diesel engines
- Thread starter ken336
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Not just good service, but run properly (not idled for long periods) with occasional long runs at rated power (not the full 1 hour rating) is equally important. Some Kubotas and Yanmars, and other well built diesels have exceeded 10,000 hours, some have even exceeded 30,000 hours, mostly in gensets. Yet some of those very same engines havnt made 1500 hours due to neglect.
A compression test, or preferably a leakdown test would be advisable, as well as a good overall inspection by someone familiar with it.
A compression test, or preferably a leakdown test would be advisable, as well as a good overall inspection by someone familiar with it.
It's Hardly Broken In ......................
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The amount of usage an engine gets depends on the wind conditions in your neighbourhood. We run about 130 hours/year, so that tells you wind conditions here are not the best.
.............. but, as Anchorclanker said, if not properly cared for, it could be at the end of its life. I would very strongly recommend getting a "FACTORY CERTIFIED " engine tech to thoroughly inspect the engine. May be worth a few hundred bucks now but could save you many thousands in the future. From what you will see in the archives here, some PO's are real horror stories
.The amount of usage an engine gets depends on the wind conditions in your neighbourhood. We run about 130 hours/year, so that tells you wind conditions here are not the best.
I dont believe a tech needs to necessarily be factory certified, but they should have good knowledge of diesels in general as well as marine engines and drives. For example, far too many assume if the engine starts, the compression is good. That is a recipe for disaster as even 300 psi can usually pop them off, yet 450 plus may actually be the spec.
Always do a comp test of anything that could cost you a small fortune.
A leakdown test can tell you a lot too, and on something potentially expensive to repair, its well worth the money to have it done, and done by someone who knows how to read it and who will give a full and detailed report, of both percentages lost, as well as where the loss is escaping.
Always do a comp test of anything that could cost you a small fortune.
A leakdown test can tell you a lot too, and on something potentially expensive to repair, its well worth the money to have it done, and done by someone who knows how to read it and who will give a full and detailed report, of both percentages lost, as well as where the loss is escaping.
I called and talked with the Detroit Diesel rep and he told me that 5,000 hours was a good average to use for engine life expectency.
If would put the average life of a Detroit at more than 10,000 hours in motor vehicle use, while some of the commercial boat operators can get more than that out of them. And a Detroit is not even the same quality of an engine as a Kubota or Yanmar, IMHO.
That people have ruined each of those engines in under 1000 hours through neglect, simply shows how important even modest care and maintenance can be to their life. It also should show just how important, and thorough, a pre purchase inspection should be.
That people have ruined each of those engines in under 1000 hours through neglect, simply shows how important even modest care and maintenance can be to their life. It also should show just how important, and thorough, a pre purchase inspection should be.
Anchorclanker,
We're probably already in agreement, less the details below.
However, it never was the intent of my 'one liner' above to go in to every detail, condition or caveat.
I work for the US Army, and was in the very same situation that Ken336 was in now. I was in the process of buying a Used boat (my 1988 Hunter which had 690 hours when I bought it) and faced with the problem of "How do I evaluate the number of hours on a Used boat's diesel engine?"
I did it by calling the contractors that supplied the Army with diesel engines for their combat vehicle & generators. The Detroit Diesel rep understood the size, load and cooling conditions I described for my boat. He also understood why I was calling him to find out what the 'mean time between failures' (MTBF) would be for an engine of this type, size and use. Not exactly the same thing as the engine's total life, but a better reference as what you could expect to get.
Granted my original reply above conveys none of this, but it was intended as just another reference point for Ken336 to use in making his own determination.
I might add, that I also asked the Detroit Diesel rep what I could do to help keep the engine running for as long as possible and he gave me this advice:
1. Keep it full of clean oil.
2. Run it at an 80% throttle/rpm level when underway (i.e. loaded).
3. Minmize amount of idle time.
4. Clean air & fuel.
5. Keep it cool.
All of which I'm sure would make perfect sense to anyone.
Regards,
James
We're probably already in agreement, less the details below.
However, it never was the intent of my 'one liner' above to go in to every detail, condition or caveat.
I work for the US Army, and was in the very same situation that Ken336 was in now. I was in the process of buying a Used boat (my 1988 Hunter which had 690 hours when I bought it) and faced with the problem of "How do I evaluate the number of hours on a Used boat's diesel engine?"
I did it by calling the contractors that supplied the Army with diesel engines for their combat vehicle & generators. The Detroit Diesel rep understood the size, load and cooling conditions I described for my boat. He also understood why I was calling him to find out what the 'mean time between failures' (MTBF) would be for an engine of this type, size and use. Not exactly the same thing as the engine's total life, but a better reference as what you could expect to get.
Granted my original reply above conveys none of this, but it was intended as just another reference point for Ken336 to use in making his own determination.
I might add, that I also asked the Detroit Diesel rep what I could do to help keep the engine running for as long as possible and he gave me this advice:
1. Keep it full of clean oil.
2. Run it at an 80% throttle/rpm level when underway (i.e. loaded).
3. Minmize amount of idle time.
4. Clean air & fuel.
5. Keep it cool.
All of which I'm sure would make perfect sense to anyone.
Regards,
James
James, my main point was to not really compare a Detroit to the small Japanese diesels commonly found in most sailboats. Also, everything your rep suggested to reach maximum life are completely true.
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