Average cost to service an outdrive?

[wipe_out]

Have a single Volvo Penta SX non-DP drive on the boat and I am planning on servicing it in the new year..

What is the approximate cost for the service, anodes and bellows likely to be?

Other than changing the oil and checking the seals what else is done during the service?

And while we are here what is the average cost for a basic 5.7L V8 non-EFI engine service?

 

[julians]

I dont know about a VP SX drive specifically, but my mercruiser alpha 1 drive would cost roughly the following (in the med) paying someone else to do all the work:-

- 'Big' service - anodes,oil,bellows replacement , antifoul - ~£500 - due every 3 years on the alpha 1.
- 'Normal' service - anodes,oil, antifoul ~£200 - yearly

And regarding the engine service, again not VP specific, but on a merc 5.0 mpi, it would typically be around £300 for an oil & filters service.

There would be occasions where the throttle cable/gear cable and other components needed replacing as well, which would increase the cost.

On top of all this, in my case there is the lifting of the boat (£150), antifouling the hull (£500), and hard standing charges (£100), which meant that typically, a yearly service would come in around £1600 - £2000

 

[KevB]

There fixed that, to include the usual outdrive incidentals :encouragement:

Yawn Zzzz:sleeping:

 

[wipe_out]

Thanks, that's useful..

 

[abraxus]

I've just had a 5.7l Mercuiser (non EFI) and Alpha 1 serviced (big service, inc anodes, impeller, oils, bellows, spark plugs, filters) and cost was around £1300.

 

[blueglass]

Yawn Zzzz:sleeping:

would you prefer the op to live in cloud cuckoo land or have a realistic idea of what can need attention on an outdrive?

 

[[2068]]

would you prefer the op to live in cloud cuckoo land or have a realistic idea of what can need attention on an outdrive?

All those things won't happen in one season, unless you have attracted an airship load of bad Karma somehow.

Over 10 years, it has been regular servicing, a couple of trim cylinders and shaft seals.
The rear alu props are original! (might get changed next season), and the fronts only got changed due to errm unintentional contact with something other than water.

Serious point is to get them checked out properly pre-purchase by someone who knows what to check for.

.

 

[julians]

would you prefer the op to live in cloud cuckoo land or have a realistic idea of what can need attention on an outdrive?

My numbers in post #2 are real numbers based on 7 years costs of a boat in salt water 360 days of the year.

 

[Portofino]

I,ll toss a few real facts in too .
Mine are DPG 10 years old ( 8 with me) -fully maintained by Volvo penta agent in France ,bellows every 2 y -I do not DIY these or allow a white van man to do them in a day !
They come off every 2 years disappear into a workshop -reappear 3 days later immaculate go back on ,with new bellows .
Every other year simple anodes / oil change

1. U/J. Cost € 80 and at € 200 last year some sort of reversing thingy on both -spotted at bellows service and done as precaution ,
No breakdowns so far all on the button.Mine in Med salt water 258 days a years -similar costs to Julian's above.
Fuel savings are immense over a period of time with diesels ,if you do a lot of hours although yours is a petrol - have fun

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

would you prefer the op to live in cloud cuckoo land or have a realistic idea of what can need attention on an outdrive?

Come on. KevB was quoting Daka, who with numbers 10x the actuals quoted by Julians, is the one living in cloud cuckoo land. [It's so very unlike Daka to be a troll as well... ]

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

I,ll toss a few real facts in too .
Mine are DPG 10 years old ( 8 with me) -fully maintained by Volvo penta agent in France ,bellows every 2 y -I do not DIY these or allow a white van man to do them in a day !
They come off every 2 years disappear into a workshop -reappear 3 days later immaculate go back on ,with new bellows .
Every other year simple anodes / oil change

1. U/J. Cost € 80 and at € 200 last year some sort of reversing thingy on both -spotted at bellows service and done as precaution ,
No breakdowns so far all on the button.Mine in Med salt water 258 days a years -similar costs to Julian's above.
Fuel savings are immense over a period of time with diesels ,if you do a lot of hours although yours is a petrol - have fun

Which main agent do you use in SoF, out of interest?

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[wipe_out]

Thanks all..

So the recommendation for bellows is 2-3 years?
What are the signs they need to be changed?

I have no history of when they were last changed by the previous owner but looked at them in March when the new engine was fitted and they looked to be in good shape and the rubber was very supple.. The engineer fitting the engine said they were fine.. Wondering if I can leave it for another season and do them in Feb/March 2015.. Boat will come out in the new year so I can get them looked at to make sure there is nothing obvious..

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Thanks all..

So the recommendation for bellows is 2-3 years?
What are the signs they need to be changed?

I have no history of when they were last changed by the previous owner but looked at them in March when the new engine was fitted and they looked to be in good shape and the rubber was very supple.. The engineer fitting then engine said they were fine.. Wondering if I can leave it for another season and do them in Feb/March 2015.. Boat will come out in the new year so I can get them looked at to make sure there is nothing obvious..

I do mine every two years, with inspection in the intermediate year (I've got DP-H drives though). I think (although I'm sure he'll be along to correct me if I've got this wrong) that VolvoPaul changes the clips on the bellows every year regardless of whether or not the bellows themselves are being changed. Imho bellows are one of those things that it's not worth scrimping on, because the cost of a failure far outweighs the notional saving of stretching a two-year service life to three years.

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

PS it obviously depends on exactly which engine/drive combination you've got, but a quick look at the VP maintenance schedule for a 5.7OSXi-A says that the bellows should be replaced every year, so three years might be a bit ambitious.

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[wipe_out]

PS it obviously depends on exactly which engine/drive combination you've got, but a quick look at the VP maintenance schedule for a 5.7OSXi-A says that the bellows should be replaced every year, so three years might be a bit ambitious.

Cheers
Jimmy

Thanks Jimmy..

I have just received a price back for a service including changing the bellows of £700.. I am sure the non-bellows change service at the beginning of the year was about £275.. Does that sound right that a bellows change service is over double the price?

 

[oGaryo]

I do mine every two years, with inspection in the intermediate year (I've got DP-H drives though). I think (although I'm sure he'll be along to correct me if I've got this wrong) that VolvoPaul changes the clips on the bellows every year regardless of whether or not the bellows themselves are being changed. Imho bellows are one of those things that it's not worth scrimping on, because the cost of a failure far outweighs the notional saving of stretching a two-year service life to three years.

Cheers
Jimmy

clips every season for sure imo Jimmy.. the only issues I've had with leakage into UJ's and fortunately into a wet system exhaust bellow last year were due to corroded clips letting go midway through the season.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Thanks Jimmy..

I have just received a price back for a service including changing the bellows of £700.. I am sure the non-bellows change service at the beginning of the year was about £275.. Does that sound right that a bellows change service is over double the price?

I'm afraid you're better off aiming that question to someone who's got (or has had) the same drive as you. But for mine the difference between a big service and a little service is the the drive has to come off for the big service, and it doesn't for the little one.

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[[2068]]

So the recommendation for bellows is 2-3 years?

The manual says every second year for the UJ (upper) bellows for DP-E and DP-H. Some drives, eg SX, DP-S, it's every year, although many owners stretch it to two years.
The lower exhaust bellows is not so important, as it's full of water anyway.

What are the signs they need to be changed?

Your boat sinks.

.

 

[wipe_out]

..the drive has to come off for the big service, and it doesn't for the little one.

Gotcha!!.. That's likely the difference then.. The labour to remove and refit the drive..

 

[wipe_out]

Your boat sinks.

haha.. That sign would be a pretty clear indicator that they should be changed.. Was thinking something a little earlier than that..