Yanmar 4JH4AE fuel filter replacement

[ds42]

I have a 4JH4AE in my 2008 DS42. Last week I experienced a very dangerous engine failure.  I was making way under power to a narrow harbor entrance in a 20-25knt crosswind.  Just as I was about to enter the channel, the engine died.  I was able to unfurl the main a little bit in time to avoid being blown into the shouls on the side of the channel.

Manuvered outside of the entrance and tried restarting the engine to no avail.  It would run for 30-40 seconds and then die.  Lots of possible contributing factors to consider as I had just filled the diesel tank the day before.  Potential water intrusion or debris in the new fuel or a failed fuel pump or clogged filters.  We had run the engine around 30 minutes total after the fill.

Could not get the engine restarted, so we anchored and rode out the night in a20-25knt wind. Next morning had Seatow take me into the harbor.

I ended up replacing, one at a time, the prefilter , the fuel pump and the final filter. None of the filtes appeared dirty and no water was everident.  We’re leaning towards the fuel pump as the culprit. It just went out at an inopportune time.

However, this process convinced me to replace the stock Jeanneau water separating filter under the master bed with a Racor filter with a priming pump.  I’ll also relocate the filter to the engine compartment.

Has anyone done this?  What issues did you run into?   Where did you plumb the fuel return line from the injectors? 

Thanks,
Mark

[MalcolmP]

Glad you at least kept yourself and boat safe.

This article should be a helpful start

www.jeanneau-owners.com/hintsandtips/fuelfilter.html

[puravida35]

this process convinced me to replace the stock Jeanneau water separating filter under the master bed with a Racor filter with a priming pump.

Ive owned two Jeanneaus (2005 & 2016), both with same setup. Never understood why they chose such a terrible location. Very thankful I’ve never had to access underway or in an emergency situation. I have considered just removing it on current boat as it already has a stand-alone Yanmar water separator / filter in the engine compartment in addition to fuel filter on the engine.

[John]

Hi Mark,


We have the same engine model on the 42I there was a recall on the fuel pump which was changed under warranty to a different type, this may not have been done on your engine , I would contact a yanmar dealer to check this .It may be related .

[Tafika II]

I added a dual Racor filter in the engine compartment. I removed the factor water separator fuel filter from under the aft bed completely. Since there was no fuel shutoff between the tank & the engine, I added one mounted on the engine amount rails. Pictures are attached.

[velalibera]

Hallo Rafika

nice system, did you get it from Parker ?

may I ask how much does it costs ?

thanks

Fabrizio

[Tafika II]

I bought it through Defender here in the USA for about $800 + fittings. Existing hoses were used.

[ds42]

Nice setup!  Thank you for the pictures. I was wondering where to mount the new filters.  You provided the answer.

[MickeyB]

I am always encreadibly embarrassed when I see other peoples engine bays.  How do you keep them so neat and clean!!

You do appear to have a lot more room around (I have 34.2 with 3GM30F) and it is tight to say the least.

Two questions based on the photos though if you don't mind the hijack.

1) The fuel filters - I was told they musn't be above either the engine pump or the fuel tank top (which ever is highest).  Yours appears to be very high - is my understanding a wives tale or is your fuel tank high up?

2) You have a fan at the end of your breathing hose.  I don't.  Is it recommended for certain engines?  Should I add one?  How do I know if I need to add one?  I use my boat a huge amount and can state that nothing appears to be wrong with it.....

Many thanks.

"Jealous of your engine bay" Mike.

[Tafika II]

Before I purchased the filter set, I spoke wit Parker/Racor. They never mentioned the positioning of the filters. They have been installed over 1-1/2 years with no problems. I guess if the vacuum was broken you may need to hand fill the filters, but even changing one while the other is still active never bothered the flow of fuel.
As far as the fan is concerned, this is a factory installed piece of equipment server as a blower when the engine is running to expel any fumes (never had any) and heat from the compartment.

