Engine Hours....What do they really mean?

[Bad Obsession]

I have been thinking about engine hours and what they really mean. Here are some examples:If you look at an older boat with low hours, you assume that the boat has sat and it hasn't been used much. If it appears to have a dirty engine then you assume that the boat hasn't been kept as well with the maintenance.If you look at a newer boat with high hours, you assume that it has been used a lot and it probably has been down the ditch to Flordia (at least in my cruising area). If it has a good maintenance log then it doesn't bother one too much but at what point would it bother you?If you keep a boat and maintain it properly, the engine should last a long time. Especially a diesel engine. When would you get concerned and start thinking about a rebuild or a new engine? When would you consider replacing the injectors?Would you rather have an older boat with normal engine hours and a good maintenance log or an older boat with lower hours and no maintenance log?

 

[Bad Obsession]

I have been thinking about engine hours and what they really mean. Here are some examples:If you look at an older boat with low hours, you assume that the boat has sat and it hasn't been used much. If it appears to have a dirty engine then you assume that the boat hasn't been kept as well with the maintenance.If you look at a newer boat with high hours, you assume that it has been used a lot and it probably has been down the ditch to Flordia (at least in my cruising area). If it has a good maintenance log then it doesn't bother one too much but at what point would it bother you?If you keep a boat and maintain it properly, the engine should last a long time. Especially a diesel engine. When would you get concerned and start thinking about a rebuild or a new engine? When would you consider replacing the injectors?Would you rather have an older boat with normal engine hours and a good maintenance log or an older boat with lower hours and no maintenance log?

 

[Ross]

The injectors won't need any attention

until the engine starts blowing black smoke at normal running speeds. With oil changes at proper intervals and attention to filter changes and a watchful eye for leaks I would say just run it until it quits. Construction equipment will run for years with that much attention and will wear out the tires, the hydralic cylinders, the bucket teeth, the valve bodies and transmissions but that engine will just keep on going.

 

[Ross]

The injectors won't need any attention

until the engine starts blowing black smoke at normal running speeds. With oil changes at proper intervals and attention to filter changes and a watchful eye for leaks I would say just run it until it quits. Construction equipment will run for years with that much attention and will wear out the tires, the hydralic cylinders, the bucket teeth, the valve bodies and transmissions but that engine will just keep on going.

 

[Rich Stidger]

There is probably no definitive answer

But you are asking for an opinion, and everyone has one.My take is this:Low hours on any boat old or new doesn't necessarily mean that proper maintenance has not been performed. Any obvious lack of maintenance in any area certainly would cause me to question and examine other areas closely.For any used boat I would greatly prefer to have a maintenance log available.A newer boat with high hours may not be an issue. However, maintenance is still an important issue and a log would be important.I think I would prefer to have any boat with a maintenance log vs one that did not have a log. But this is only one point in deciding to accept or reject a boat.IMO, diesel engines like to be run frequently and at a 80% load. I suspect that premature failures are likely due to disuse, low speeds, and poor maintenance.Regarding how many hours is too many and what is normal- I think that diesels are basically 5-10,000 hour machines ASSUMING that they are run frequently, loaded, and maintained. I would expect to have a minor overhaul sometime around 5000 hours and an major overhaul at 10K hours. I think replacement would be decided upon relative cost, historical reliability, and future anticipated usage.

 

[Rich Stidger]

There is probably no definitive answer

But you are asking for an opinion, and everyone has one.My take is this:Low hours on any boat old or new doesn't necessarily mean that proper maintenance has not been performed. Any obvious lack of maintenance in any area certainly would cause me to question and examine other areas closely.For any used boat I would greatly prefer to have a maintenance log available.A newer boat with high hours may not be an issue. However, maintenance is still an important issue and a log would be important.I think I would prefer to have any boat with a maintenance log vs one that did not have a log. But this is only one point in deciding to accept or reject a boat.IMO, diesel engines like to be run frequently and at a 80% load. I suspect that premature failures are likely due to disuse, low speeds, and poor maintenance.Regarding how many hours is too many and what is normal- I think that diesels are basically 5-10,000 hour machines ASSUMING that they are run frequently, loaded, and maintained. I would expect to have a minor overhaul sometime around 5000 hours and an major overhaul at 10K hours. I think replacement would be decided upon relative cost, historical reliability, and future anticipated usage.

 

[higgs]

For most of us

They figure that a diesel should give you 10,000 hours - or so we are told. For most of us, 100 hours in a year is a lot. that means the engine should last about 100 years, which is enough for me. Evidence of care seems to be the thing I would look for whether the boat was old or new with low or high hours.

 

[higgs]

For most of us

They figure that a diesel should give you 10,000 hours - or so we are told. For most of us, 100 hours in a year is a lot. that means the engine should last about 100 years, which is enough for me. Evidence of care seems to be the thing I would look for whether the boat was old or new with low or high hours.

 

[David10790]

Cold Water Boats

Aside from being in cold fresh water, Great Lakes boats get hauled every year, and someone has to pay attention to the engine spring and fall whether they want to or not. No chance of an engine that has not been looked at for a couple of years up here.

 

[David10790]

Cold Water Boats

Aside from being in cold fresh water, Great Lakes boats get hauled every year, and someone has to pay attention to the engine spring and fall whether they want to or not. No chance of an engine that has not been looked at for a couple of years up here.

