Simple question. How many hours do you think a mechanic would charge to change the oil and filters on a "new" (30 hour) 2003 engine Volvo D-2-55. open access. I just got the bill and Im curious. thanks Rob
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1 hr travel!
Rob: I would guess about 1 hr. plus travel. This would probably be somewhere in the area of $250 +/- (including materials)
Rob: I would guess about 1 hr. plus travel. This would probably be somewhere in the area of $250 +/- (including materials)
$125 on a C-30 is what a boat owner
next to me got charged for servicing his c-30, changing oil and filter and checking system (Universal 25hp) said he also lubed the motor mounts. Has any one heard of lubing the motor mounts, should I be doing that? He may have done more thatn one boat so it would reduce the driving time etc. -CW
next to me got charged for servicing his c-30, changing oil and filter and checking system (Universal 25hp) said he also lubed the motor mounts. Has any one heard of lubing the motor mounts, should I be doing that? He may have done more thatn one boat so it would reduce the driving time etc. -CW
Motor Mounts
The mechanic could have sprayed them with a preservative that helps prevent them from drying out. I don't think that it's very necessary. When I was younger, the mechanic used to spray my car's front end bushings with the stuff that he affectionately referred to as "Monkey P&ss". BTW, the job should take about an hour unless there's restricted access.
The mechanic could have sprayed them with a preservative that helps prevent them from drying out. I don't think that it's very necessary. When I was younger, the mechanic used to spray my car's front end bushings with the stuff that he affectionately referred to as "Monkey P&ss". BTW, the job should take about an hour unless there's restricted access.
$199 for seasonal layup for 2-cylinder
My boatyard in Connecticut is charging $199 for seasonal layup (includes oil change, filters, coolant, labor) for 2-cylinder diesels and another $50 for 4-cylinder.
My boatyard in Connecticut is charging $199 for seasonal layup (includes oil change, filters, coolant, labor) for 2-cylinder diesels and another $50 for 4-cylinder.
So $368.50 is out of the question?
Im calling our marina on this now I just recieved the bill yesterday. No Travel time...well down the dock. 4.5 hours materials. 12 quarts. How many did he spill in the bilge? $368.50. I think that deserves a huge Question Mark.
Im calling our marina on this now I just recieved the bill yesterday. No Travel time...well down the dock. 4.5 hours materials. 12 quarts. How many did he spill in the bilge? $368.50. I think that deserves a huge Question Mark.
Thirty minutes tops
Sounds like robbery to me. If you pay him, we should talk about some waterfront property and a bridge I own. What filters did he change? If he changed fuel filters, I could see a little more - maybe $100 total - but the amount you were billed should be challenged if he changed every filter in the boat. Did he winterize everything? How much oil does your engine hold anyway?
Sounds like robbery to me. If you pay him, we should talk about some waterfront property and a bridge I own. What filters did he change? If he changed fuel filters, I could see a little more - maybe $100 total - but the amount you were billed should be challenged if he changed every filter in the boat. Did he winterize everything? How much oil does your engine hold anyway?
Ouch!
Surely he did more than change the oil and oil filter for $360! That's US$ right? Hey we have all learned that nothing on a boat is cheap but this is just a bit much. I would ask in detail what was done and if it is just an oil and oil filter change then next time I would shop around. I'm sure you will not be able to find something that would charge you more! Remember it does pay to shop around a bit. --Dan
Surely he did more than change the oil and oil filter for $360! That's US$ right? Hey we have all learned that nothing on a boat is cheap but this is just a bit much. I would ask in detail what was done and if it is just an oil and oil filter change then next time I would shop around. I'm sure you will not be able to find something that would charge you more! Remember it does pay to shop around a bit. --Dan
? for Rob
please keep us updated on this I'm very curious(as are others I'm sure)as to the detail of what exactly was done. $368 does sound very high priced but I would bet there was more then just a simple oil and filter change. The other possibilty is that this is just a billing error as there is no was 12 guart of oil will fit into your engine. Part and labor should not be much more then $150 tops.If that is a correct bill I'm going into the boat oil changing business!
please keep us updated on this I'm very curious(as are others I'm sure)as to the detail of what exactly was done. $368 does sound very high priced but I would bet there was more then just a simple oil and filter change. The other possibilty is that this is just a billing error as there is no was 12 guart of oil will fit into your engine. Part and labor should not be much more then $150 tops.If that is a correct bill I'm going into the boat oil changing business!
