Motor service - how difficult can it be?

Engine service

I had decided to do the engine service myself. From now on, it was me and not the mechanic who changed the filters, oil, cooling water and impeller and antifreeze. A pretty ambitious plan as I still have to figure out how to open the bonnet of the car.

Replace filters

I decided to start with the most urgent. Replacement of filters. The other I could do later. On YouTube I had found a video where a man showed how to do it. The engine, like ours, was a Yanmar 3GM30f and I had also looked over the mechanic's shoulders a few times.

So how difficult could it really be.

I found tools and spare parts, put it in one place, and covered the engine compartment well with newspapers and cloths.

Two filters

There are two filters on our boat. A water separator filter and a diesel filter. It was surprisingly easy to change them. Both. When I was done, I started venting.

Venting

I started by loosening the screw at the top water separator. First there was air, but then gravity caused the diesel to flow. A mixture of air and diesel foamed around the screw. Then only diesel flowed out. I tightened the screw so the diesel stopped flowing.

Check water separator vented. 

On to the other filter. It is above the diesel tank, which meant I had to pump on a tap on the filter. But no matter how much I pumped, only air came out.

It did not happen to the man on the YouTube video and as I recalled not to the mechanic either. 

I remembered Bertil had told me that the engine was self-venting.

Didn't that mean that the remaining air would be aired out when I started the engine?

I turned the ignition key. When the red lamp was lit and the alarm tone sounded, I pressed the start button.

To my great relief, the engine started as it used to. But the relief turned into panicked confusion as there was a deep sigh as the engine died. 

I started again. But now nothing happened. At all.

... God damn it

The diagnosis was simple - air in the system.

What now?

I considered calling the mechanic and telling him the engine would not start. But what should I say?

"Hello John. Last time you were here I saw how you replaced the filters. Then I thought I could just do it myself. Now I have changed them. But. Now the engine will not start. Would you please come and help me?«

I guess I had to handle this myself.

I vented again on the water separator. No problems here. Then I started venting on the diesel filter. Still only air. 

I disassembled, examined the O-ring and screwed it on with difficulty again.

And pumped and pumped and pumped.

Only when I sat down behind the engine, and could put all my weight behind the pump movements, did I manage to make the diesel foam around the screw. Finally, only diesel flowed out.

Check for venting.

Full of confidence, I turned the ignition key and triumphantly pressed the start button.

But still nothing happened.

....God damn it

Another screw

Then I remembered that a mechanic had told me that it was necessary to vent on a screw further into the system as well.

I located it.

It looked somewhat rusty. Was that it? I found a manual on my iPhone, but could not read it because my glasses were misted by the sweat that had been drifting down over the glasses for a while. 

Then I decided it had to be the right one. I put the wrench on. Gently turned on it. The screw was really tight. Was this right? Eventually it loosened.

… Pew. Good it did not crack. 

Then I pumped and pumped again. Finally it foamed and a little later only diesel flowed out.

Once again, I vented on all three screws.

Then the miracle happens

Slightly discouraged I turned the ignition key and pressed the start button.

And then the miracle happened. 

The engine started, and not only that. It kept running and went up in revs as I pushed the throttle forward.

It felt good.

Links

A little about engine service

I could have too took hold of Lennart