 

[Jim]

I think you are thinking too much

about it. I want a newer boat with a low hours engine. I have had an early 90s boat with a mid-life engine. Purred like a kitten. Diesel last a long time but there are thing to look out for. How many time did the engine overheat. How bad did it overheat. What actions were taken when it over heated by the PO. Did he run her hot until he got bcak to the slip?You never know!

 

[Jim]

I think you are thinking too much

about it. I want a newer boat with a low hours engine. I have had an early 90s boat with a mid-life engine. Purred like a kitten. Diesel last a long time but there are thing to look out for. How many time did the engine overheat. How bad did it overheat. What actions were taken when it over heated by the PO. Did he run her hot until he got bcak to the slip?You never know!

 

[Ross]

I was thinking about this question of engine use

Farm harvesting machines sit idle for 9-10 months per year and are run 8-12 hours per day for 6-8 weeks during harvest times. The machines always wearout before the engines. When the accumulator gets full they idle until a truck comes along side to off load them probably they run less than a 1000 hours per year and get the oil changed 3-4 times during the harvest if that much. The air filters get more attention than the oil and fuel filters. So when they grease the machine they clean the air filter and check the engine oil.

 

[Ross]

I was thinking about this question of engine use

Farm harvesting machines sit idle for 9-10 months per year and are run 8-12 hours per day for 6-8 weeks during harvest times. The machines always wearout before the engines. When the accumulator gets full they idle until a truck comes along side to off load them probably they run less than a 1000 hours per year and get the oil changed 3-4 times during the harvest if that much. The air filters get more attention than the oil and fuel filters. So when they grease the machine they clean the air filter and check the engine oil.

 

[Stu Jackson]

A good log is indicative

of proper maintenance, however, the PO may well have had the engine serviced on a very regular basis by a mechanic and never kept a note of it because he did it twice or more a year. Ya just don't know.I think Rich's analysis is right on. We keep a regular maintenance log, but that's like everything else I do - if I don't write it down I'll forget I've done it! In addition, the log includes neat tips and tricks I've learned and does projections as to when the next major work should be done: zinc, fluid changes, etc. Not everyone is as (you pick the phrase) as we are.General consensus is that low hours on an old boat meant something. These days so many people like to sail more, so that if as long as they've brought the engine up to temperature, the hours in and of themselves are meaningless.The best assurance is to have a mechanic check it out. The even better assurance is to become as knowledgeable about engines as the mechanic. As far as I've heard, in altogether too many instances, that's not too hard.

 

[Stu Jackson]

A good log is indicative

of proper maintenance, however, the PO may well have had the engine serviced on a very regular basis by a mechanic and never kept a note of it because he did it twice or more a year. Ya just don't know.I think Rich's analysis is right on. We keep a regular maintenance log, but that's like everything else I do - if I don't write it down I'll forget I've done it! In addition, the log includes neat tips and tricks I've learned and does projections as to when the next major work should be done: zinc, fluid changes, etc. Not everyone is as (you pick the phrase) as we are.General consensus is that low hours on an old boat meant something. These days so many people like to sail more, so that if as long as they've brought the engine up to temperature, the hours in and of themselves are meaningless.The best assurance is to have a mechanic check it out. The even better assurance is to become as knowledgeable about engines as the mechanic. As far as I've heard, in altogether too many instances, that's not too hard.

 

[Fred Ficarra]

Hmmm, You talked in general terms and even

pointed out diesel engine traits. Why? You're not considering a gas engine in a sailboat ARE YOU?! It's been at least a generation since any builder of sailboats installed a gas engine. Just wanted to make sure you don't plan on buying such a vessel.Now as far as diesel engine abilities; my opinion is what everyone else already said.

 

[Fred Ficarra]

Hmmm, You talked in general terms and even

pointed out diesel engine traits. Why? You're not considering a gas engine in a sailboat ARE YOU?! It's been at least a generation since any builder of sailboats installed a gas engine. Just wanted to make sure you don't plan on buying such a vessel.Now as far as diesel engine abilities; my opinion is what everyone else already said.

 

[Paul Akers]

700 Hour Tune-up

I had the engine tuned up at 700 hours (as recommended). The valves were adjusted, fuel injectors replaced, mixing elbow replaced (this precipitated the work). It required a "general" tune-up. What a difference it made - unbelievable. The mechanic took it for a trial run and told me it was overpitched. But how could it be with a stock prop? I had the prop checked, then "reconditioned" for $100. It was removed and pitch checked. It turned out to be 1/2" out of pitch (one blade to the other). The difference? Even MORE unbelievably smooth. It was well worth getting it "reconditioned". Total Cost? about $700.

 

[Paul Akers]

700 Hour Tune-up

I had the engine tuned up at 700 hours (as recommended). The valves were adjusted, fuel injectors replaced, mixing elbow replaced (this precipitated the work). It required a "general" tune-up. What a difference it made - unbelievable. The mechanic took it for a trial run and told me it was overpitched. But how could it be with a stock prop? I had the prop checked, then "reconditioned" for $100. It was removed and pitch checked. It turned out to be 1/2" out of pitch (one blade to the other). The difference? Even MORE unbelievably smooth. It was well worth getting it "reconditioned". Total Cost? about $700.