3GM Exhaust Elbow
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3GM Exhaust Elbow
This past season I had two independent Yanmar Mechanics suggesting the Exhaust Elbow should be replaced, stating 12 to 15 years of service is the limit. Our engine was commissioned early 2003 and would fall in that range. Since the engine is running at 3200 rpm without smoke or overheating I elected to ignore the advice and wait for haulout.
I have to admit we ran on borrowed time, the elbow was cracked from SB side down the bottom and up Port side in some areas in line with the internal wall separating the exhaust from the cooling water. If that crack would go any further it would be a real mess! The exhaust channel was also ~75% blocked.
I decided to replace the cast iron assembly with a SS unit from HDI Marine in Vancouver, WA. The cost of the complete new assembly was $300 including shipping to NJ.
I have to admit we ran on borrowed time, the elbow was cracked from SB side down the bottom and up Port side in some areas in line with the internal wall separating the exhaust from the cooling water. If that crack would go any further it would be a real mess! The exhaust channel was also ~75% blocked.
I decided to replace the cast iron assembly with a SS unit from HDI Marine in Vancouver, WA. The cost of the complete new assembly was $300 including shipping to NJ.
- Attachments
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- crack from bottom up the Port side
- IMG_0698.JPG (102.53 KiB) Viewed 46350 times
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- crack from bottom up the SB side
- IMG_0699.JPG (142.12 KiB) Viewed 46350 times
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- the exhaust channel blocked about 75% with carbon buildup
- IMG_0697.JPG (107 KiB) Viewed 46350 times
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- the old cast iron assembly and the new SS assembly from HDI Marine
- IMG_0706.JPG (141.65 KiB) Viewed 46350 times
- Vento Solare
- Posts: 412
- Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 8:00 pm
- Location: Newport, RI
3YM30 Exhaust Elbow
This spring Vento Solare was launched and when the engine was started I had problems getting over 1800 rpm and there was much black smoke with unburned fuel coming out of the exhaust. I had checked the fuel injectors in the fall because I noticed that there was some unburnt fuel in the exhaust, but did not have the low RPM issue then. The engine on Vento Solare is a Yanmar 3YM30 but it uses the exact same exhaust system as the Yanmar 3GM. Unlike the problem Bengt had with a cracked elbow I had no external indications there was a problem with the elbow.
I spoke to Bengt about the HDI Marine stainless elbow and decided to replace the entire exhaust assembly between the head and the exhaust tube. This was available from HDI Marine as the GM Stainless Steel Exhaust Kit. Removal of the old exhaust was very easy since the 4 bolts that hold the manifold to the head are stainless steel and there was no rust. The elbow easily separated from the rubber exhaust by loosening the clamps and twisting the hose with channel lock pliers.
After installing the elbow (and one new fuel injector that I suspected had problems) the engine was started. Immediately I could see increased water flow out the exhaust. There is no smoke and I can now run the engine at rated RPM with no problems.
Here are pictures showing the old elbow next to the new one - note the carbon build up inside the old elbow.
The picture below shows the new elbow installed.
I spoke to Bengt about the HDI Marine stainless elbow and decided to replace the entire exhaust assembly between the head and the exhaust tube. This was available from HDI Marine as the GM Stainless Steel Exhaust Kit. Removal of the old exhaust was very easy since the 4 bolts that hold the manifold to the head are stainless steel and there was no rust. The elbow easily separated from the rubber exhaust by loosening the clamps and twisting the hose with channel lock pliers.
After installing the elbow (and one new fuel injector that I suspected had problems) the engine was started. Immediately I could see increased water flow out the exhaust. There is no smoke and I can now run the engine at rated RPM with no problems.
Here are pictures showing the old elbow next to the new one - note the carbon build up inside the old elbow.
The picture below shows the new elbow installed.
Last edited by Vento Solare on Tue May 23, 2017 12:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: 3GM Exhaust Elbow
We had our first 5+ hour delivery over the weekend. The new elbow performs very well. The volume of cooling water is significantly larger, absolutely no black smoke and the engine runs much smoother and revs easier.
This is a trip we make several times a year and in the past we have used just over 5 gal for the trip, this time the consumption was just below 4 gal. We ran 3000 rpm the whole trip at 7.1 knots.
This is a trip we make several times a year and in the past we have used just over 5 gal for the trip, this time the consumption was just below 4 gal. We ran 3000 rpm the whole trip at 7.1 knots.
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Re: 3GM Exhaust Elbow
I am about to replace my mixing elbow.
Why are there fuel lines in the picture on this thread? Do I need to disassemble the fuel system?
Why are there fuel lines in the picture on this thread? Do I need to disassemble the fuel system?
- Vento Solare
- Posts: 412
- Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 8:00 pm
- Location: Newport, RI
Re: 3GM Exhaust Elbow
That isn't a fuel line. The line feeding into the exhaust elbow is the spray from the cooling system.
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- Posts: 296
- Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2017 4:32 pm
Re: 3GM Exhaust Elbow
I am looking at the parts on the floor in the Thu Apr 27, 2017 9:46 pm post
The metal fuel lines are on the floor.
The metal fuel lines are on the floor.
- Vento Solare
- Posts: 412
- Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 8:00 pm
- Location: Newport, RI
Re: 3GM Exhaust Elbow
I was working on the fuel pump at the time. It totally different job!
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- Posts: 51
- Joined: Tue Oct 13, 2015 12:15 pm
Re: 3GM Exhaust Elbow
During 2022 NA's at Pequot, Bill Kneller (hull #266) let me know that the noise and smell of exhaust on #261 was not normal. The elbow was replaced by the yard in 2020 after we had overheating issues, so I was surprised to be having this problem. This spring, I tried to re-bed and tighten the seals so fewer threads were showing. This proved to be impossible. Removing the assembly from the engine was easy after heating the hoses with a heat gun. 1/2 inch sockets and wrenches is all you need to remove the assembly from the engine.
But the assembly would not come apart. Neither side would loosen. I tried a pipe wrench, torching it, banging it, driving to a car mechanic shop and using a better vice and extended pipe wrench ... nothing. So, we ordered the Stainless replacement. (See part 2 below).
But the assembly would not come apart. Neither side would loosen. I tried a pipe wrench, torching it, banging it, driving to a car mechanic shop and using a better vice and extended pipe wrench ... nothing. So, we ordered the Stainless replacement. (See part 2 below).
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- Posts: 51
- Joined: Tue Oct 13, 2015 12:15 pm
Re: 3GM Exhaust Elbow
Prices have gone up since 2016-17, but the stainless replacement was available and shipped quickly. With the elbow on the vice, I could really crank down the connections so few threads are showing. And all threads were sealed with high temp silicone. (The silicone might have been missing from the last repair. I didn't see any remnants of it.) Fingers crossed this solves all my exhaust, noise, and black smoke problems!!
- Vento Solare
- Posts: 412
- Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 8:00 pm
- Location: Newport, RI
Re: 3GM Exhaust Elbow
Looks much better. My guess is you will see immediate improvement first time you start the engine.