Yanmar Turbo Blower Wash

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ip485

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I cant easily seem to find anyone that supplies Yanmar Turbo Wash in the UK. The part number I have I also think has changed. Anyone any thoughts please?

The current part number I think is 974500-00400, and there are one or two suppliers in Europe possibly.

However 5 litres or whatever it is would last for ever so I was also hoping for the smaller size that use to be available.

Perhaps there is an alternative?
 
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Norman_E said:
The man who services my engine says don't do it!
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Well established procedure on ships but those turbos are about 5 feet in diameter. Engine is slow ahead and water injected into the exhaust side. Usually done on night watches so smoke, and whatever is dislodged is not apparent to fellow mariners!
 
Norman_E - does he give any reason? I ask becasue the Yanmar manual suggests that it should be done and sets out the procedure - so it is interesting to know why he recommends a departure from Yanmar's recommendations?
 
Basically he says its not necessary if the engine is running OK and can do damage if too much is injected. My engine has about 5,600 hours on it and the turbo has never had the treatment. I can see the difference with ships engines where the fuel can be pretty dirty stuff but a small turbo diesel run on the same fuel supplied for road use should not need it any more than my last diesel car that did close on 100,000 miles without a turbo clean.
 
Norman_E - well that does make sense. I had mine taken apart a couple of years ago as it seemed like a good idea to have it checked. There was actually very little carbon at all after about 1,800 tac hours. so perhaps best left well alone - thank you. Out of interest as I am guessing you have the same / similiar engine have you had any particular issues or any preventive maintenance you have found helpful. Touch wood mine has been very good, other than an occasional loss of power which I am just about certain is down to the Racor filter eventually getting clogged and one bad tank of diesel some whole back.
 
Norman_E said:
Basically he says its not necessary if the engine is running OK and can do damage if too much is injected. My engine has about 5,600 hours on it and the turbo has never had the treatment. I can see the difference with ships engines where the fuel can be pretty dirty stuff but a small turbo diesel run on the same fuel supplied for road use should not need it any more than my last diesel car that did close on 100,000 miles without a turbo clean.
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Not necessarily the correct answer. Has been seen recently with all the troubles concerning particulate filters in vehicles when lightly used the particulates do not burn off. Probably your car with 100k on the clock was regularly used on some very long journeys thus raising the exhaust temperature to a high degree sufficient to burn off the turbo. This is not always the case in the marine environment, people seem afraid to stretch the engines capability.

As for ships, the effect of blade contamination can result in imbalance thus leading to premature bearing failure and the possibility of a turbo fire causing gross over speed. They have been known to disintegrate.

Note a system of dry cleaning also exists.
 
Next time I see the engineer I will ask him again. I do give the engine a full revs run every so often, and I also give my turbo diesel car a regular flat out acceleration run to keep the particulate filter clean.
 
Does anyone have a link to the Yanmar recommendation? Genuinely interested to read it.

I worked for a turbo manufacturer for 20 years until 2005 and in my time we never made any such recommendation to clean either compressor or turbine stages. Generally considered non-service. All that should be required is to maintain good inlet air filtration, regular oil and filter changes, decent quality fuel and oil. Small turbos can rev anywhere from 100 to 200,000 rpm. Any foreign body and/or slight imbalance can ruin your bank account. Few people have access to equipment capable of balancing the rotating assembly to such small amounts.

Acknowledging that the marine sector may have unique challenges, hence happy to read the background to the recommendation.
 
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