Engine survey versus visual inspection

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NickTrevethan

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The process of buying our 1988 Sealine 365 progresses, and she is being surveyed next week. I also want the engines checked out.
I got in touch with DB Marine who offer a “visual inspection” for about 400 pounds which, according to the literature, is not an “engine survey”.
I am not sure what the difference is.
The DB check list seems fairly thorough, although they are the checks I’d carry out myself anyway, although I am no engineer, and have no experience with Volvo AQAD41b powerplants so I couldn’t judge what was normal for them.
Is the visual inspection worthwhile or should I opt for a a proper engine survey.
If so, is there anyone around Penton Hook who knows their stuff?
 
This is a question without an answer I'm afraid. A full engine survey will be in depth, and will include things like leak down tests, blow by tests, compression check, oil sample analysis, inter cooler removal, pressure and leak check, etc etc. almost certainly, you don't need that level of inspection done UNLESS a less comprehensive check throws up problems.

Not sure what DB marine are doing for £400 - be interesting to find out what they'll check. Personal dealings with DB leave me with the impression of a good, honest and professional company, so I would be reasonably confident of asking them to carry out an inspection.

With these relatively simple old lumps, it's quite easy to do some basic but meaningful health checks. Start from cold with no preheat - they should fire quickly. This means compression is good. Check for any coloured smoke when engines are warm - I'd expect a fair amount of grey smoke on start from cold, and you'll probably get a slight slick of oil on the water - this is ok (the "oil" is actually unburnt diesel - expected from cold)

Check oil for water contamination.

Remove oil filler cap with engines running (careful not to spray oil everywhere, have a rag handy..) and make sure no exhaust smoke present. You will get some oil mist - this is normal.

Do external visual checks for leaks, or evidence of leaks that have been cleaned up.

Have an engine oil analysis done (about £80? Per engine).

I'd be interested in DB marines visual inspection - is it detailed on their website?

Again, I have found DB to be very good (having bailed me out over night to get a much needed bearing replaced).
 
When I had my boat surveyed prior to purchase I opted for a visual engine check only. This proved to be an expensive mistake as the heat exchanger turned out to have a crack caused by frost while the boat was ashore over the Winter. I only discovered this later, a replacement heat exchanger cost £600, nothing I could do but pay up and smile.
 
NickTrevethan said:
The process of buying our 1988 Sealine 365 progresses, and she is being surveyed next week. I also want the engines checked out.
I got in touch with DB Marine who offer a “visual inspection” for about 400 pounds which, according to the literature, is not an “engine survey”.
I am not sure what the difference is.
The DB check list seems fairly thorough, although they are the checks I’d carry out myself anyway, although I am no engineer, and have no experience with Volvo AQAD41b powerplants so I couldn’t judge what was normal for them.
Is the visual inspection worthwhile or should I opt for a a proper engine survey.
If so, is there anyone around Penton Hook who knows their stuff?
Click to expand...
for that sort of money i would expect them to fire it up & run it to working temps. £400 is at least 10 man hrs
 
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