[zofiasailing]

Unbelievable coincidence! We’ve just crossed Bass Strait and had quite a jostled trip. Just as we were closing the coast at the end of 50hours, the motor exhaust sounded a bit strange for about 30 minutes. We checked if the following seas might have forced some water up the exhaust but the amount of water seemed normal. The engine power began to diminish and then choked and motor stopped. Great! A lee shore of vertical rocks, 3 1/2 m breaking seas and 25-30kts of following wind. OK so we are a sailing vessel, are we not? So we made sail adjustments and gave ourselves some sea room and prepared to go through Schouten Passage under sail. We had the benefit of wind, tide and swell in synch, which was a bit of luck. Still not without a fright, but doable. We knew we’d find shelter on the other side and a long beach to which we could sail onto anchor. This we achieved and immediately set to work to find the problem.

Findings. The primary fuel filter was blocked and starved the engine of fuel. The following indications seemed to confirm this: 1. The filter was very difficult to remove as was one of the rubber gaskets. - sucked on.  2. On inspection the filter was dirty on one 1 side. 3. The Secondary filter was empty. Normally it’s a juggle to get it off without spillage. 

We of course now have question marks over the fuel tank and fuel quality in it. Another whole discussion. In the seas we were in and the leeway available, doing a filter change at sea was not viable. (Located under the stern bunk, a major relocation of bedding, mattress’s etc is required). We hope that this type of situation will never happen again and intend installing a duel filter system so we can just flip a couple of levers to change to a standby clean filter. You know the principle - ‘If it can, it will’ !

Reading all of your suggestions and remedies (& Malcolm’s) with great interest.

Happy Christmas everyone
SV Zofia

en route to Hobart

[MalcolmP]

Dec 17, 2018 5:25:50 GMT zofiasailing said:

....Reading all of your suggestions and remedies (& Malcolm’s) with great interest.

Happy Christmas everyone
SV Zofia

en route to Hobart

Good seamanship, well done. Look forward to hearing more on your future filter upgrade. I don't want to take any credit, that article I gave the link to was not written by me 🙄🙄. Best wishes and enjoy Hobart

[ds42]

So, a bit of follow up to my original post is due.

This last weekend, I motored out of the harbor with no issue.  Engine running fine.  Sailed all day in vigorous conditions.

Motoring back to the entrance to the harbor, the engine quit again.  Would not restart.  Sailed out to a safe anchorage and went to work on the fuel system.

Had a squeeze type priming bulb with me this time so I put it in line between the primary filter and the fuel pump.  Pumped it a couple times and it stayed collapsed!  The blockage had to be between the fuel pickup Or in the primary filter.  Took the primary out and had just an empty canister and the blockage was still there. I reversed the fuel pickup line and the return line (read somewhere the return goes into the tank a bit).  Reprimed the system and the engine started and ran like a champ!

Got back to my slip and removed the fuel pickup tube.  Turns out there is a small stainless grill covering the pickup.  Reading multiple reports in cruisers forum where leaving harbor in calm conditions, engine runs fine. Sail all day and crud in the tank gets stirred up and then clogs the small stainless screen.  

Decided its it’s dumb to have a filter in a place where it cant be serviced, so I took it off the pickup tube.  Took the opportunity to replace all my fuel lines, got rid of the primary under the bed and added a new Racor system in the engine compartment.  Additionally, I have a separate fuel tank for my genset, so I ran another line to a 3 way valve and now I can switch between tanks to power my main engine.

Eventually, I will need to get the fuel in the main tank low enough so I can clean the 10 years of crap out of it.  

But it for now, I have an accessible primary with a clear window to see accumulated crap as well as a backup source for fuel shoul the primary clog again.

[MalcolmP]

Dec 20, 2018 4:19:57 GMT ds42 said:

.........I have an accessible primary with a clear window to see accumulated crap as well as a backup source for fuel shoul the primary clog again.

Sounds a big improvement, any photos? Esp of that fuel pick up grill?

[vasko]

Great looking angune bay! and sooooo much space my little noisy bastard VP2003 is like in cocoon and no mater what I do there is alway some drops of oil or fuel on the floor