What oil for a Yanmar 4JH3E

[Esmerelda]

Does anyone have any recommendations for what oil I should use for a Yanmar 4JH3E? I am confused by all the alternative classifications as they all seem to make the oils "overspecced" compared to what I believe I need. Would something like http://www.halfords.com/motoring-tr...fords-15w40-mineral-petrol-diesel-oil-5l#tab1 be suitable?

Thanks

 

[sailorman]

Ideal

• Oil viscosity: 15W/40
• Oil industry standards: ACEA A3/B3 and API SL CF CF-4

any 15>40 CF or CF4

 

[Steve Clayton]

Quite a few threads on this engine. (I have one)
ONLY bog standard mineral oil.
NOT semi or fully synthetic - it will wreck the engine.
15W/40 is fine

 

[Talulah]

If you are going to Halfords their Mobil oil is currently 20% off.
http://www.halfords.com/motoring-tr.../engine-oil/mobil-super-1000-x1-15w-40-oil-5l

I changed the oil on our Yanmar 4JH4E this weekend.
I have a Pela oil extraction pump. Previously I extracted the oil by inserting the Pela tube in to the dipstick tube.
This time I thought I would try by adapting the Pela tube to go over the outside of the dipstick tube and using a hoseclip to secure it. What a difference. Even with the oil cold it was so much easier.
The outside dipstick tube diameter is 15mm. The outside diameter of the Pela tube is 10mm so I went to the chandlery to get some approriate tube.
Note: The tube has to go far enough over the dipstick tube to cover the tiny breather hole near the top of the dipstick tube.
By doing this with the engine cold it also meant changing the oil filter was easier. Most of the oil in it had drained back into the engine.

 

[vyv_cox]

Are you sure the dipstick tube extends right down to the bottom of the sump? I would have thought this unlikely based on many engines I have worked on. In that case the old oil cannot be completely drained.

 

[Esmerelda]

Thanks for the replies. I hadn't spotted the Mobil oil because if you select Mineral Oil only, it doesn't come up - off to Halfords now...

 

[VicS]

Are you sure the dipstick tube extends right down to the bottom of the sump? I would have thought this unlikely based on many engines I have worked on. In that case the old oil cannot be completely drained.

ITYWF that the dipstick tube is attached to a fitting on the sump similar to this:-

 

[Talulah]

Are you sure the dipstick tube extends right down to the bottom of the sump? I would have thought this unlikely based on many engines I have worked on. In that case the old oil cannot be completely drained.

Yes. Mine does go to the base of the sump.
As per Vics schematic.

 

[Sailfree]

I went through all this a few months ago for engine Yanmar 4JH3E-TE

Important things are
1. 15W40 Oil
2. Mineral Oil
3. Low TBN number

Engine spec is CD oil but this dates back to some 1980 spec and since then oils have gone through CF, CG, CH et onwards. A higher spec oil is not a good thing and from what I gleaned from some answers they have higher a higher TBN which causes deposits on the pistons and cause bore glazing which restricts lubrication.


I bought a cheap 12v electric oil pump from LIDL. Got max amount out from dipstick and then removed drain plug and got a further 0.5l or so of dirty oil out. Mopped this up with tissues! Not sure engines in boat are mounted horizontal hence a small amount remains.


I ended up phoning Morris Lubricants technical dept and ordered 25l can of their fleet mineral oil (IIRC CDX) which is CF grade. It has a TBN of 10 (lower would be better)

Its worth looking up previous threads

Hope this helps

 

[Mistroma]

If you are going to Halfords their Mobil oil is currently 20% off.
http://www.halfords.com/motoring-tr.../engine-oil/mobil-super-1000-x1-15w-40-oil-5l

I changed the oil on our Yanmar 4JH4E this weekend.
I have a Pela oil extraction pump. Previously I extracted the oil by inserting the Pela tube in to the dipstick tube.
This time I thought I would try by adapting the Pela tube to go over the outside of the dipstick tube and using a hoseclip to secure it. What a difference. Even with the oil cold it was so much easier.
The outside dipstick tube diameter is 15mm. The outside diameter of the Pela tube is 10mm so I went to the chandlery to get some approriate tube.
Note: The tube has to go far enough over the dipstick tube to cover the tiny breather hole near the top of the dipstick tube.
By doing this with the engine cold it also meant changing the oil filter was easier. Most of the oil in it had drained back into the engine.

