Yanmar 6lp ste issue

[socalmike]

Pump timing was spot on. How do you check pressure?

[catalina_mike]

Not sure about what tool to use or how to do it. I have a service manual that has the info in it, but I just hired a mechanic that was very well respected to do it and the timing belt.

[socalmike]

Injectors went to be tested. Were in perfect working order. Reinstalled today with same level of smoke. Had the yanmar tech sea trial with me and he said the motor is running perfectly. He advised that when the valve seals were changed if the head was not removed, there could be some additional tolerance in the guides allowing more oil to lubricate.

I asked him what we should look at next..

his response..

GO FISHING.

said we may be chasing our tails and it may never get better.

I am fine with it if " that is what it is".

Mike

[catalina_mike]

Run oil analysis and check the fuel dilution rate in the oil if you are going to run analysis for the future. I run Lubrication Engineers 8800 LE Monolec GFS Engine Oil, 15W-40 in my boat. It is a long drain oil and if I were you I would start sampling for the future if you haven't done so yet. I also run the BTU additive in the fuel. The low sulfur fuel we get needs some help with lubrication some believe. I have attached a pdf of a spread sheet I made for my friends boat.

[drbob]

The gray smoke we experienced when we first bought our A28TE with the Yanmar 315 is now all but history. Kudos to fresh fuel and Startron. Old fuel only partially burns, leaves a sheen on the water, sometimes has a blue hue, but is mostly gray. Run the fuel down as low as you possibly dare, then add a double dose of Startron and 75 to 100 gallons of fresh diesel. It may take two or three fueling cycles and a few bottles of enzyme based stabilizer to get rid of enough of the old fuel.

On our DeFever we carried 1,100 gallons of fuel and had to be careful with how we kept it dry and fresh. I made the mistake of not using the aft tank for over a year when I switched to it and OMG, looked like we were on fire. Embarrassing to say the least. I shut down the engines and polished that fuel into the big saddle tanks where it blended and was less offensive. As soon as the lines cleared, so did the smoke and life was good again.

Diesel, with stabilizer, no water, or algae can be stored for up to 12 months. But without a fuel stabilizer and with normal water from condensation on a three-quarter full tank, 6 months is tops before you start smoking, losing power (not seeing the rpms you should and not getting the speed you should from the rpms you're turning), and of course, leaving the sheen. The older the fuel, the worse the situation.

Bob DeGroot
2005 A28TE Engine Box

[tdsull]

Mike, I have a 2000 STE with the same smoke. The boat is new to me so I am curious what your final result was?

[socalmike]

Went through a bunch of things. Spent a bunch of $$. Called Mack Boring and the guy I spoke with new exactly my symptoms. Said it totally normal and the 6lp cooling is overkill and the engine at idle is will smoke. Said in the newer 6lp there are some type of heaters that prevent this from happening.

[Tree]

Bringing this thread back to life. Just pulled the injectors on FP2 to find quite a lot of carbon on the tips. They’re off for cleaning tomorrow and possible new nozzles as I was getting quite a lot of smoke on start up ( water temp is 7°c here at the moment) also noticed a loss of 150-200 rpm on WOT but the boat has also been in the water for 10 months. Replaced - or tried to do the cam belt tensioner and pulley but found the previous company who had changed the cam belt in the States and not fitted the washer behind the tensioner so it was locked in place. Possibly dodged a bullet there! Once the washer arrives I’ll have it all back together (well once I get back from some winter sun on the equator). I’ve not bought yanmar parts for the cam belt, I’m 99.9% sure I have the Toyota cross referenced parts for the job at 1/10th of the yanmar price! Fingers crossed once everything is back I should achieve WOT again ready for annual refit ready to get out in the mid channel.

[catalina_mike]

Please post injector Toyota number if you get lucky. Thanks

[Tree]

Mike, the injectors I will just refurbish. They won’t be the same as the land cruiser injectors anyway. It’s the cambelt kit I have bought from Toyota that will hopefully cross reference.

[tdsull]

Tree, did cleaning your injectors help with the smoke at startup and idle?

[Tree]

Hi Tim,

During the summer start up was lovely and clean - now the water is down to 9 degrees centigrade and air temperature is just hovering over 0 degrees here she is quite smokey on start up and a little bit on tick over when we come back in from a run.

I have no additive in the fuel at the moment but did notice improvements with the additive in the fuel - she isn't as smokey as my friends lower hour engine, he is just on 900 hours and I am about to hit 2000 hours. I've also fitted the Walker Airsep filter since refurbishing the injectors - i do think the pump timing could do with a slight adjustment but thats a job for when I lift the engine out next time to make things easier.

Lee

[RobS]

Further to Tree's comment about summer vs cooler temps:

https://www.sbmar.com/articles/what-is-white-smoke/

[Tree]

Excellent write up - well worth reading and pretty much ticks all the boxes about the overkill cooling system on the Yanmar!

I have been considering fitting oil filled bar heaters under my engine for winter start ups. I figure that as i have WiFi on the boat with an always on internet connection, why not fit a "smart" plug with an app on my phone that will turn on the heaters when I get within a few miles. It should give me a warm engine, warm oil and warm air for that first initial start up on these cold winter days - or do i just put up with the white smoke for the few minutes I am taking the ropes off before I pull away!

It may be an elaborate overkill of an idea and quite honestly a waste of time and money, but hey its a boat!

[RobS]

A short run of a space heater would do nothing to heat the engine mass and the oil in the pan. I do what you mentioned with wifi smart switches for taking the chill out of the cabin when I am heading there to do winter work. For engine heat it needs to be low wattage 24/7 air or pan heater.