Yanmar engines

Whitelighter

Whitelighter

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What is the forums opinion on Yanmar engines, or more importantly the drives and electronics that come with them? I know the engines themselves are pretty good (BMW derived units I think) but what about guages and systems etc? Are Bravo III legs still the only option or are there other choices?

Out to the Gothenburg BS on Sunday to have a dealer meeting and I spotted one of our new boats has a Yanmar rather than a VP installed. Don't know much else, but just wanted some unbiased opinions before seeing it all on Sunday.
 
Hi Jez

I had Yanmar LP4 z whatever installed in my Chap in 2002 and we went for Bravo ones with 4 bladed props. The Bravo three is a heavy old thing and unless you want out of the hole speed they are not worth it. Electronics panel is naff, you see it on a lot of ribs but we just picked the bones out of it and used the standard gauges except for the rev counters where we used the inards into re calibrated sports boat gauges so they would fit in the dash.

Six years on swear by them, runs rings round the Mercruiser or Vovo engined boats of the same size.

Gary
 
Great engines, quiet light and powerful (You've seen the way my boat goes!) but they absolutley take the piss on spares pricing.
eg i broke a drive coupling and it was best part of £2000 from yanmar. I realised it had a UNC threaded grease nipple so it must have been sourced from Mercruiser as the japanese use metric. I lined them up against the mercruser parts and the identical part was just $500 from the states. Andy Judge the mercruiser guru on Hayling Island charged even less for an unused secondhand one he had on the shelf.
Tried to change the oil pressure sender recently and they wanted £90+VAT, and obviously you can just use a pattern part for this for a few 10s of pounds.
So you can usually get the bits from the engine manufacturer (toyota for mine) or mercruiser but this takes patience to work out the appropriate part and some things you just have to stand there whilst they rip you off.
Bravo 3 legs are fine as long as you cool them properly, a shower and through leg water pick up for the engine - don't use the blanking kit available from Mercruiser and drag it all though the hull, use a Y and pick up through leg and hull.
Panels are cheap looking but they'd look out of place on a modern boat anyway, use 3rd party stuff like faria.
 
Some months ago I considered replacing the Merc petrol engine in my boat by a diesel. I had an intensive search on different models. The Yanmar BY series turned out to have the best power to weight ratio, and had a good reputation, but when searching further after details, I coundn't find ANYBODY with some positive experience with these engines, I couldn't even find sombody with SOME experience. I placed a post on 4 forums about this, and on none of them came some usefull advice. After a further search on the net, it became clear that this Yanmar engine was not yet in full production and that there were still some remaining technical issues. I also have to say that I was very disappointed about the support and answers I ve got from the distributor and dealers in my area, they couldn't answer any question. This was a real disappointment as I was really in to some alternative modern diesel engine, different from mainstream VP en merc.
On the other hand, another conclusion after my search was that the other Yanmar models seem to have a good quality, and reliable reputation (Toyota based I believe) but these are not exceptional power to weight and specs, and too big and too heavy for my application.
Prices on spares and availability of support seemed to be a general issue for all Yanmar models, everywhere.
Finally my modest opinion about the Mercruiser legs;
many positive and negative comments everywhere, but for me one very important remark, these legs are the most sold and spread models so you can get advice, service, spare parts, support, ... almost everywhere near water.
I don't know of any other brand of legs, other then Volvo, Yamaha, and merc, (the only that supply's oem) and this is probably the one with the most experience, and the biggest numbers of legs in use. (so automatically the most comments, complains..etc)
So far my modest opinion / experience, best regards.
 
Got a pair of 6LP STZE 300hp on Bravo III legs and no problems.

Local Yanmar dealer swears by them...and in all fairness he is quite an honest old boy and knows his onions...he is less than complimentary about VP...especially the new D series.

I try and get all my "big" spares from the States...and consumables too...soooooooo much money over here. Agree try to get pattern or Toyota bits too...where possible. But a job lot of anodes, filters etc etc once every few years is worth it even with shipping and tax.

Just had a big service done...back in the water in a week or so...can't wait.
 
Have a pair of Yanmar 260hp 6 cyl on shafts. Very happy with them, and very quite compared D4s. The only one I've heard problems with was the 300/315 hp versions being smokey at low speed running (ie inland due to over cooling). The 260, 350 and 440s have a sound reputation over here, parts are easy to get in UK/IRL and can be a fraction of Volvo marine prices. Plenty of mechanics with Yanmar knowledge.
 
the my knowledge they have among the best power to wieght and consumption of the category...
what some people dont like which might not make them so good for a heavy flybridge cruiser is there high boostness and high revving system
 
Having worked for the main 3 manufacturers I can confirm that Yanmar are by far the most reliable, the 4 cyl units are built in the states, the 6's are based on Toyota engines (speaks for itself).
The new electronic diesels are not BMW but in fact Steyer as are BMW's own diesels used in their cars.There were a few teething troubles but are now sorted i understand.
 
