Living For Sailvideo
What’s Making That TICKING Noise in This Old Yanmar ENGINE?
6 July 2025 · 29 min · 53K views
What this video covers
A 30-year-old Yanmar 3GM30 diesel engine undergoes diagnostic testing to identify a persistent ticking noise and signs of poor performance, including black soot in the exhaust. Initial oil analysis from Blackstone Labs reveals elevated iron and aluminum levels, suggesting internal wear, and traces of sodium, indicating potential cross-contamination.1:14 Compression testing on the cold engine yields 420 PSI on cylinder one and 410 PSI on cylinders two and three, all within the manufacturer’s specification range.6:45 Further inspection of the valve lash shows no abnormalities, and the fresh water pump bearing remains intact.13:09 The owner replaces a broken plastic transmission dipstick with a custom-machined, anodized aluminum version from Cariblu Marine to resolve a common failure point in this engine series.19:29 After removing the flywheel housing and rear motor mounts, the engine is mounted on a stand for further disassembly of the cylinder head, pistons, and fuel injection system to locate the source of the mechanical rattle.28:19
Boats in this video
More from Living For Sail
From Living For Sail — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analysed video.
The Sailing Directory Newsletter
One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.