a 2GM20F diesel from Yanmar. I noticed today that oil (in liquid form) comes out of the exaust. When I looked at the engine compartment I found a significant amount of oil in the bilge under the engine. Clear signs of dripping came from the front of the engine (where the oil pump is located), suggesting a blown gasket. I started the engine once again to visually inspect the leaks and indeed oil started dripping from the pump area. Is this consistent with a blown gasket? Is this the kind of problem that a mechanic can fix by coming to the boat or do I have to take the boat to a service facility? I am asking because I live in Chicago and taking the boat to a service facility require a trip up the Chicago river and long waits for 20 or so draw bridges to open. I dont think that my engine will be up for this. Thanks in advance for any responses. -leo i.
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Mike
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If you have a mechanic in mind ask him if it sounds like a on-board repair or not. If not, the engine can be pulled by the mechanic and then you could drive it to the service place rather than motoring. When you say you see oil in the exhaust...you mean smoke, or do you mean unburned oil? I am not a diesel expert, but liquid oil in the exhaust sounds like bad news.
If you have a mechanic in mind ask him if it sounds like a on-board repair or not. If not, the engine can be pulled by the mechanic and then you could drive it to the service place rather than motoring. When you say you see oil in the exhaust...you mean smoke, or do you mean unburned oil? I am not a diesel expert, but liquid oil in the exhaust sounds like bad news.
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Leo Irakliotis
It's liquid oil in the exaust
Mike, it's liquid oil that I see ejected from the exaust in the water, only when I throttle up by 1200 rpm or more (ie going from 800 to 2000 or from 2000 to 3200). It's the liquid oil in the exaust that worries me most. -leo i.
Mike, it's liquid oil that I see ejected from the exaust in the water, only when I throttle up by 1200 rpm or more (ie going from 800 to 2000 or from 2000 to 3200). It's the liquid oil in the exaust that worries me most. -leo i.
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Ed Schenck
Fresh-water cooled?
I think the 'F' in 2GM20F means fresh-water cooled. In other words you have two water pumps, one for internal circulation and one from the thru-hull to the heat exchanger. If this is so then I think the only usual way for oil to get into the exhaust is past the valves. The really bad way, of course, is a blown head gasket. I don't see how the leak around the oil pump can be related. Even if it got into the water jacket it would remain in the engine. Now if the engine is actually seawater cooled it's a whole different ballgame. Are you certain it is raw oil? If the headgasket is blown and you are freshwater cooled you should see the water-level in the engine go down and the temperature go up.
I think the 'F' in 2GM20F means fresh-water cooled. In other words you have two water pumps, one for internal circulation and one from the thru-hull to the heat exchanger. If this is so then I think the only usual way for oil to get into the exhaust is past the valves. The really bad way, of course, is a blown head gasket. I don't see how the leak around the oil pump can be related. Even if it got into the water jacket it would remain in the engine. Now if the engine is actually seawater cooled it's a whole different ballgame. Are you certain it is raw oil? If the headgasket is blown and you are freshwater cooled you should see the water-level in the engine go down and the temperature go up.
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Mark M Smith
Try this first!! Do not run that motor!
I had the same problem with my 2gm f, I tried to run mine to the marina (while oil was running from the exhaust) to pull it out and the motor "Ran Off" causing a blown head gasket. With that being said, this is what I went through, in telling you this I will hopefully save you many steps, and much $$$. I replaced the head gasket, the motor ran good for a while and then ran off again, I had the injectors cleaned, still ran off. Long story short,It was the fuel pump the whole time!!! There is a diaghram in the fuel pump that stops fuel from entering the crank case when this goes bad the oil level raises with fuel and at first the oil will run out the exhaust until the level gets too high,(Check your oil level!!) then the motor will start running on the crankcase oil (WIDE OPEN!!) and it wil blow up fast!!This is how I blew a head gasket.By the way if the head gasket is blown you will have white exhaust smoke from low compression & water from coolant. Try replacing the fuel pump $28.00 before you spend LOTS MORE. I hope this is all thats you need The Yanmars are damn near bullet proof but do not run that motor or you can really cause problems.
I had the same problem with my 2gm f, I tried to run mine to the marina (while oil was running from the exhaust) to pull it out and the motor "Ran Off" causing a blown head gasket. With that being said, this is what I went through, in telling you this I will hopefully save you many steps, and much $$$. I replaced the head gasket, the motor ran good for a while and then ran off again, I had the injectors cleaned, still ran off. Long story short,It was the fuel pump the whole time!!! There is a diaghram in the fuel pump that stops fuel from entering the crank case when this goes bad the oil level raises with fuel and at first the oil will run out the exhaust until the level gets too high,(Check your oil level!!) then the motor will start running on the crankcase oil (WIDE OPEN!!) and it wil blow up fast!!This is how I blew a head gasket.By the way if the head gasket is blown you will have white exhaust smoke from low compression & water from coolant. Try replacing the fuel pump $28.00 before you spend LOTS MORE. I hope this is all thats you need The Yanmars are damn near bullet proof but do not run that motor or you can really cause problems.
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Mike
Ahhh Bach!
Hey Ed, cool post. Makes sense. Yeah running that engine under those potential conditions would be bad. A blown head gasket is actually fortunate compared to other nastier stuff that can go wrong w/fuel pushing the motor oil out. I have the same engine....gives me renewed reason to check the oil level every outing. Mike
Hey Ed, cool post. Makes sense. Yeah running that engine under those potential conditions would be bad. A blown head gasket is actually fortunate compared to other nastier stuff that can go wrong w/fuel pushing the motor oil out. I have the same engine....gives me renewed reason to check the oil level every outing. Mike
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
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Jim Hague
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