Hard Starting-Yanmar 18hp

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Alan Nye

I continue to have problems on cold days after the water gets colder (less than 60) degrees starting my Yanmar. Does anyone else have this problem and has anyone identified a solution. The most frustrating session occured today as I was trying to winterize the engine out of the water and it was less than 30 last night at the yard. Did not get it started. Would appreciate any comments. Thanks
 
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Jack Laird

Starts hard

My renault RC8D is the same way. A small shot of diesel starter will make it go. I've been told I need to grind my valves as engine is now 20 yrs old. However, when engine is warm it starts fine. Will be intrested to see other comments.
 
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Mike

hard to start yanmar

I Beleave the Yanmar has a pre-heater to pre heat the cilenders,for quick start in cold weather . check for a defictive preheat switch or the heaters there self may be bad . I always carry a can of quick start starter fluid in the winter. mike
 
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Keith Fawcett

Careful there matey with the cold start!

I work out in the Gulf of Mexico. On the hard starting 18 hp Yanmar. Check the compression on the cylinders. having the correct compression is critical to starting. Without the correct compression you do not get enough heat from compression for combustion. Secondly watch it with the starting fluid or either. An engine can literally get addicted to the start fluid. We have a diesel engine on the crane that had to be rebuilt because eventually it would only start with start fluid (ether (Spelling).If your yanmar has a head gasket problem or a piston ring problem that may be the source of the hard starts in colder weather. I have a friend with a Volvo Penta thats supposed to have 325 PSI on compression and each cylinder only had 230 PSI. Hence a monster to start in cold weather. Now it is in for a head gasket and piston kit. Good luck and check the compression first. Keith
 
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Mike Kinney

glow plugs

Install glow plugs if you are inclined to start the engine in weather that is frequently cool. Otherwise, if only starting the engine occasionally in cool weather, use a space heater to warm the engine before attempting to start it. It will work 100% of the time.
 
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Stephen Ostrander

Cold Yanny

All diesels do not want to start in cold weather. Yanmars don't have glow plugs so leaving the key on before starting won't help. I would not suggest using starting fluid, engine damage could result. Try advancing the throttle ahead to 3/4 before starting. This worked for my 2GM20. Also check the site archives since this subject was discussed at length a few weeks ago.
 
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James Marohn

Defective exhaust system?!?

What year is your boat? We have an '89 Hunter Vision, been having similar problems. When I called one of the reps for help, he immediately asked me if it was a Hunter and if so what year. According to him, Hunters of our vintage have poorly designed exhaust system, leading to pressure problems over time. Never quite understood what specific pressure he was refering to... Anybody else heard of this problem? Anyways, a simple test is to take a electric hair dryer, blow it in the intake for a while, and see if the engine starts. If you live in the Puget Sound area (in Washington State) there's a company that sells a update kit to solve this problem in Anacortes and Port Townsend. I have yet to test this theory, but I suppose blowing hot air onto the engine would be similar to warming it up before start...irrelevant to poor exhaust system. Tina and James Marohn Perelandra - Seattle
 
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Gerald Davies

Hard Start Fix - Yanmar

I also had a hard start problem with my Yanmar in cold weather and discovered the following. 1. Crank speed of the engine is critical to firing when cold. 2. If battery and starter are good, the best improvement in crank speed is made with the use of Synthetic engine oil. 3.Change engine oil to "Mobil 1 DELVAC" synthetic oil 5 - 40 weight. 4.This should improve starting and general running of engine. It will also help in cases of minor oil consumption. 5.I have used this product since it was introduced with excellent results. good luck gd
 
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Sam Lust

Oil

Yanmar specificaly states in their literature they do not recommend synthetic oils. They don't state why. but my observation is that they're a very conservative bunch. 5w is just too thin for a diesel in my opinion. In addition to lubrication and heat transfer, oil acts as a cushion, and 5w won't do it. Ether is a very good solvent. The most probable reason engines get addicted to ether is that lube oil is washed off the rings by ether causing metal to metal contact during start-up and excessive wear with an additional loss of compression. If compression is the problem, Terry Arnold's suggestion of a product like WD 40 might be the ticket. An oily yet flamable product to seal the rings and burn without the explosiveness of ether.
 
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Jim McCue

cranky yanny

You may also want to try some injector cleaner fluid.
 
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