Yanmar 2GM20 vs 2GM20(f) (What the F?)

[L124C]

I have been under the impression I had a 2GM20(f) (because thats the manual I got with the boat from the PO) and now I think I have a 2GM20 (because I bought a part that didn't fit, and finally looked at the ID plate on the engine (DUH!). I looked at the manual again and it only confused me more. I think the (f) is for freshwater, but can someone explain the difference. My engine is raw water cooled, and I can tell you the water pump shaft on the (f) is larger, as the bearings I bought (thinking it was an (f)) were too large for my pump. Anyway, whats the difference?

[DrB]

My 3GM30F has the same manual as the non-freshwater version. If you have a anti-freeze reservoir tank, then you have the Freshwater version motor.

DrB

[L124C]

Originally Posted by DrB

My 3GM30F has the same manual as the non-freshwater version. If you have a anti-freeze reservoir tank, then you have the Freshwater version motor.
DrB

So they are referring to "fresh" vs. "raw" water, and if you have a closed cooling circuit (with heat exchanger, etc.) it's an (f)? The lady at Yanmar made it more complicated than that. Well, if so, that clears that up. Sadly, I definitely don't have an F. Terrible thing to do to a diesel !

[Northeaster]

Although I don't like the thought of my raw water cooled block (2GM)corroding away, as part of it's normal use.. it has been doing so for 25 years, and is still going strong!

They did build them well, knowing they would be raw water cooled. There are alot of threads on here about clogged heat exchanges, etc. On ours it's KISS!

[badsanta]

Just a question. Does the raw water cooled motor use internal zincs as opposed to the F that does not?

[bubb2]

Yes, Heres your Yanmar part numbers

2GM20 (18 H.P.)		2GM20F (18 H.P.)
Raw water cooled		Fresh water cooled
Oil Filter	119305-35151	Oil Filter	119305-35151
Fuel Filter	104500-55710	Fuel Filter	104500-55710
Fuel Filter Gasket	24341-000440	Fuel Filter Gasket	24341-000440
Air Element	128270-12540	Air Element	128270-12540
SWP Belt	104511-78780	SWP Belt	104511-78780
Alternator Belt	128670-77350	Alternator Belt	25132-003700
Zincs	27210-200300 (2)	Zincs	NA
Zinc Gaskets	123210-09310	Zinc Gaskets	NA
Impeller	104211-42070	Impeller	124223-42092
Impeller Gasket	104211-42090	Impeller Gasket	124223-42110
SWP Rebuild Kit	K28270-42000	SWP Rebuild Kit	K28670-42101
Thermostat	105582-49200	Thermostat	121750-49800
Therm Gasket	104211-49160	Therm Gasket	129350-49541
Starter	128170-77010	Starter	128170-77010
Motor Mounts Front	124772-08341	Motor Mounts Front	124772-08341
Motor Mounts Rear	128270-08340	Motor Mounts Rear	128270-08340

[CapitainMike]

Originally Posted by bubb2

Yes, Heres your Yanmar part numbers

Excuse My Ignorance Please by SWP I presume you to mean Salt water pump?

[SlowButSteady]

If the zincs are changed regularly, and the engine occasionally descaled, raw water cooled diesels can last a very long time. The principle disadvantage to RW cooled diesels is that they run cooler than their FW cooled counterparts (to keep scale build-up to a minimum), and therefore are not quite as efficient and a bit more prone to gunk building up in the cylinders (i.e., they don't get hot enough to burn everything off).

[casey1999]

My 3GM is raw water cooled and 30 years old. I think I like the raw water cooled. Very simple and fewer parts to break. If I had to repower, I would install the same if it were available- 30 years or more use not bad.

The zincs on mine were corroded away and I had real trouble getting the zinc plug out of the block (2 GM will have one in the block and one in the head). You remove the zinc plug and then unscrew the zinc (or what is left of the zinc). I had to use a small propane torch to heat the plug to get it off. And even then I must have had 400 ftxlb force to get the plug to unscrew.

[rikhall]

On our old boat we had a 2GM20F and loved it.

On our new boat, we have a 2QM20H raw water cooled engine, and other than being older it runs just as well. The PO wasn't the best on maintenance (bad news) but whomever he used for engine work was (good news). I replaced the zincs and everything (so far) that I have taken off (metal to metal) had had traces of "Never-seize" and has come apart easily.

One nice thing about the freshwater cooled (someone mentioned) is they run hotter - that translates into hotter water in hot water tank for the domestic water or hotter air in the hot water cabin heater.

The full engine repair manual and parts lists are online somewhere.

Rik