When it comes to marine diesels, “low hours” doesn’t always mean low maintenance. In the humid, salty environment of Kemah and Galveston Bay, sitting idle can be tougher on an engine than regular use. If you have a Yanmar 4LHA-STZP and a 6-cylinder Yanmar paired with Bravo Two drives, staying on top of yearly service is the only way to prevent seized parts and cooling failures.
At Yes Centers, we are authorized Yanmar specialists. Whether your boats are on trailers or in the water, we provide the expert technical care needed to keep these high-performance machines running perfectly.
The Importance of Annual Service for Low-Hour Diesels
For Yanmar engines that sit on trailers, the biggest threats are internal corrosion, fuel degradation, and rubber components drying out. Here is what our yearly maintenance package covers for your specific setup:
1. Yanmar Engine Care (4LHA and 6-Cylinder)
Fluid & Filter Exchange: Even with low hours, engine oil can become acidic over time, and fuel can develop “algae” or condensation. We replace oil, oil filters, and fuel filters to ensure a clean baseline.
Impeller Inspection: Raw water impellers can take a “set” or become brittle when not used frequently. We replace these to prevent a mid-season overheat.
Zinc Anode Replacement: Your engine’s internal zincs protect the heat exchanger from electrolysis. We check and replace these to save you from a costly cooling system overhaul.
2. Bravo Two Outdrive Service
The Mercruiser Bravo Two is a workhorse, but its gear lube and bellows require annual attention, especially if the boat is stored on a trailer.
Gear Lube Change: We drain and inspect the gear lube for any signs of water intrusion or metal shavings.
U-Joint & Bellows Inspection: We check the rubber bellows for cracks or “checking.” A failed bellows is a primary cause of boat sinking and gimbal bearing failure.
Grease & Lubrication: We lubricate the gimbal bearing and engine coupler—critical steps that are often overlooked on low-hour boats.
3. Cooling System Check
For the Yanmar 4LHA-STZP, the cooling system is highly efficient but sensitive to scale buildup. We inspect the mixing elbows and heat exchangers to ensure your engines stay cool when you finally do put them under load.
Bring Your Boats to Us in Kemah
Since both of your boats are on trailers, you can bring them directly to our facility at 828 Marina Bay Dr. We serve the entire Kemah, League City, and Seabrook area, providing a controlled environment for precise mechanical work.
Ready to schedule your yearly maintenance?
Address: 828 Marina Bay Dr, Kemah, TX 77565
Phone: +1 281-538-9377
Email: service@yescenters.com
