The average marine diesel engine will run for more than three times that long and log an average 5000 hours under the same conditions. Inboard motors will sometimes last longer because they are more protected from wear and tear.
There are a few things to consider when looking at boat hours.
How many hours does a boat engine last. A recreational boater can possibly use their boat an average of 200 hours per year meaning the 8000-hour engine can last up to 40 years. Diesel engines are very durable and safer to use because of their higher flash points than gasoline engines reducing the danger of explosions. An engines weight and horsepower can impact the performance and the longevity of your motor.
How Long Do Boat Motors Last. Boat motors typically last at least 2000-3000 hours before they need serious maintenance. Inboard motors will sometimes last longer because they are more protected from wear and tear.
The Life Expectancy of the Marine Engine The average marine gasoline engine runs for 1500 hours before needing a major overhaul. The average marine diesel engine will run for more than three times that long and log an average 5000 hours under the same conditions. Most marine engine manufacturers recommend an oil change every 50 engine hours.
Our 1000 hour boat serviced every 50 hours would have had the same 20 oil changes. Similar levels of wear can be assumed in this example. Some newer vehicles have an engine hour meter.
Here is a picture of the hour meter on one of our shop trucks. A gasoline-powered motor might last around 1200-1800 hours before needing a lot of work and a diesel engine might last 5000 hours before needing a lot of work. This might not seem like many hours but many boat owners might only run their boats for 50 hours a year.
The use of the engine and the location. For boats that live in Florida and get used regularly we would say that the average number of hours for a boat will be around 2000 hours. That is just the average number of hours that are going to be on a 5-10-year-old engine that has been used regularly throughout the years.
If a boat is four years old then about 200 hours would be about normal. If its five years old 250 is about right and so forth. Rindas TechMate diagnostic tool can help with determining engine hours on a used boat with electronic fuel injection.
Mercs are not heavily built when compared to Crusader engines which if well maintained can go for 15-20 years. Small plane engines must be rebuilt in the range of 1200-1600 hours depending on make and they are usually well maintained. You can do a test diagnostic and find out some data or even pull a head.
If it is now or ever has been seriously overpropped deduct 1500 to 2000 hours from that realistic 3000 hours bondo mentioned. Its has always been the OEM Bravo III props since purchased new. But I do know a few tricks that the average boater can use to make his enginesbe they gasoline or diesellast for a very long time.
Maybe even as long as the boat itself. This 1987 135-bhp Ford Lehman SP135 diesel has approximately 3671 engine hours on her and yet she still purrs like a kitten thanks to lots of TLC. Like the truck a boat with 745 engine hours has many years of optimal running performance left.
In fact its just past getting broken in. There are a few things to consider when looking at boat hours. Unless you are looking at a really high hour boat 2000 hours there are typically very few drawbacks to the number of hours a boat has.
The hour meter on a boat doesnt even come close to indicating the true condition or real value of a marine engine its much more complicated than that. Why hadnt this term Marine Age surfaced or mean what I know it means today 30 40 or 50 years ago when there were marine diesels even back then. In this video we address the misconception of engine hours on a used inboard towboatFor a more in-depth reading of comparing boat hours to miles on a car.
When that is compared to a lorry or van engine they will do 8356 hours in 4 to 5 years. The older diesel engines are relatively simple engines and easy to fix to compared to modern ones with turbos and electronics both which are prone to fail. In either case the engine experienced much more wear and tear than typical usage.
The engine run time history report a Mercury dealer can generate using their diagnostics equipment and software will include a breakdown of hours in 1000-rpm increments from idle to the engines max rpm. 10000 hours seems to be the upper limit on most Yanmars. Of course you do have to send the injectors out for recalibrationrebuild about every 2000 hrs.
And the Injector pump out at 5000 hrs. If you want a perfect engine. That works out to only 6 days solid use or 75 days at 2 hours a day.
If your motorbike only run for this period you would not be impressed and probably having a go at the manufacturer. Maybe some one can enlighten me because to me 150 hours use is very very very little I would expect 1000s of hours from an engine before you have problems. Multiply the amount of hours on your engine by 60.
Use the number you come up with to estimate how many miles are on your engine. For example 1235 hours on an engine equates to approximately 74100 miles. Engine oil-life monitors that track engine hours rather than mileage take into account idling time rpm and other factors that aren.
An engine block that has been heated-cooled heated-cooled heated-cooled sucesfully many times Like a old MOPAR Big-Block in a metro PD carThats a seasoned block made for great builders. It wasnt the total miles that made them sought-after builders it was the seasoning of the block lent to more stability as it had more cycles. When buying a boat it is good to know how boat engine hours affect the used boat value.
Always ask how many hours the engine has on it and dont forget to dr. GPH 04 x 300 72 12072 166 GPH. 300-hp Gasoline Engine Example.
GPH 050 x 300 61 15061 245 GPH. Keep in mind that these formulas apply when the engine is making peak horsepower which usually is near wide-open throttle. Fuel consumption will be decreased at cruising speeds.
Cat 3208 average hours to rebuild. I have seen many 3208s 375 HP Beyond 10000 hours in Comerical application and one in a 35 Duffy with 20000. Also if a cylinder wall was damaged it can often be repaired in place.
The same is true for all non sleeved engines and for all dry sleeved engines like the 71s.