Which variant do you have, 4JH4AE, 4JH4-TE or 4JH4-HTE? I have the 4JH4AE and spec. for that is CH-4 and often have to search this out (currently have 15 litres so OK for a few years). The other variants use CD or higher so Halfords Mobil Super 1000 is OK for them (API SL CF).

Operation manual says:
Engine Oil Specifications
NOTICE: Using engine oil that does not meet or exceed the following guidelines or specifications may cause seizure of parts, abnormal wear and shorten engine life. Use an engine oil that meets or exceeds the following guidelines and classifications:
• 3JH4E, 4JH4-TE and 4JH4-HTE: API Service Categories CD or higher
• 4JH4AE: API Service Category CH-4 only

• SAE Viscosity: 10W30, 15W40. Engine oil 10W30 and 15W40 can be used throughout the year.

 

[Sailfree]

Beware of the statement CD or higher.

Its the too high a spec oils and synthetic or semi synthetic oils that cause the problems

 

[Talulah]

Which variant do you have, 4JH4AE, 4JH4-TE or 4JH4-HTE?...

We have the 4JH4E (Around 2007). It's not marked with anything else.
But it's the normal aspirated engine.

 

[Mistroma]

We have the 4JH4E (Around 2007). It's not marked with anything else.
But it's the normal aspirated engine.

The only numbers listed in my manual are: 3JH4E, 4JH4AE, 4JH4-TE and 4JH4-HTE

As far as I can see, AE seems to be normally aspirated with TE turbocharged and HTE a more highly tuned version of TE (aftercooler?). No mention of a 4 cyl. 4JH4E (just a 3JH4E).

I did see a 4JH4E listed elsewhere ages ago and it seemed to have the same output and spec. as the 4JH4AE apart from a 60A alternator instead of 80A. I also saw a comment saying that the AE was a newer version with a mod. to improve fuel consumption. So it it's reasonable to expect it to use the same oil as my 2009 54HP 4JH4AE. Yanmar spec. is "CH-4 only" for my 4JH4AE as mentioned earlier.

However, I did find a manual for 4JH3E and that said to use API CD. So no way of knowing correct spec. for 4JH4E and CD might be correct after all (or not ).

Did your manual state CD (as per Mobil product you are using) or was it just a guess? Best to check with a Yanmar dealer to be certain of correct spec. for 4JH4E if your manual doesn't state correct oil.

 

[Talulah]

The only numbers listed in my manual are: 3JH4E, 4JH4AE, 4JH4-TE and 4JH4-HTE

As far as I can see, AE seems to be normally aspirated with TE turbocharged and HTE a more highly tuned version of TE (aftercooler?). No mention of a 4 cyl. 4JH4E (just a 3JH4E).

I did see a 4JH4E listed elsewhere ages ago and it seemed to have the same output and spec. as the 4JH4AE apart from a 60A alternator instead of 80A. I also saw a comment saying that the AE was a newer version with a mod. to improve fuel consumption. So it it's reasonable to expect it to use the same oil as my 2009 54HP 4JH4AE. Yanmar spec. is "CH-4 only" for my 4JH4AE as mentioned earlier.

However, I did find a manual for 4JH3E and that said to use API CD. So no way of knowing correct spec. for 4JH4E and CD might be correct after all (or not ).

Did your manual state CD (as per Mobil product you are using) or was it just a guess? Best to check with a Yanmar dealer to be certain of correct spec. for 4JH4E if your manual doesn't state correct oil.

The old oil in the Yanmar was Mobil 2000. This time I've put in Mobil 1000 blended with the remains of partly empty oil containers that were sitting in the shed. Most of these were Halfords semi-synthetic.
I don't get too het up about the oil in these marine engines. Apart from avoiding fully synthetic I just stick to approximately the correct viscosity.
The manual does give a range of specs to use. The engine is 2007.