How often should i change my engine oil, fuel filter, any other things that need to be done routinely? My engine was throttling back from around 2800 rpms to 2000 the other night, is this likely a fuel filter problem? Thanks!
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Maintenance Questions
You should order an owners manual from your local marine supply store. It will give specifics as to your engine. They vary. I do oil and filters at 50 hours. Your engine is probably losing RPM because the throttle is slowly backing off. There are several solutions, from a light shock cord around the trottle, to a tennis ball slipped over it to an adjustment in the pedestal to, most commonly, a u-clamp that slips over the cable, tightens and provides some friction. Good luck, Rick D.
You should order an owners manual from your local marine supply store. It will give specifics as to your engine. They vary. I do oil and filters at 50 hours. Your engine is probably losing RPM because the throttle is slowly backing off. There are several solutions, from a light shock cord around the trottle, to a tennis ball slipped over it to an adjustment in the pedestal to, most commonly, a u-clamp that slips over the cable, tightens and provides some friction. Good luck, Rick D.
Throttle slip and maintenance.
Robin: I agree, 50-100 hours (at least once per season) is a good routine. If you are not using the boat during a specific period season (ie: winter/summer), you should do it just before you put the up. This prevents the acids in the oil from eating away at your engine. Only use high grade diesel rated oil in either a 30wt or 15-40wt. Be sure to change you oil filter with a Yanmar filter and it is ususally a good time to service your fuel filters too. Recommend that you have a Racor or other high quality primary filter with a water seperator. You should also have a small filter on the engine too. I like to use a biocide in my fuel too (some do not recommend them). Check you belts for tension. You mite notice a dust all over your engine, this is typically belt dust. You should try to keep this to a minimum (just get sucked into the engine). Check you air filter, it can be washed, dried and reinstalled. Be sure that the snorkle on the air filter cannister points down. You should also check out the raw water impeller with each oil service. Always have a spare on board. If the impeller looks good it does not mean that it is good. The blades should be flexible but not soft. There should not be any cracks either. The throttle creeeeeep is a common problem. Some models have an adjustment screw under the compass that can be tighten to add friction. I ended up getting a morse clamp and it has worked fine and doesn't look tacky. If you look in the Photo Forum you can see the editorial too. (search for throttle creep). Also, incase no one ever told you, you should run your engine at 2700-3000 rpms if you have 2GMxF or 3GMxF (other models may vary). This should be 70-80% of the max rated RPM. This will 'help' prevent elbow coking. If you engine starts overheating, this is a good place to check. Good luck. Keep you Yannie clean and you will be a happy boater for MANY years to come.
Robin: I agree, 50-100 hours (at least once per season) is a good routine. If you are not using the boat during a specific period season (ie: winter/summer), you should do it just before you put the up. This prevents the acids in the oil from eating away at your engine. Only use high grade diesel rated oil in either a 30wt or 15-40wt. Be sure to change you oil filter with a Yanmar filter and it is ususally a good time to service your fuel filters too. Recommend that you have a Racor or other high quality primary filter with a water seperator. You should also have a small filter on the engine too. I like to use a biocide in my fuel too (some do not recommend them). Check you belts for tension. You mite notice a dust all over your engine, this is typically belt dust. You should try to keep this to a minimum (just get sucked into the engine). Check you air filter, it can be washed, dried and reinstalled. Be sure that the snorkle on the air filter cannister points down. You should also check out the raw water impeller with each oil service. Always have a spare on board. If the impeller looks good it does not mean that it is good. The blades should be flexible but not soft. There should not be any cracks either. The throttle creeeeeep is a common problem. Some models have an adjustment screw under the compass that can be tighten to add friction. I ended up getting a morse clamp and it has worked fine and doesn't look tacky. If you look in the Photo Forum you can see the editorial too. (search for throttle creep). Also, incase no one ever told you, you should run your engine at 2700-3000 rpms if you have 2GMxF or 3GMxF (other models may vary). This should be 70-80% of the max rated RPM. This will 'help' prevent elbow coking. If you engine starts overheating, this is a good place to check. Good luck. Keep you Yannie clean and you will be a happy boater for MANY years to come.
Loding RPM
If the mechanical throttle linkage is not slipping back and you are losing RPM at unpredicatble times, you may be plugging the little screen in the fuel pickup tube in your tank. This happended to me and I simply removed it - the screen /not the tube
- and have had no problems since. Whatever crud comes through the pickup tube now will be stopped by my fuel filters ( I have two). There is more on this in the Hunter Forum. Good Luck, Bill
If the mechanical throttle linkage is not slipping back and you are losing RPM at unpredicatble times, you may be plugging the little screen in the fuel pickup tube in your tank. This happended to me and I simply removed it - the screen /not the tube
- and have had no problems since. Whatever crud comes through the pickup tube now will be stopped by my fuel filters ( I have two). There is more on this in the Hunter Forum. Good Luck, Bill- Status