I travel to the US a fair bit for work so pick stuff up.

I have found these guys to be about half UK price:
http://www.boatswainslocker.com/

You could see if they'll ship internationally...the guy I deal with is Eric Brun.

I have found them to be about half UK street price for most stuff...sometimes less.

Why not talk to Doug Russel.com and see if they'll do Yanmar too?

I would be very interested to know if you do find a mailorder shop.
 
Doug Russell is where I get my merc parts but they don't do Yanmar as far as I know.
Every Yanmar dealer I've spoken to in the states tells me they are prohibited by Yanmar from selling outside their own territory - if you collect yours in person that explains how you can buy there. This would be illegal in the EU as it is blatantly anti competitive.
Great engines but there is a lot to be said for Mercruiser and their (relatively) cheap spares.
 
I am new to this forum as I have spent the last 15 years in the U.S. marine industry.

Yanmar were very strong in U.S. however they have hit big problems.

1. The 6LP is subject to a major lawsuit. When it approaches 1000 hs you hear a slight ticking as you come off the power. Continue to use the engine and the exhaust valve drops wrecking the engine.

Yanmar are having to replace literally hundreds of engines as owners brought a Class Action Lawsuit a Yanmar continued to sell engines knowing full well there was a problem. I was amazed to find out it was all being hushed up over here.

If you Google Yanmar class action lawsuit you will get the whole story. I also have Yanmar Distributor information if you need to put pressure on your European Distributor in order to get the same coverage as owners in the U.S.

2. The 6LY2 is coming in for serious flack now it is a few years old. First people got pissed because the 440 turned out to be the same engine, just games with fuel temperatures. The engine is very sensitive to overload not helped by inaccurate tacho's.

When the engine overheats due to overloading piston damages the block. The bad news is that the linerless design is not repairable due to a fancy bore treatment, you need a new block, which comes close to the cost of complete new motor, making it a throwaway engine.

The new LYA3 is a complete disaster. It smokes worse than the previous LYA2 Dealers are struggling with the service tooling and setting up throttle delay, as the weed grows you need to have it reset or else the engine black smokes like crazy getting over the hump. The injection system is Yanmar kit and cost of the injectors alone is astronomical. We were quoted $8000 a set, not a typo yes $8000.

We had a presentation from Mack Boring Inc the U.S. Yanmar Distributor on the BY when it was launched, yes it is a BMW motor, not a Styer we had guys from BMW at the presentation as Yanmar in the U.S are making a big thing of being BMW due to strong brand image. Somebody asked the question and the BMW guys said 100% BMW designed and manufactured with common rail fuel system unlike the unit injector fixed head Styer stuff. The only concession was that BMW sub contract work to Styer which is where this roumour probaly came from.

The upside is that despite a safety recall the Yanmar/BMW 4BY 6BY engines are doing real well. Last time I looked they had sold 2000 units during 2007.

A good resource for sound information is boatdiesel.com

Good luck Mike
 
I guess it partly depends on initial boat price - whether it's that much cheaper for someone not to go Volvo.
A mid sized (28 - 50ft) volvo engined leisure boat will in almost all cases sell quicker and for more £ than something without. But you know that already...
 
Interesting read i took it to Belgium for the Yanmar distributor meeting a few raised concerned eyebrows.

But to put the record straight about the new BY engines they are built by STYER to BMW specifications. The guys from STYER were there.

Also at the same plant where these engines roll out they also build Rifles for competition use. The Mercedes A-class, and E-class vehicles as well as ash trays for BMW 3 series cars!!!
 
Latestarter1 said:
I am new to this forum as I have spent the last 15 years in the U.S. marine industry.

Yanmar were very strong in U.S. however they have hit big problems.

1. The 6LP is subject to a major lawsuit. When it approaches 1000 hs you hear a slight ticking as you come off the power. Continue to use the engine and the exhaust valve drops wrecking the engine.

Yanmar are having to replace literally hundreds of engines as owners brought a Class Action Lawsuit a Yanmar continued to sell engines knowing full well there was a problem. I was amazed to find out it was all being hushed up over here.

If you Google Yanmar class action lawsuit you will get the whole story. I also have Yanmar Distributor information if you need to put pressure on your European Distributor in order to get the same coverage as owners in the U.S.

2. The 6LY2 is coming in for serious flack now it is a few years old. First people got pissed because the 440 turned out to be the same engine, just games with fuel temperatures. The engine is very sensitive to overload not helped by inaccurate tacho's.

When the engine overheats due to overloading piston damages the block. The bad news is that the linerless design is not repairable due to a fancy bore treatment, you need a new block, which comes close to the cost of complete new motor, making it a throwaway engine.

