I had the mechanic at my marina change the oil on my Yanmar engine and instead of putting in what I requested, 15W40, he put in straight 40. He also put straight 40 when he changed the transmission oil even through I requested SAE 30 oil. He gave me the excuse that it doesn't manner. Besides being irritated with paying someone to do something you didn't want them to do what is other people's experience with Marina's mechanics. Does anyone know if it really doesn't make a difference? I normally just put in what the owner's manual tells me. Silly me. Tom
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If You Called It Out
..make him change it. 15/40 is, as I recall, what is recommended for mine, but I think there are options. I'm not at the boat. Actually, I think the transmission might be more particular, and I remember a specific weight that might not be the same as the engine. My last two were different. Will it hurt? Unlikely. But, to ignore you and then get a statement like that is nonsense. Have him do it again. If he's the only mechanic for 50 miles, buy him a cup of coffee, and then explain to him that you sleep better following the manual. That kind of response is unnerving, though, and reflects poorly on his judgement. Rick D.
..make him change it. 15/40 is, as I recall, what is recommended for mine, but I think there are options. I'm not at the boat. Actually, I think the transmission might be more particular, and I remember a specific weight that might not be the same as the engine. My last two were different. Will it hurt? Unlikely. But, to ignore you and then get a statement like that is nonsense. Have him do it again. If he's the only mechanic for 50 miles, buy him a cup of coffee, and then explain to him that you sleep better following the manual. That kind of response is unnerving, though, and reflects poorly on his judgement. Rick D.
what would you do if
it was your car not your boat? You would not pay or have the work done that you wanted not what the garage wanted to do! What is the difference? Get what you asked for or don't pay! You have now found out why a large number of owners do the small maintance items themselves and NOT the yard mechanic. You should be able to do oil and filter changes yourself.The only other advise I could mention is you might want to talk to the marina owner about what happened and the mechanics attitude and the bill! Good Luck!
it was your car not your boat? You would not pay or have the work done that you wanted not what the garage wanted to do! What is the difference? Get what you asked for or don't pay! You have now found out why a large number of owners do the small maintance items themselves and NOT the yard mechanic. You should be able to do oil and filter changes yourself.The only other advise I could mention is you might want to talk to the marina owner about what happened and the mechanics attitude and the bill! Good Luck!
Good and bad........
For what it's worth, a single viscosity oil lubricates better than a multi-viscosity oil. Personally, if I didn't need the multi grade for cold weather starting, I'd stick with the single grade oil. Anyway, that's what I learned for many past years as an airplane engine mechanic. I always used single grade in my old plane and that engine went 30% beyond the normal overhaul time hours.
For what it's worth, a single viscosity oil lubricates better than a multi-viscosity oil. Personally, if I didn't need the multi grade for cold weather starting, I'd stick with the single grade oil. Anyway, that's what I learned for many past years as an airplane engine mechanic. I always used single grade in my old plane and that engine went 30% beyond the normal overhaul time hours.
What If
What if you ordered a Hamburger and got a Hot Dog?? It doesn't matter, they all end up in your stomach and beyond... I wouldn't pay him. I'd just tell him it doesn't matter...
What if you ordered a Hamburger and got a Hot Dog?? It doesn't matter, they all end up in your stomach and beyond... I wouldn't pay him. I'd just tell him it doesn't matter...
Ron is RIGHT
Hope you didn't pay him! If he screws up a simple thing like putting in the kind of oil you specified, then what else did he screw up? I wouldn't let the guy back on my boat again, even to fix his screw-up.
Hope you didn't pay him! If he screws up a simple thing like putting in the kind of oil you specified, then what else did he screw up? I wouldn't let the guy back on my boat again, even to fix his screw-up.
The larger lesson...
is that you can easily learn to do it yourself. I have perfected the pump apparatus with a brass pipe available at any Ace Hardware. If you're interested in the specs, email me at bodonovan@vagazette.com
is that you can easily learn to do it yourself. I have perfected the pump apparatus with a brass pipe available at any Ace Hardware. If you're interested in the specs, email me at bodonovan@vagazette.com
A fitting?
I currently use a vacuum type oil changer. It does kick butt too. I recently heard of someone who uses some kind of add on valve/tube. Has anyone installed a tube and a valve on the normal drain pan oil change plug and then connected it to a vacuum type or other type of pump to change the oil. It sounds like a decent way to go. I am not sure I am quit comfortable with the tube hanging. If it were to get damaged, the oil would just run out of the engine? Then what! I would think that a proper setup, be it a hard piped rig, would be awesome for draining the oil from the bottom. This would insure/enhance the removal of sediment. Any comments, Mike D
I currently use a vacuum type oil changer. It does kick butt too. I recently heard of someone who uses some kind of add on valve/tube. Has anyone installed a tube and a valve on the normal drain pan oil change plug and then connected it to a vacuum type or other type of pump to change the oil. It sounds like a decent way to go. I am not sure I am quit comfortable with the tube hanging. If it were to get damaged, the oil would just run out of the engine? Then what! I would think that a proper setup, be it a hard piped rig, would be awesome for draining the oil from the bottom. This would insure/enhance the removal of sediment. Any comments, Mike D
30 weight
The Yanmar manual for my 3gm30f calls for 30 weight oil. The gear box the same. I'd call the bum back and make him put in what you wanted, then put in the right oil. Dave
The Yanmar manual for my 3gm30f calls for 30 weight oil. The gear box the same. I'd call the bum back and make him put in what you wanted, then put in the right oil. Dave
10-Minute Oil Change
Not counting the filter. I change the oil in the engine and generator both in ten minutes. A mechanic plumbed in the engine and generator to a manifold that feeds into a common 12vdc pump. I open one valve, pump out the engine. Close the valve, open the other valve and pump out the generator. The generator (Yanmar 3GM) had a fitting built into the pan. The engine required some type of "T" fitting installed into the dip stick tube. I believe he removed the tube, cut it, threaded the ends and installed a T so that the length of the tube was the same. It has worked great for five years and 2300 hours of operation on the engine and 3200 hours on the generator.
Not counting the filter. I change the oil in the engine and generator both in ten minutes. A mechanic plumbed in the engine and generator to a manifold that feeds into a common 12vdc pump. I open one valve, pump out the engine. Close the valve, open the other valve and pump out the generator. The generator (Yanmar 3GM) had a fitting built into the pan. The engine required some type of "T" fitting installed into the dip stick tube. I believe he removed the tube, cut it, threaded the ends and installed a T so that the length of the tube was the same. It has worked great for five years and 2300 hours of operation on the engine and 3200 hours on the generator.
15w-40 is OK too...
According to Yanmar. I'm not sure about straight 40 weight but I figure the customer is always right...
According to Yanmar. I'm not sure about straight 40 weight but I figure the customer is always right...
Thanks for the Comments
I am not letting that mechanic touch my boat again. I have never done any work on my car or boat motor before because I have never had the time. I barely have time to take the boat out. Thanks again, Tom
I am not letting that mechanic touch my boat again. I have never done any work on my car or boat motor before because I have never had the time. I barely have time to take the boat out. Thanks again, Tom
oil changes etc.
Tom; You might want to take the time to learn to service your own engine; oil changes, fuel filter changes, bleeding the fuel system, etc. It could save your butt some day when you least expect it.
Tom; You might want to take the time to learn to service your own engine; oil changes, fuel filter changes, bleeding the fuel system, etc. It could save your butt some day when you least expect it.
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