Apologies for an engine question in a sailing forum, but I figure who else would have dealt with these engines? I have a Hunter 28.5 with a Yanmar 2GM20F engine. After taking the boat out for the first time this spring, I noticed that greenish-yellowish ethylene glycol antifreeze in the bilge under the engine. I took off the pressure cap to check and the level of the anti-freeze was full, however the overflow tank was empty. The overflow tank is removed from the engine and higher up in the lazarette. I can't find a leak, and it appears that the antifreeze had come out of a tube that I think is normally used to drain the antifreeze. However nothing was coming out of it, and like I said, the cooling system was full. Does anyone have any suggestions?
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M
Miles
Check out...
There was a thread called "Antifreeze Mystery" in Big Boats forum a few days ago. Several people reported the same thing you noticed but I don't think anyone's figured it out yet. I'm curious about the problem but it seems to occur only in freezing areas, not much of a problem here ;.) Things must be warming up back there!
There was a thread called "Antifreeze Mystery" in Big Boats forum a few days ago. Several people reported the same thing you noticed but I don't think anyone's figured it out yet. I'm curious about the problem but it seems to occur only in freezing areas, not much of a problem here ;.) Things must be warming up back there!
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Pete
antifreeze leak
check for the leak by just running the engine and if you can't find one use a pressure tester to check.It could also be that it was just overfilled and posssibly leaked out (is the overflow hose in good shape?) double check the drain petcock as it might be vacume locked and only leak under pressure, might help to explain you leak. these are just some ideas off the top of my head hope they help.
check for the leak by just running the engine and if you can't find one use a pressure tester to check.It could also be that it was just overfilled and posssibly leaked out (is the overflow hose in good shape?) double check the drain petcock as it might be vacume locked and only leak under pressure, might help to explain you leak. these are just some ideas off the top of my head hope they help.
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Alan Nye
Moi aussi
I have an 86 28.5 and have never had any antifreeze in my overflow container either... but it is always full when I remove the presure cap.. will look to see if someone has the answer...
I have an 86 28.5 and have never had any antifreeze in my overflow container either... but it is always full when I remove the presure cap.. will look to see if someone has the answer...
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Roger Mummah
Check the Plastic Valves
The 2GMF has two drains on the fresh water resevoir. There are two little valves that thread into the starboard side of the resevoir that have the drain tubes hooked to them. One or both of them could be the problem. The valves feel like some kind of plastic material and I guess they could expand under heat and drop out a couple of drips. Don't know the configuration of your boat, but we keep one of those white absorbent drip pads under our diesel. If we see anything dripped on it, we grab a mirror and look up from the dripped spot and see where it came from. Drips don't lie! Good hunting!
The 2GMF has two drains on the fresh water resevoir. There are two little valves that thread into the starboard side of the resevoir that have the drain tubes hooked to them. One or both of them could be the problem. The valves feel like some kind of plastic material and I guess they could expand under heat and drop out a couple of drips. Don't know the configuration of your boat, but we keep one of those white absorbent drip pads under our diesel. If we see anything dripped on it, we grab a mirror and look up from the dripped spot and see where it came from. Drips don't lie! Good hunting!
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Jim McCue
Could it be your hoses
I have '86 and have noticed similar spotting. My hoses were getting old and last summer I replaced several, including the feeder into and from the heat exchanger. You are probably due for hoses and changing your antifreeze anyway. J. McCue
I have '86 and have noticed similar spotting. My hoses were getting old and last summer I replaced several, including the feeder into and from the heat exchanger. You are probably due for hoses and changing your antifreeze anyway. J. McCue
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Bill O'Donovan
Useless
Several knowledgable Yanmar mechanics have warned me that the overflow tank is useless because it neither takes overflow nor gives any back to the engine. I was so low on anti-freeze at one point that the high-heat alarm went off. Yet the overflow tank was blithely filled to its normal half-point. Lesson learned: Before setting out, open the radiator cap and test with your finger if the anti-freeze is low.
Several knowledgable Yanmar mechanics have warned me that the overflow tank is useless because it neither takes overflow nor gives any back to the engine. I was so low on anti-freeze at one point that the high-heat alarm went off. Yet the overflow tank was blithely filled to its normal half-point. Lesson learned: Before setting out, open the radiator cap and test with your finger if the anti-freeze is low.
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George Kornreich
Found a leak
Hi, Doug, I had the same thing with my 50 hp VolvoPenta. We finally found there was in fact a leak where the intercooler bolts to the engine. Tightened the bolts and Voila, no more antifreeze in the bilge. George
Hi, Doug, I had the same thing with my 50 hp VolvoPenta. We finally found there was in fact a leak where the intercooler bolts to the engine. Tightened the bolts and Voila, no more antifreeze in the bilge. George
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