The new LYA3 is a complete disaster. It smokes worse than the previous LYA2 Dealers are struggling with the service tooling and setting up throttle delay, as the weed grows you need to have it reset or else the engine black smokes like crazy getting over the hump. The injection system is Yanmar kit and cost of the injectors alone is astronomical. We were quoted $8000 a set, not a typo yes $8000.

We had a presentation from Mack Boring Inc the U.S. Yanmar Distributor on the BY when it was launched, yes it is a BMW motor, not a Styer we had guys from BMW at the presentation as Yanmar in the U.S are making a big thing of being BMW due to strong brand image. Somebody asked the question and the BMW guys said 100% BMW designed and manufactured with common rail fuel system unlike the unit injector fixed head Styer stuff. The only concession was that BMW sub contract work to Styer which is where this roumour probaly came from.

The upside is that despite a safety recall the Yanmar/BMW 4BY 6BY engines are doing real well. Last time I looked they had sold 2000 units during 2007.

A good resource for sound information is boatdiesel.com

Good luck Mike
Click to expand...
I own a 2003 Sunseeker Superhawk with twin 6lp Yanmar turbo diesel engines with 800 hours. A few weeks ago my starboard engin began to uderperform, white smoke came out the exhaust and a loud metal banging noise came from that engine. I sent an email describing what happened to Yanmar and learned that there was a recall for that engine, there was a class action and a settlement. i further learned that my engine numbers were within the parameters of the recall, but I was never notified. I have been in contact with Yanmar to no avail. Since my engines were not “ registered “ with Yanmar, they will not replace the exhaust valves, nor repair/ replace the damage to the engine. They even went a step further and denied any defect with the exhaust valves. I learned that there was a web site “Yanmar Settlement.com” which has been taken down. My emails to Yanmar ended up with an email from General Counsel for Yanmar who told me that I was looking to replace 14 year old engines without any grounds I got a lot of information from the internet but can’t find the specifics of the Class action settlement and the specific defect other than “exhaust valve failure” which collapses or makes contact with the piston. I am an attorney in New York and I will start a product liability lawsuit against Yanmar, but need more specific information. Any help would be appreciated. FINO
 
Iam no legal guy but isn,t initial registration the gateway to warranty claims in the normal world ?

Is there a time frame any how of long warranties last [ insert years ] + loads of provisos ?

lastly if a Co was to pay out or make good for defects some time outside the above ......wouldn't they do this on a sort of ( I,am not a lawyer remember ) way to suggest it’s a one off to each and means others like you can not necessarily turn up 14 years or what ever later and assume because you think a guy once or many guys got satisfaction....you are automatically are going to get the same ....in this case new engines .?

There has to be a cut off ....closure for the Co at fault ?

They will say they contacted everyone on the list of registrants and offered to make good .

Do you think they will play main dealer service card ?
You have not said but if they have been serviced outside there dealer network or within- with approved parts and lubricants by approved agents then where do think you stand to claim if it’s fallen out of there network?

Does not change the manufacturing defect if that what you are claiming but after 14 years and 800 hrs they will argue Wallmart oil etc changed every other season is a contributing factor to the valve stem failure .
If you had a full stamped up Yanmar service book by Yanmar agents .....then they would have picked up on the recall n the early years .......as I said they seem to have done all they could at the time .
 
Last edited:
If you check the date the previous posts date back to 2008
you could try a PM to late starter but he has not posted for some time nov 2018 however if you can contact him he is a mine of information
 
Reading around the subject of valve failure ( cars + marine )
Its seems to do with a layer of the products of combustion attaching to the valve seal rim .
Both petrol or diesel ....same phenomenon.
More so with diesel , but petrol additives or lack of can have similar effects .
This layer acts as a cushion and absorbs the shock when the valve hits the seat .
This protective layer builds up on both surfaces the valve and the seat .Some seating metals are better absorbers with or without this combustion layer than others .

The exhaust gas temp is crucial to this protective layer as is best laid down at 550 to 600 degrees with marine diesels
Venture outside of theses temps and this layer diminishes and the shock loading increases leading to fracture of the stem .


It was commonly thought loose valve guides= wobble = fracture but that’s not been proven .That = loss of power , and increased oil consumption and smoke from the oil escaping .Loose valve guides were thought to be poor manufacturing tolerances and / or poor lubricant , the oils not up to the job in there .

Anyhow all things being equal ( ie perfectly set up ) it’s the lack of protective layers from combustion products forming on the two surfaces that contact , or put another way the loss of cushion effect that leads to early demise of valves stems .

Valves and seats made of materials resistant to the “cushion “ formation you can see are partly responsible .

So find out what materials your engines valves and seats are made of .
Then see if Yanmar moved away from those materials after the debacle , when and why ? .....That’s your way in .
 
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