YANMAR 4JH80 vs YANMAR 4JH4-TE/4JH3-TE

[knot smart]

Good afternoon all,
I need to either rebuild the existing (submerged in salt water)4JH3-TE or drop in a new 4JH4-TE or the 4JH80. I've read older threads with all the concerns about the new electronic systems and how there could potentially be issues.

My main question is... now that the 4JH80 has been out for a few years, have any of the concerns about the electronics been founded? any issues?

Our old 99' Bene 352 had the 3GM??..I loved it. It started every time and never had to do a thing but change the filters and the oil. For that reason, i swear by the mechanical models.

However, i do like the idea of the same horse power at 200 less RPM's that the 4JH80 offers..


thanks for your help

[Ben51]

From what I have read, you just do not want to take a chance with the newer Common Rail units, IF you are away from US waters. Parts & knowledgeable mechanics would be hard to find offshore, Caribbean, Bahamas, etc.

[skipperpete]

There is an interesting post from “ dustybilges” in 2009 regarding commonrail diesel engines in sailboats and he actually returned the engine that he purchased because of his concerns. Yanmar resisted introducing common rail models on sailboats for as long as possible but finally folded. The larger commercial engines have been fully electronic for quite a while with varying degrees of reliability.
If you sail across oceans or in coastal waters where technology is at a low level of usage, avoid common rail engines.

[skipperpete]

The Dustybilges post was in 2014 not 2009🤢