Rob?
What marina did you use? Have you talked to other boaters in your marina who use the same mechanic and services? Ozana
What marina did you use? Have you talked to other boaters in your marina who use the same mechanic and services? Ozana
I havent heard from my marina yet after i left a message. I should today. Giving them the benifit of the doubt. the only thing I can think of is: this is the first oil change on this engine. It is brand new. So maybe they ran the oil through 3 times??? 4cylinder 4 quarts x 2 rinses and a fill? the bill says changed oil filter and checked belts....Now Im checking ALL of my invoices. heck of a red flag.
From now on!
I believe that I would be changing the oil myself and save the arguments and money. It only takes about 30 minutes and right at $20.00 in oil and filters, including the fuel filter. If your marina didn't make a mistake on the bill, $360. is not only silly, it's downright robbery!!
I believe that I would be changing the oil myself and save the arguments and money. It only takes about 30 minutes and right at $20.00 in oil and filters, including the fuel filter. If your marina didn't make a mistake on the bill, $360. is not only silly, it's downright robbery!!
I was robbed like that too.
While I had my boat in Fort Lauderdale, I arranged for the 50 hours check up of my engine with a "Volvo authorized dealer". The original bill was over $650 !@#!@!. After I complained and asked the reason why it was so expensive, they told me that 1) they had no experience with my type of engine. 2) they were charging for the hours it took them to find out and order the parts that were needed, and 3) they charged for the time it took to the mechanic to find the electrical switches on my boat!!!. ( I was in New England at a time and they did not attempt to call me). After my laud complains, the lowered the bill to $400, still a rip off for a change of oil and filters, I thought. I later found out that they should have checked the alignment of the engine with the shaft as part of the 50 hours check up but they did not. In fact, I eventually discovered that one of the engine mounts nuts was missing from factory and causing excessive vibration. I could go on and on with several bad experiences with mechanics and boat yards but suffice to say that now I do my own maintenance and repairs as much as possible. I know there might be honest people out there, but there is also a large crowd of crooks around them.
While I had my boat in Fort Lauderdale, I arranged for the 50 hours check up of my engine with a "Volvo authorized dealer". The original bill was over $650 !@#!@!. After I complained and asked the reason why it was so expensive, they told me that 1) they had no experience with my type of engine. 2) they were charging for the hours it took them to find out and order the parts that were needed, and 3) they charged for the time it took to the mechanic to find the electrical switches on my boat!!!. ( I was in New England at a time and they did not attempt to call me). After my laud complains, the lowered the bill to $400, still a rip off for a change of oil and filters, I thought. I later found out that they should have checked the alignment of the engine with the shaft as part of the 50 hours check up but they did not. In fact, I eventually discovered that one of the engine mounts nuts was missing from factory and causing excessive vibration. I could go on and on with several bad experiences with mechanics and boat yards but suffice to say that now I do my own maintenance and repairs as much as possible. I know there might be honest people out there, but there is also a large crowd of crooks around them.
I was night manager of a "service center"
in my youth and as a result of watching the "pros" work I pretty much did all mechanical work myself. Once fixed timing on a new Mercedes that had been set to 5 degrees ATC instead of BTC cause his "factory training" didn't include crankshafts turn clockwise. Had a new 88hp Johnson 2 stroke in '94 and decided to have "Authorized" shop who was also selling dealer do 100 hr. service. Besides someone stealing the state registration decals off the boat while in his shop they put wrong plugs in that started to foul after 5 hrs. run time in middle of Lake Powell. I have a good, honest, competant mechanic I trust with my trucks now, same for a tranmission guy, and a 2 stroke outboard guy. When you find the good & honest ones treasure them.
in my youth and as a result of watching the "pros" work I pretty much did all mechanical work myself. Once fixed timing on a new Mercedes that had been set to 5 degrees ATC instead of BTC cause his "factory training" didn't include crankshafts turn clockwise. Had a new 88hp Johnson 2 stroke in '94 and decided to have "Authorized" shop who was also selling dealer do 100 hr. service. Besides someone stealing the state registration decals off the boat while in his shop they put wrong plugs in that started to foul after 5 hrs. run time in middle of Lake Powell. I have a good, honest, competant mechanic I trust with my trucks now, same for a tranmission guy, and a 2 stroke outboard guy. When you find the good & honest ones treasure them.
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