Two oil dipsticks on my Yanmar engine

[YukonRon]

They say there are no stupid questions...so...
Does anyone else have 2 oil dipsticks on their Yanmar engine?
We have the Yanmar 4BY2-180 in our 2013 R25sc. On the port side near the oil filter is the tall oil dipstick with the yellow handle, as described in the owner's manual for checking oil. I found a second dipstick on the starboard side, way down low and near the front end of the engine, also with a yellow handle.
Searching the web I found a number of sites listing Yanmar spec sheets for this motor; and near the bottom they list Optional Engine Systems, which includes an Exhaust Side Dipstick. I assume this is for tight installations where regular dipstick access could be a problem?
So is it possible that the previous owner ordered or retrofitted this engine with both dipsticks, in order to improve access to the oil sump with the extractor tube for removing all the oil?
Has anyone else heard of this?

 

[scross]

Our R25 Classic has the Yanmar 4BY2-150 engine with the same two dipsticks.
Following advice from former owner one dipstik should (forward one I believe) read a little low and the other (aft) a little high. Since the engine is tilted slightly lower aft this made sense to me.

PS: Ron are sure you have the 180 hp Yanmar on your R25SC? I think you may have the same 4BY2-150 we have.

 

[Hydraulicjump]

No dumb questions!

The starboard side dipstick is vestigial. It is from the original car engine that Yanmar marinized. My mechanic said to use the port side one and top up your oil to it (you should notice a small difference...that and it is easier to use the port side).

 

[YukonRon]

I was surprised too when the dealer said it was a 180 hp engine. Here is the engine ID plate:

 

[YukonRon]

The port side dipstick is definitely easier to reach for checking oil. Is there any advantage to using the short starboard side tube for sucking out the used oil?

 

[rpmerrill]

I have both dipsticks on my 2012 R-27 Yanmar 4BY2-180.
Never messed with it. It is way down there.
Oil change today.... I guess I'll have to take a closer look.

 

[Brian B]

I was surprised too when the dealer said it was a 180 hp engine. Here is the engine ID plate:

That's very interesting. The difference between the 150 and 180 is in computerization. What is your top end speed with the 180 in a 25sc? I might get 15 Knots with ideal sea conditions and light load with the 150.
Guess you have a "tricked out" tug!!

 

[YukonRon]

Brian, I'm not sure if the PO ordered this boat specifically with the 180 hp engine, but my impression is that there were not many installed in the R25's. We only had the boat out the one weekend before we had to winterize. The water was a bit choppy most of the weekend, fuel and water tanks full. Looking back in my log, I hit 8.5 knots at 2900 RPM and 13 knots at 3800 RPM; if that's any help. Don't recall if that was WOT or not, but I don't think so. That was running against the chop going down the lake. On the way back we ran at 12 knots for quite a while with a following wind and waves of 1 to 2 feet. That seemed to be a comfortable mid-range cruising speed with the following "sea".
The comment on the two dipsticks being different because of the tilt of the engine got me thinking. I will be doing my maintenance work on the trailer, so I will have to be sure to level the boat when I refill the oil and check the oil level. I usually park the trailer with the tongue cranked up high, so the bilge will drain out the back. That could give me a big difference between the 2 dipsticks. Thanks, scross (Al or Vicki?) for the heads up on that one!