Engine Oil Leakage - Zero or How Much

[viben]

For a 2011 Yanmar 40hp, model 3JH5E, with less than 1,200 hours, how much engine oil leakage would you consider normal or acceptable - ie. none at all, a few drops in the dip pan after an hour or so, or more?

Your experienced / expert views will be greatly appreciated.

[markwesti]

That's a big engine , we have a Yanmar 15 . It leaks oil, it has 1K hrs.time on it . It doesn't leak much I wipe it up easy with a rag say after 5 hrs. run time . Ours is coming (I think) from the valve cover . So I'm not real worried , but I'm going to fix it this winter . Where is your leak? And how much does it leak after 5 hrs. or 1 hr . ? Anyhow to answer your question IMO you need to fix it . A friend of mine did some work on his Perkins 4 108 (pulled it from the boat ) he got it back in the boat and it leaked bad , it was coming from the pan and hitting the fly wheel so it had to come out again , he just put in some soak up pads in and kept a eye on the level .

[boatpoker]

about 23,000hrs in my log .... no leakage is acceptable !

[Sailmonkey]

1800 hours and we don't leak a drop, and if we were I'd be all over it!!

[a64pilot]

Many engines you just can't stop all the leaks, ask a Perkins owner, but Yanmars don't normally leak, I'd fix it if there is enough to form a drop. My 30 yr old 4JHE doesn't even seep oil.

[brianlara 3]

Originally Posted by viben

For a 2011 Yanmar 40hp, model 3JH5E, with less than 1,200 hours, how much engine oil leakage would you consider normal or acceptable - ie. none at all, a few drops in the dip pan after an hour or so, or more?

Your experienced / expert views will be greatly appreciated.

You should be able to wipe the oil pan ( sump) with your best clean shirt.
Your oil leak, if you have one, could well be coming from the PCV system (positive crankcase ventilation).
There is possibly a pcv valve or a breather hose which is blocked or has collapsed internally through rough handling. PCV valve full of sludge from emulsified oil if a head gasket has blown at a w/jacket port. Not uncommon in MV's or boats.
Sight unseen: 1 Blocked pcv system . 2 A failured crankshaft oil seal at one end or the other. My money's on a blocked pvc system having done a bit of this sort of thing. PCV not PVC !

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Many engines you just can't stop all the leaks, ask a Perkins owner, but Yanmars don't normally leak, I'd fix it if there is enough to form a drop. My 30 yr old 4JHE doesn't even seep oil.

1971 Perkins HT6-354 at 20,000hrs ..... no leaks, simply not allowed

[Sandero]

How do you salts actually clean an engine... in prep for painting or touch up?

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by Sandero

How do you salts actually clean an engine... in prep for painting or touch up?

Sunlight dish soap, lots of fresh water and many paper towels.
Light sanding where required and painted with Tremclad (Can) or Rustoleum (US).

[Tayana42]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

...My 30 yr old 4JHE doesn't even seep oil.

Mine too. 4JHE with almost 3,000 hours on it doesn't leak a drop. If it started to drip I'd track it down and fix it.

[ramblinrod]

Originally Posted by viben

For a 2011 Yanmar 40hp, model 3JH5E, with less than 1,200 hours, how much engine oil leakage would you consider normal or acceptable - ie. none at all, a few drops in the dip pan after an hour or so, or more?

Your experienced / expert views will be greatly appreciated.

Normal? How long is a piece of string?

Acceptable? Zero.

If no seals or gaskets leak, one can reasonable expect that during the next run cycle, they will still not leak.

If a seal starts leaking a small amount, how sure are we the next run cycle it will not turn into a gusher?

The reality is a seal that leaks is a failed seal and should be replaced.

Then there is the practical side, I am so busy repairing other people's boats, I lived with an oil leak for 2 years. I am now in the middle of a repower, replacing a 40 year old Farymann R30 M with a 30 year old Yanmar 3GMF.

(For a number of reasons, repairing the engine was less desirable than replacing.)

[leftbrainstuff]

No leakage. is acceptable.

We have a Perkins 4-236, 32 years old with 3900 hours. It has a minor weep at the rear of the rocker cover. Simple fix but it can wait. Also no leaks from the transmission.

Also have a minor weep at the timing cover seal. Since degreased it hardly weeps at all.

Sent from my SM-N900T using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[TheThunderbird]

The oil level stick gasket was a source of problem in my kubota genny.

[kelbylinn]

We have twin 453 Detroit Diesels that were both rebuilt about 500 hours ago. After rebuilding, we had spot leaks in pan on my drip pads. We replaced the valve cover gaskets, and they are now dry. I've heard that is almost a first for old Detroit Diesels to be dripless...

[SeeMonstrEd]

My Perkins 4-236 80HP is 20 years old with 7800 hours on it and it does not leak a drop.
If it is leaking find it and fix it, or the day you forget to check your oil level you will be buying a new engine.