I have a 2004 Beneteau 373 with a Yanmar 3ym30 engine. I bought it last year from the original owner, and I (am learning how to) do most maintenance myself.
In went to inspect the air filter, and found the filter foam (which normally surrounds the metal frame) to be almost completely GONE! (see photo)
I (obviously) replaced it with a new filter, but I'm wondering if anyone could advise on what caused this. I have 4 theories:
In went to inspect the air filter, and found the filter foam (which normally surrounds the metal frame) to be almost completely GONE! (see photo)
I (obviously) replaced it with a new filter, but I'm wondering if anyone could advise on what caused this. I have 4 theories:
- At some point a rodent climbed aboard while the boat was on the hard, and found its way into the intake and stole the foam for nesting material. I've seen rodents do this with foam in car engine compartments, and materials in my garage... but never on my boat. I would think I would find other evidence of rodent infestations, but maybe not if it happened years ago, and was otherwise cleaned up by the previous owner. Seems unlikely though.
- Vapors from some fuel or solvent dissolved it. Seems possible... open cell foam is pretty fragile stuff, and I could easily imagine fuel vapors, or acetone, or WD40, or something dissolving the foam... I just don't know what... and again, it was probably something from years ago, with a previous owner. Generally though, the engine compartment is very clean and well maintained... no real evidence of chronic leaks/fluid/solvents/etc causing problems with other nearby soundproofing foam, or hoses, or anything else. The engine is in EXCELLENT shape, with only a few hundred hours on it. Starts quickly and easily every time, so I wouldn't think there was ever a need for someone to use starting fluid, etc... which would likely cause this... but again... previous owner, so I can't say 100% for sure... I guess that's my hunch, but it doesn't really fit with what I know about the previous owner (kept things is great condition pretty consistently).
- Just plain old... Maybe the previous owner never checked it for 15 years (the age of the boat) and maybe that's what happens to foam if you leave it unchecked in a hot engine compartment for that long.
- I'm missing something - not being a diesel mechanic... it is possible and actually very likely that I'm missing something.