The Best Diesel Engines?

[Ducati]

Hello

Who make the best most reliable and least expensive to repair diesels today?

My pick is Yanmar because I consider them to be the Honda of diesel world.

Thanks

 

[BobM]

The only experience I have had is that I looked at a number of boats. I could find ready sources of supply for parts for a 1980's era Atomic 4 or Yanmar, but boats with Volvo's seemed to be selling at a drastic discount due to abysmal parts availability from Volvo which apparently had stopped supporting them.

 

[Ross]

I have no trouble getting parts for my Volvo. But I think that Kubota probably makes the best diesel used in small boats. Several companies convert them for marine service.

 

[Rich Stidger]

I agree with Ross- I have no problem getting parts for my Volvo. Regarding "least expensive", I only have experience with Volvo and Westerbeke, and neither of them is bashful about charging hearty prices for their stuff, but availability is good.

 

[Steve Dion]

Kabota is probably the cheapest. Volvo is one of the most expensive. Yanmar makes good units, but they are not the cheapest. Bukh makes an excellent unit but are not very popular. There are probably another handful that are also excellent units.

 

[Ross]

I googled "lifeboat engines" and came up with this.
http://cgmix.uscg.mil/Equipment/EquipmentDocuments/Engine List_Jan2009.pdf

It makes some interesting reading.

 

[tommays]

The beta marine Kubota units are nice with perfect raw water pump access a built in oil change pump ect

 

[Maine Sail]

After owning..

After owning many inboard diesels I can sum it up this way. Any of the Japanese engines are very, very reliable with the Kubota based engines having a slight edge, not on reliability so much as parts pricing.

This includes blocks made by Yanmar (Yanmar), Kubota (Universal, Nani, Phasor, Beta etc.) and Mitsubishi (Westerbeke, Vetus etc.). Volvo's, in my experience, are just not as reliable. They can tend to nickel & dime you and then leave you high and dry with no parts availability, been there, done that, lost almost an entire season due to Volvo's lack of inventory.

This is not to say Volvo's are not good engines but when paired against the Japanese competition they just don't stack up in certain measures. I'm to the point that when I am looking for a new boat I will flat out not even look at a boat with a Volvo unless their is a price reduction that reflects a re-power. Over the top, sure, but I now refuse to buy any engine where it could take three months to get a $34.00 critical part, that should have really cost $1.30, and that would have been in stock in multiples in any other engine brand. Grrrrr...I still get mad just recalling that event..

If you stick with Mitsubishi, Yanmar or Kubota based engines and you'll do well..

 

[SeaRanch]

2 sailboats with Yanmar engines, 10 years, no problems.
I vote for Yanmar.

Bill

 

[NYSail]

Had a Westerbeke 30 HP on my Cal 34 III... Was a great engine. Ran like a champ 4 cyl, heavy. New boat has a Yanmar 3HM35F....I love it. Smaller, no glow plugs, no engine zincs, quiet.

Parts for both were available

If I had to repower based on experience I would go with Yanmar. But I hear Beta Marine (Kabutu) are great and very user friendly.

Good Luck

 

[Stu Jackson]

Most Creative

(Kabutu) are great and very user friendly.

Misspelling I've seen in a long time! Congratulations!

 

[Stephen K]

Re: Most Creative

Maybe he means Neil Cavuto...the guy who does the financial / money segment on T.V.

 

[Cpt. Jon]

Two boats with older Yanmars. I've been happy so far. I guess since I am used to them and don't know better I prefer them.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Observation

Rare is the man who does not truly believe that the very best boat in the wrold is the one he currently owns.

Seems true for the engines in those boats.

Many folks do not "complain" about their engines, per se, but just about how they won't start (usually it's an an electrical problem) or won't keep running (fuel) or keep running without vibration (alignment and all those pesky line-up things).

We learn to take good care of what we have and it takes good care of us.

It's a safety thing.

 

[Bad Obsession]

The best diesel engine on the market is the one that is in a boat and it turns on when you want it, runs well, and gets you far enough away from the dock that you can put the sails up! After that, the best engine ever made goes to Mother nature. The brand name is WIND!

 

[Jim Kolstoe]

[Rare is the man who does not truly believe that the very best boat in the wrold is the one he currently owns./QUOTE]

stu, could you please explain the apparently common malady known as 3ft-itis.

 

[Mike Holibar]

Volvo 2000 series were actually marinised Perkins 100 series which were manufactured by Shibaura of Japan which is Yanmar. Perkins is now owned by Caterpillar. Perkins have always made good reliable engines from about 45hp up and because of their prevalence in agricultural and industrial equipment around the world, it is usually easy to source parts and find a mechanic that can work on them. I don't know if they have reached the States yet, but if you get the chance take a look at the FOCS engines (13-40hp) by Lombardini Marine. They have a loto of advantages over the others in this class. I have owned two, and we are just in the process of repower our club rescue launch with one. Yanmar is a big name here but the Lombardinis are getting close to knocking them off the market leaders perch. Cheers,

 

[kloudie1]

Come on, Stu ! That is (maybe?) the plural of Kubota !
I have had one boat/engine for 18 years.. Yanmar 3 GMF.. Has been an excellent engine.. troubles so far have been only the exhaust elbow and the hesitant/reluctant starter. Ohhhh yeah and the crappy air cleaner that turned to polysomething-or-other dust and was ingested by the engine. Mechanically outstanding engine. The 24 year old lift pump is probably the next part to fail. The Yanmar has always run when I've asked it to!

 

[kloudie1]

Continuing: The highest hours engine I have experience with is a 1982 Westerbeke 4 cylinder, around 35 HP.. don't remember the model offhand. It is a marinized Mitsubishi. Went about 5000 hours before rebuild. Would have gone longer except that it had no intake air strainer and had ingested a small piece of stainless, about the size of a pinhead. That imbedded into the top of one piston and started a crack. The crack did a classic fatigue propagation across the top of the piston and down one side. (we wondered why it would immediately turn engine oil sooty black after a change!) The piston eventually siezed one day on the way back to the slip, and was subsequently rebuilt. It is about 2500 hours into the rebuild now and is fine. We had to replace the electric lift pump after about 4500 hours. The only real weakness on that engine is the gear driven raw water pump. Its relief holes were not large enough and the bronze sleeve bearings were not up to the load. sleeves would fail, the seal would fail then seawater would get into the crankcase. That would make a mayonnaise looking emulsion in the crankcase which would completely fill the engine and valve cover if ya let it run long enough.. No oil pressure warnings !.No obvious damage to the main and rod bearings. It was quite a job to get it cleaned out and flushed out after an incident. . I modified the pump to ball bearings and more limber hole area.. haven't had the emulsion problem since. A new Westerbeke of that same model will have a better pump on it, with better bearings and seals and more limber hole area. Other than the water pump, headache, the Westerbeke/Mitsubishi continues to be a fine engine.

 

[fox islander]

I have the Universal (kubota) MXP25...Ive had no problems with it...and marinedeiseldirect.com gets the parts to you fast...I have noticed however that the Yanmars seem a little smoother, less vibration, less tractor-like.