In August I bought a new (to me) Ranger 21 tug, with a Yanmar 3 cylinder diesel engine. I love the boat, and its going to be a great Albin 27 downsize for me.
The seller told me it had been stored, unused, for 3 years, and he was having a hard time starting it. I assumed nothing could be hurt by 3 years of storage, and since the seller didn't sound like the worlds best mechanic, I figured I could handle the engine.
I did get it started, by releasing the compression levers on 2 cylinders and bringing them on one at a time. It sounded pretty good, but we heard an air leak, that proved to be major blow-by in the crankcase. They yard guy suggested it probably had stuck rings, and said to try SeaFoam additive.
I ran a couple hours, but no improvement. I decided the engine had to come out and get torn down.
I took it to Mack Boring, the major Yanmar distributor. When they got it apart it had 2 pistons with badly broken rings, and rusty cylinders. Apparently the rings rusted to the cylinders, then when it was cranked over the rings broke, and the pieces scored the cylinders.
I asked the seller about oil change, and he admitted to never changing the oil. He bought the boat, put it into a covered storage building in Beaufort NC, then had health problems and the boat remained for 3 years. He had no idea if the previous owner had ever changed the oil.
So apparently the dirty, contaminated oil did its work over the 3 years of storage.
The good news is I now have essentially a new engine, bored oversize, new rod and main bearings, new valves, fuel system fully rebuilt. That total package was done at a fixed price of $3827.
So, change that oil every time you store the boat, you never know what may prevent you from getting back to the boat.
The seller told me it had been stored, unused, for 3 years, and he was having a hard time starting it. I assumed nothing could be hurt by 3 years of storage, and since the seller didn't sound like the worlds best mechanic, I figured I could handle the engine.
I did get it started, by releasing the compression levers on 2 cylinders and bringing them on one at a time. It sounded pretty good, but we heard an air leak, that proved to be major blow-by in the crankcase. They yard guy suggested it probably had stuck rings, and said to try SeaFoam additive.
I ran a couple hours, but no improvement. I decided the engine had to come out and get torn down.
I took it to Mack Boring, the major Yanmar distributor. When they got it apart it had 2 pistons with badly broken rings, and rusty cylinders. Apparently the rings rusted to the cylinders, then when it was cranked over the rings broke, and the pieces scored the cylinders.
I asked the seller about oil change, and he admitted to never changing the oil. He bought the boat, put it into a covered storage building in Beaufort NC, then had health problems and the boat remained for 3 years. He had no idea if the previous owner had ever changed the oil.
So apparently the dirty, contaminated oil did its work over the 3 years of storage.
The good news is I now have essentially a new engine, bored oversize, new rod and main bearings, new valves, fuel system fully rebuilt. That total package was done at a fixed price of $3827.
So, change that oil every time you store the boat, you never know what may prevent you from getting back to the boat.