My new 84 C-27 has a Universal M-18 diesel (14hp). I'd love to hear from others about the reliability and durability of these engines...do they last 500 hours or 5,000 hours? Are they prone to breakdowns, or nearly bulletproof? All comments are welcomed! Randy
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A long time
My understanding is that diesel engines last about 10,000 hours. I think if you make sure you do all the scheduled maintenance, it could last a good long time. Universal is a good brand.
My understanding is that diesel engines last about 10,000 hours. I think if you make sure you do all the scheduled maintenance, it could last a good long time. Universal is a good brand.
How do you use it?
Here is an article that compares gas and diesel marine engines. It has some surprising findings about the 'diesel' myth. http://www.yachtsurvey.com/GasDiesel.htm
Here is an article that compares gas and diesel marine engines. It has some surprising findings about the 'diesel' myth. http://www.yachtsurvey.com/GasDiesel.htm
500 hours is just broken in!
I'm no diesel mechanic but my understanding is that 500 hours is the point where one is just broken in. LaDonna
I'm no diesel mechanic but my understanding is that 500 hours is the point where one is just broken in. LaDonna
Ask any bus driver
They'll tell you that a decent diesel road warrior is in "middle age" at about 1,000,000 miles. I figure a marine diesel ought to be able to handle 500. With regular, careful maintenance, it should last nearly forever.
They'll tell you that a decent diesel road warrior is in "middle age" at about 1,000,000 miles. I figure a marine diesel ought to be able to handle 500. With regular, careful maintenance, it should last nearly forever.
4000 hours and going strong.
I own a Dodge with a diesel and a c-36 with a universal diesel. I have almost 4000 hours on mine M25, just give it good clean fuel, good clean oil and change the zincs inside the heat exchanger. Warm the engine before you use it, let it idel after using it to cool down. The engine will last longer is started and run for a long time, short hops are hard on it, mostly because the oil and all metals have not come up to full operating temp. so many chemicals, and gases have not had a change to expel themselfs. Warmup, cool down. change oil every 100 hours or every year. Use good diesel oil and a good water seperating fuel filter. Always store your boat with the fuel tank full, less condinsation. Enjoy Bob
I own a Dodge with a diesel and a c-36 with a universal diesel. I have almost 4000 hours on mine M25, just give it good clean fuel, good clean oil and change the zincs inside the heat exchanger. Warm the engine before you use it, let it idel after using it to cool down. The engine will last longer is started and run for a long time, short hops are hard on it, mostly because the oil and all metals have not come up to full operating temp. so many chemicals, and gases have not had a change to expel themselfs. Warmup, cool down. change oil every 100 hours or every year. Use good diesel oil and a good water seperating fuel filter. Always store your boat with the fuel tank full, less condinsation. Enjoy Bob
Diesels/Life expectancy
I read a couple of the articles at the site Richard recommended (yachtsurvey.com). It's good reading for anyone interested. I've often heard that diesels don't enjoy the reliability/durability advantage over their gasoline counterparts like they once did. My guess is that the gasoline engines have improved dramatically, and closed or eliminated the gap that existed years ago. David Pascoe's theory makes sense, though: more power out of lighter weight engines makes for short service life. Given the type of operation and the maintenence routine mine will see, I'm hoping for hundreds (or thousands) of additional hours of operation. Randy
I read a couple of the articles at the site Richard recommended (yachtsurvey.com). It's good reading for anyone interested. I've often heard that diesels don't enjoy the reliability/durability advantage over their gasoline counterparts like they once did. My guess is that the gasoline engines have improved dramatically, and closed or eliminated the gap that existed years ago. David Pascoe's theory makes sense, though: more power out of lighter weight engines makes for short service life. Given the type of operation and the maintenence routine mine will see, I'm hoping for hundreds (or thousands) of additional hours of operation. Randy
Its still new
The folks who wrote in are all correct. 500 hrs is when the pistons get seated in the cylinders. Clean fuel ( have a racor filter that filters fuel for my day or service tank ( I have 4 tanks 161 usgal ) and a dual racor paralell -series set of filters ...3 in all ALWAYS use a fuel additive , either "redline" or PRI, in addition to algicides. These additives keep your injectors free of carbon and increase power at lower rpm. Mercedes recommends them as the only acceptable additive to use in their engines. Oil in any engine will go bad in 90 to 100 days EVEN IF YOU ONLY HAVE 1 HOUR ON it due to acids and fuel in the sump. Warm engine the engine loves it best when the temp is 175 to 185..this also cleans the oil of crap too The rpm is important dont lug the engine by running it to slow or to fast Check your manual to see at what rpm your the engine achives max torque not horse power.... run the engin at TORQUE is the best long term setting I have seen engines with 5000 hrs run like I described, with less than 5% wear....you decide Dan Smith, Reunion #533
The folks who wrote in are all correct. 500 hrs is when the pistons get seated in the cylinders. Clean fuel ( have a racor filter that filters fuel for my day or service tank ( I have 4 tanks 161 usgal ) and a dual racor paralell -series set of filters ...3 in all ALWAYS use a fuel additive , either "redline" or PRI, in addition to algicides. These additives keep your injectors free of carbon and increase power at lower rpm. Mercedes recommends them as the only acceptable additive to use in their engines. Oil in any engine will go bad in 90 to 100 days EVEN IF YOU ONLY HAVE 1 HOUR ON it due to acids and fuel in the sump. Warm engine the engine loves it best when the temp is 175 to 185..this also cleans the oil of crap too The rpm is important dont lug the engine by running it to slow or to fast Check your manual to see at what rpm your the engine achives max torque not horse power.... run the engin at TORQUE is the best long term setting I have seen engines with 5000 hrs run like I described, with less than 5% wear....you decide Dan Smith, Reunion #533
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