2000 Yanmar 4JH2-HTE with 134 Hrs

[ljrthughes]

Hello, Yanmar enthusiasts! I am purchasing a sailboat with a 2000 (mfg year) Yanmar 4JH2-HTE that has 134 Hrs on it! The engine has not been rebuilt, routine service only, and is original to the boat. It looks like it has been well-maintained, and the boat is immaculate. I'm having an engine inspection done by a diesel mechanic but, I am worried that an engine with such low hours, sitting most of the time for 23 years, will have issues like oil seals and possibly internal corrosion. I had the same issue with a Lycoming engine on my airplane which resulted in a $11,000 cam replacement. Any ideas as to what I should request as part of the engine inspection?

[GreenWave]

Oof. Run it like hell during the sea trial. Take an oil sample. Ask when it was last run and how old is the diesel in tanks.
I'd probably plan for a few thousand to clean things up after you put another 100 hours on it.

[sailorboy1]

You sure it hasn't had a meter replaced? My 2001 4jh4 has 3600 hours, but the meter says 1600.

But if it runs n s well iwouldnt worry about 134 hours

[ljrthughes]

I'm definitely going to run it hard during the sea trial! Planning on taking fluid samples for analysis as long as they have some time on them and have not recently been replaced. Once purchased we are planning on having the diesel tanks/lines drained, inspected, and cleaned, then filtered fuel and fuel additive to treat the tank for any remaining algae. New fuel filters, for sure. What about checking the compression?

[mlydon]

The very firs5 5hing you should do is confront the seller….they really put 5 hours a YEAR on the engine? The luckiest sailors in the world don’t get that much favorable wind…..SOMEBODY’s lying…….

Matt

[ljrthughes]

Seriously, this 23YO boat looks almost brand new! The owner has gone to great lengths to maintain if for him and his family. One owner boat. I will ask about the hours again and see if there is any discrepancy or possibly a new hour meter. The owner has only used the boat for occasional bay sails. I've been told no long-term sailing or living. Thank you for all your thoughts and advice...

[sailingharry]

I run a little counterculture on diesel oil age. Both of my boats came to me with diesel oil at least 5 years old. In both, I ran the diesel through the filter and the engine until the tank was low and then refilled. No disposal, no polishing, nothing. The first boat clogged a fuel filter part way through the tank, but a new filter was a lot cheaper than emptying the fuel! The second boat had no symptoms at all. Diesel is massively more stable than gasoline, and as long as it goes through a good filter does no harm to the engine. Perhaps if you are setting off in your first week for a major cruise, you might want to pay for the peace of mind. But if you will be staying local, just use the fuel up. The guy you pay to take it away will certainly be using it!

[ljrthughes]

We need to get the boat from So Cal to Oregon. I figured there would be lots of motoring, so I wanted to ensure that was one less thing to worry about. Good thought to just run it through the engine, keep a few extra filters on hand and maybe pull into a marina and inspect the tank when it is low on fuel.

[Kd9truck]

I bought a boat that was 25 years of its 26 yrs on a lake, it was immaculate. A 1990 Beneteau first 285 with 700 hrs on it. It was on a lake and stayed at the dock.
It can happen.
I think I would be most concerned about the waterways, the fexable jacketed exhaust, the heat exchange, the impeller obviously, the raw water. And definitely the fuel as mentioned.

[ljrthughes]

Unfortunately the fuel tank does not have an inspection hole. I will have to install one before we leave. Ugh

[MerMike]

You can put together a simple fuel polishing system for far less than hiring someone to do it. A Racor filter with an electric fuel pump, a battery, a few fittings and some hose is all you need. If you're feeling fancy add a stainless steel pickup tube. Suck out the gunk from the bottom of the tanks and you're done.

You still need an inspection port though.

[hugosalt]

Originally Posted by ljrthughes

Unfortunately the fuel tank does not have an inspection hole. I will have to install one before we leave. Ugh

Little known, great product, reasonable $.
Available in both SS and Aluminum, think made in 4" and 6".
Company makes tanks for trucks/cars.

"Boyd Welding, Bolt in tank clean out/access plate"

Consider tank more than likely will have baffles.

[sailingharry]

Originally Posted by hugosalt

Little known, great product, reasonable $.
Available in both SS and Aluminum, think made in 4" and 6".
Company makes tanks for trucks/cars.

"Boyd Welding, Bolt in tank clean out/access plate"

Consider tank more than likely will have baffles.

Wow. Just wow. How can they make those that cheap? That's a super find!
Someone should remarket them to the marine market and up the price to $100 each.

[hugosalt]

Originally Posted by sailingharry

Wow. Just wow. How can they make those that cheap? That's a super find!.

That was my first thought before I purchased. Then when I received/installed,
realized was quality product, and thought was made and sold by manufacturer
for the much broader truck/automotive industry without multiple middleman, marine markups.

[cdcorl]

I don’t think I would worry. We bought a 2003 in 2018 with under 300 hours (same engine). That was over 12,000 nautical miles ago, and our engine is still operates like it is new.