Yanmar 4JH-TE service

[Caladh]

Just been doing the oil change on said engine. The Filter appeared to have been done up very FT by Hercules but I got it off eventually. The book says it take 6.3 litres of oil but my Pella extractor only got about 5 out even afer several attempts. Anyway re-filled with new oil and here's the issue - the dip stick is a curved affair into a narrow pipe on the engine. Dipping several times bought different results I guess because the stick gets caught on the pipe when extracting it. Basically I'm finding it difficult to ascertain exactly how much oil is in the engine according to the dipstick hence sometime the level appears below the recommended and sometimes above! Has anyone experienced the same issue and/or has a solution ?

 

[lpdsn]

I have exactly the same issue with the amount extracted with my 4JH-BE engine. I can usually do better than 1.3l left though, especially when also removing the filter, but it requires pumping like mad to get the last few bits out. I use flushing oil or additive every few changes to help get a bit of what I presume is sludge out.

I have occasionally had to put a screwdriver through the oil filter to get it off (fortunately my boat has a separate engine bilge so easy to clean up).

I've never had an issue with the dipstick though, even immediately after extracting the oil. Because of the boat structure I can't even lift it straight out so it always touches the sides. I'm not sure what's going wrong with yours. Make sure you push the dipstick right home after cleaning it to get the right reading. Just resting it on top gives a different answer.

 

[pagoda]

Just been doing the oil change on said engine. The Filter appeared to have been done up very FT by Hercules but I got it off eventually. The book says it take 6.3 litres of oil but my Pella extractor only got about 5 out even afer several attempts. Anyway re-filled with new oil and here's the issue - the dip stick is a curved affair into a narrow pipe on the engine. Dipping several times bought different results I guess because the stick gets caught on the pipe when extracting it. Basically I'm finding it difficult to ascertain exactly how much oil is in the engine according to the dipstick hence sometime the level appears below the recommended and sometimes above! Has anyone experienced the same issue and/or has a solution ?

I found the same issue with our 4JHAE (non turbo version). The ID of the dip tube is remarkably small and I struggled to remove oil. Fortunately there is just enough space below the sump to slide in an old ice-cream container. The Dip tube connects to the sump via a banjo bolt. I just slackened that enough to get a steady drip going and put the kettle on. It took a while as I was reluctant to take off the entire tube- due to constricted side access. Eventually got out almost everything required and tightened up the banjo again. (I did not replace the washers since it is not a connection under any pressure- just snugged up firmly).
This only works if you have some access below the sump and dip tube......

 

[stranded]

I have exactly the same issue with the amount extracted with my 4JH-BE engine. I can usually do better than 1.3l left though, especially when also removing the filter, but it requires pumping like mad to get the last few bits out. I use flushing oil or additive every few changes to help get a bit of what I presume is sludge out.

I have occasionally had to put a screwdriver through the oil filter to get it off (fortunately my boat has a separate engine bilge so easy to clean up).

I've never had an issue with the dipstick though, even immediately after extracting the oil. Because of the boat structure I can't even lift it straight out so it always touches the sides. I'm not sure what's going wrong with yours. Make sure you push the dipstick right home after cleaning it to get the right reading. Just resting it on top gives a different answer.

I get almost exactly 5 litres out, no matter how hard I pump. Advice on here when I first did it last summer was essentially ‘that’s normal’. I try to compensate by changing very regularly. Latest saga when changing fuel filters myself for the first time is that the drawing in the e-version of the Yanmar manual I have on my ‘One Drive’ shows the rotational direction to loosen/tighten the engine mounted filter the wrong way round, so I just spent a good half hour tightening it when I was trying to remove it. Took my wife to bring some intelligence to the matter - “why don’t you try turning it the other way”, which I had been reluctant to do as it was very stiff both ways and the manual was very specific to tighten only 3/4 of a turn after gasket meets face. So in the attempt to do the right thing I managed with much grunt to turn it a whole turn tighter before despairing and following wife’s advice. Fortunately, appears no harm was done, but I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that with my ineptitude this diy servicing could well cost me a lot more than paying the pros to do it!

 

[lpdsn]

Fortunately, appears no harm was done, but I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that with my ineptitude this diy servicing could well cost me a lot more than paying the pros to do it!

Ah but just think how much an inept pro would cost you.

I've not had any problems with getting the tighten/loosen direction of the oil filter, but sometimes with the secondary filter I have turned it the wrong way a bit when not concentrating. It is a conventional thread but of course you're screwing it on from underneath.

By the way, do you have the same manual as me? Mine says it covers 4JH(B)E, 4JH-T(B)E, 4JH-HT(B)E & 4JH-DT(B)E. Sec filter on page 3-47. It doesn't indicate any direction of rotation.

 

[stranded]

Ah but just think how much an inept pro would cost you.

I've not had any problems with getting the tighten/loosen direction of the oil filter, but sometimes with the secondary filter I have turned it the wrong way a bit when not concentrating. It is a conventional thread but of course you're screwing it on from underneath.

By the way, do you have the same manual as me? Mine says it covers 4JH(B)E, 4JH-T(B)E, 4JH-HT(B)E & 4JH-DT(B)E. Sec filter on page 3-47. It doesn't indicate any direction of rotation.

Yes, the inept pros are a worry. Not quite the same paper manual as you - mine goes up to TCE (it’s from 2007), but mine doesn’t have direction either. It is the electronic version that does, and it is wrong - I wondered if the diagram could somehow have got transposed when I saved it to One Drive, but the relationship of filter location to engine etc., and the other labelling, all seems the right way round. Don’t know, don’t understand IT (either), but going to listen to my wife earlier next time!

 

[PaulRainbow]

I have occasionally had to put a screwdriver through the oil filter to get it off (fortunately my boat has a separate engine bilge so easy to clean up).

You're over tightening it then

I did a pair of big Volvos in a Princess a couple of weeks ago, one filter was so tight it broke my filter strap. Ordered a new industrial grade filter tool and i had to use a long ratchet bar with a 4ft ally pole to get it undone :eek-new::nightmare: