Diesel Diagnosis for Marine Diesels. Yanmar 4JH3 & 4J series engines. How to Stop Smoking.

[@timlamarre8680]

On the issue of smoke: Was away for two months and when I returned and ran the engine, it blew clouds of white smoke, something it had not done before. I was pissed of course because I could already see dollar signs. I did notice that water was coming out of vent thru hull above the exhaust. It seemed to run fine and I wanted to get out so I just went. I ran it for a day and it still smoked--but the next day the smoke stopped. The one change was that there was no longer water coming out of the vent hole. I'm guessing there might have been something blocking the hose just beyond the vent and water was going out vent rather than cooling the exhaust--so the white smoke was steam. Great info and clever idea to crank in order to take out injectors. Thank you for posting.

[@SVImpavidus]

Hi Tim. Thanks for watching sounds like your sorted now. Sail Safe mate. Ant & Cid

[@kylek2794]

Great video! You're a real talent

[@SVImpavidus]

Thank you so much! Enjoy our other video too 👍

[@SailingYachtSaltyLass]

Is it only a Yanmar problem? Surely Volvos are affected as well?

[@SVImpavidus]

Yes. All diesels work the same and give the same colour smoke under the same conditions. The Volvo workshop manual from memory is pretty good in the diagnosis dept. Take a look at the suck, squeeze bang blow video. Sail Safe Guys, Ant & Cid.

[@stuarthinds848]

Great video Ant! You wouldn’t believe this but I’ve just started my engine after 18 months standing and guess what….a little bit of white smoke and a fuel film in the water. I blame you. 🤭

[@SVImpavidus]

🥲 OMG. Sail Safe mate. Ant & Cid

[@normanboyes4983]

Nicely done Ant - you do surprise me that you do not have your own injector test pump on board.😉That’s a job that brings back memories for me - doing 16 injectors at a time ready for maintenance evolutions on one of eight 1.5MW Paxmans. I trust the con man had done a leak down test and inspected with a bore scope before delivering his inspired wisdom?

[@SVImpavidus]

Hi Norman. No leak down test. Just a bill for previous works that never delivered. Back in the UK in April. Have to meet up for a Guinness at the Farmers? Sail Safe mate. Ant & Cid

[@normanboyes4983]

@@SVImpavidus That would be very good to do.😀👍

[@stuartdeane9618]

You are the MAN Ant .

[@SVImpavidus]

Oooh you make me blush ☺ You will enjoy next week's boat fixing sesion. Thanks for watching. Sail Safe mate. Ant & Cid

[@sailing-etanche]

Allways interesting to see. Funny, on the end 🤓🤓

[@SVImpavidus]

Thanks guys. Sail Safe, watch out for green smoke 🤣

[@andrehaubensack6857]

Silly question: Will the injectors not simply become sooty again with use?

[@SVImpavidus]

Yes they will over time. All engines have a service period for injectors. You can prolong this by using an injector cleaner or running the engine hard every now and then to burn off the carbon. Sail Safe mate. Ant & Cid

[@ET85]

​@@SVImpavidus For how long should it be run hard? And at what % maximum rpm?

[@philgray3443]

Rainbow smoke! Seriously it was overheating due to an exhaust elbow blockage and the steam in the sun was creating a rainbow. Do you put oil on the injectors before reinstalling? Also, when you get them out, do you crank the engine on the starter or turn it by hand?

[@SVImpavidus]

Hi Phil. Just a shot of wd40 on the injectors so the bed in.... Crank the engine with the starter, quick burst pops them all out. Sail Safe mate. Ant & Cid

[@SoundzAlive1]

Hi Ant and Cindy, I have a Volvo Penta with strange grey smoke only after reaching operating temp for five minutes. Engine temps normal 80 to 85C. I suspect injectors or restrained raw water. My suspect is that a blockage is in the saildrive. Checked and replaced impeller and pump and auto siphon. It does run a bit rough so maybe I will service injectors first. Just thought I could check elbow temp to see if enough raw water is cooling elbow. Any thoughts? André

[@SVImpavidus]

Grey smoke is more likely to be a fueling or poor burn issue and could be the exhaust elbow clogged inside. You must check these every two years or so. Blue grey will be oil burning and Black grey will be fuel/burn. With the engine running at 1500 RPM the engine should have 21.6 Ltrs a min coming out the exhaust. (if it is a D1-30 Find this for other engines in the engine spec which you can find on line) Use a bucket a stop watch watch to check the water flow. Sail Safe mate. Ant & Cid

[@SoundzAlive1]

@@SVImpavidus thanks a lot Ant, I replaced the elbow with a stainless steel one and cleaned the heat exchanger. So I will check that I didn’t know there was a spec for water output. Cheers André

[@jeffmack4995]

As usual Ant, another great video!! Wow, that is a real clean engine. If I can ask, what did you use to spray on it to clean before starting the job? Many thanks, Jeff and Julie s/v OoLaLa Westsail32 hull 81

[@SVImpavidus]

Thanks 👍 Just a little WD 40 on a rag. It works wonders. Sail Safe mate. Ant & Cid

[@Royden58]

Water in fuel

[@SVImpavidus]

What? Did you watch the video? Water in the fuel will stop the engine, slow the RPM, cause, damage to the pump and injectors if not caught in the filtration system. IT WILL NOT CAUSE WHITE SMOKE!

[@Royden58]

@@SVImpavidus Yes I did watch the video. Small amounts of water in fuel especially from condensation forming in the tank will not cause a hydraulic lock and will burn off in the combustion process as steam, hence white smoke, especially when the engine is cold.

[@SVImpavidus]

Absolute waffle! Please don't make comments that are absolutely untrue, ill advised and may give false information to our valued subscribers. They come to this channel to get advice and knowledge from a chartered engineer with over 45 years experience. Not some bloke called Roy that has just enough armchair experience to be a nuisance and dangerous to those that need help. Otherwise for the good of our subscribers we will have no alternative but to delete your comments and block you from posting.