First engine service

[Alain Brauckmann]

How many hours passed before you have done your first engine service ?

[CAN DRAC]

Our 54hp yanmar requires maintenance after 50 hours and every 250 hours or once a year whatever comes first. We have just finished our 3rd maintenance in a year so you can figure out how much we've used it!

[Alain Brauckmann]

50 hours, thats a problem ....
Our first trip this summer will be 1700 sm.
Koper (Slo) to Corfu (Grease) and back (every thing in 2 mounths).
I can not immagine doing this service in the middle of our trip ...
50 hours is nothing on a trip like this ;-(

[CAN DRAC]

Use your sails, then, not your engine!

:-)

Just kidding.

But seriously: Keep in mind that the 50h maintenance is the MOST important! You'll lose your warranty if you skip it!

That engine will take care of you for life as long as you take care of it properly. And you must follow the instructions during those hours (high revs every few hours for a few minutes, etc)

I would take a couple of days to do a shakedown cruise first and do your 50h maintenance before your long passage.

[Michael Cioffi]

Hmmm i dont think we did that 50th and we now have 70hrs

[CAN DRAC]

It's OK. We actually did ours at 60h. Do it now, though!

[Alain Brauckmann]

I have one week, (if the Boat is ready in time they promised) before we start. Just the time to check if every thing is ok and to learn how to park.
What did they have done at this service?
Is it just an oil change or do they do something else ? Changing the Oil, I could do it by myself on the way ...
Warranty problems .... My engine will never see an official Yanmar mechanic, I have my own private mechanic.

[CAN DRAC]

Yes, you can do it yourself. You'll need to do engine oil change, gear oil change, oil filter change, primary and secondary fuel filter change, check impeller, check belt... it will all be in your engine manual. Also pay attention to the recommended rev exercises during the first hours, as that will help you break it in and get the most performance on your engine after that.

[Alain Brauckmann]

" Also pay attention to the recommended rev exercises during the first hours, as that will help you break it in and get the most performance on your engine after that. "

Can you tell me more about this ?

[CAN DRAC]

It's all in your engine manual. For example, ours says: "During the first 10 hours of operation, the engine should be run at maximum rpm minus 400-500 rpm (approximately 60-70% of load) most of the time. This will ensure the sliding parts break-in properly..."

Then, between 10 and 50 hours they recommend running the engine at 70% load with a 10 minute run at 80% load and a 4-5 minute run at wide open throttle every 30 minutes. It also literally says: "This is not the time for an extended cruise at idle or low speed"

[Alain Brauckmann]

Thanks ...
Now I have to hope that I have enough of time in the first week to do those 50 hours ...
If not I have to do this service before the 50 hours .... :-(

"This is not the time for an extended cruise at idle or low speed"
This sound good .... :-)

[Mike Brown]

Another way to do your break in is to make sure you change your RPMs approximatley every 20 mins. If you're going to do a long trip do the oil change as close to the 50 hrs as possible and worry about the fuel filters when you get back. Also remember to change your transmission oil when you change your oil at 50 hrs. Yanmar want's you to change it at 50 hrs because they have special oil designed to aide the break in of the engine parts. You should not leave the oil in too much longer than that time since it may not be good for the engine. I just did both today. I had to borrow a friends oil pump since the tubing for mine would not fit down the dip stick tube. Otherwise all went well.
Mike
Mike