How long to service an engine?

sighmoon

sighmoon

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How long would you expect it to take to service an engine, (i.e. change all fluids and filters)

It's a new engine with all round access. Let's assume that the engineer is sat waiting for it to warm up before he changes the oil.

I've my own rough idea, but I'm flabbergasted by the number of hours that have appeared on my invoice.
 
It takes me more like 3 hours but access isnt that good and my joints are creaky. Also depends on what is serviced ie water pump, anodes, belts, filters, rockers on a new engine, check of all jubillees. Then add in travelling time, sitting and phoning wife / girlfriend, mates time. Daft calls from clients.

I can see them easily getting it up to 5 hours. What did they charge?


More to the point, its so simple why not DIY?
 
sighmoon said:
How long would you expect it to take to service an engine, (i.e. change all fluids and filters)

It's a new engine with all round access. Let's assume that the engineer is sat waiting for it to warm up before he changes the oil.

I've my own rough idea, but I'm flabbergasted by the number of hours that have appeared on my invoice.
Click to expand...

It might help you get more accurate responses if you gave us the make/model of the engine. Otherwise it's a bit "how long is a piece of string".
 
I could easily do my 2gm20 in 2 hours and I'm not a marine engineer. I could probably do it in an hour if I got the cav filter to seal first time. If he's claiming more than two hours it's time to get a new engineer or learn yourself.
 
I am always surprised at the length of time that goes on invoices. I now agree a price before any work is done.
 
Good point about travel. Where is the boat? In a marina, out in a river , on a swinging mooring? Easy access makes a big difference.
 
Commercially
Collect spares and tools oil pump containers for oil
travel to sight find keys and find boat open up boat
Access engine
Check ropes and run engine unde load to warm oil
Actually do the service
Replace everything
Clean up
Lock up and return keys
Dispose of old oil and filters
Return to workshop
 
scottie said:
Commercially
Collect spares and tools oil pump containers for oil
travel to sight find keys and find boat open up boat
Access engine
Check ropes and run engine unde load to warm oil
Actually do the service
Replace everything
Clean up
Lock up and return keys
Dispose of old oil and filters
Return to workshop
Click to expand...

I suppose some of those could be split between two or three jobs on the same day?
 
scottie said:
Commercially
Collect spares and tools oil pump containers for oil
travel to sight find keys and find boat open up boat
Access engine
Check ropes and run engine unde load to warm oil
Actually do the service
Replace everything
Clean up
Lock up and return keys
Dispose of old oil and filters
Return to workshop
Click to expand...
Nice embellishment of some very simple quick tasks. 5 hours is still way over the top for a skilled/experienced engineer.
 
mainsail1 said:
I suppose some of those could be split between two or three jobs on the same day?
Click to expand...

9.5 hour day ( 07-30 until 17-00 ) 2 jobs 4.5 hours each add 0.5 hour at O/t rates & you have it.
No time to get a third one in. How do you pay for the rest of the day? If it takes half hour less you still loose the bloke for a day for 2 jobs. One job here & another at the marina 20-30 miles away.

Got to get there, find the keys at the marina office, get access. If the boat is on dry land rig a water supply etc to get the engine hot .Servicing should include flushing the raw water cooling with fresh water & adding antifreeze. This means getting water to the intake
All this takes time, regardless of the claims about doing it in one hour. People do not actually take into account all the peripheral things a visiting engineer has to do.ie signing in & out etc.

I would charge 5 hours for a basic engine & that is not unreasonable
 
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Spyro said:
Nice embellishment of some very simple quick tasks. 5 hours is still way over the top for a skilled/experienced engineer.
Click to expand...

As ever, it depends ! Our local Volvo dealer base lies within sight of my boat on its current pontoon. And there are lots of other boats in the marina who are also potential customers. Hence travel time and key retrieval between jobs 10-15 minutes. (Hypothetical in my case, as did my own engine service)

For a boat on a mooring, or at a different marina 30 miles away then extra time would be very different. Any may be no other jobs at the same location.

The OP needs to give more information to clarify these aspects. (But yes I would expect work time to be between 90 minutes and 3 hours, depending on precise service spec - eg changing coolant, changing belts, saildrive stuff etc)
 
scottie said:
Commercially
Collect spares and tools oil pump containers for oil
travel to sight find keys and find boat open up boat
Access engine
Check ropes and run engine unde load to warm oil
Actually do the service
Replace everything
Clean up
Lock up and return keys
Dispose of old oil and filters
Return to workshop
Click to expand...

NOTE No times against any item as they are all variable
 
Daydream believer said:
9.5 hour day ( 07-30 until 17-00 ) 2 jobs 4.5 hours each add 0.5 hour at O/t rates & you have it.
No time to get a third one in. How do you pay for the rest of the day? If it takes half hour less you still loose the bloke for a day for 2 jobs. One job here & another at the marina 20-30 miles away.

Got to get there, find the keys at the marina office, get access. If the boat is on dry land rig a water supply etc to get the engine hot .Servicing should include flushing the raw water cooling with fresh water & adding antifreeze. This means getting water to the intake
All this takes time, regardless of the claims about doing it in one hour. People do not actually take into account all the peripheral things a visiting engineer has to do.ie signing in & out etc.

I would charge 5 hours for a basic engine & that is not unreasonable
Click to expand...

Fair points.

So long as it falls in the normal range, I can't really complain, I suppose. When I got it done on the Clyde, it was about an hour and a half.

I can do it myself next year, but that's a separate matter.
 
Your best bet is to find out what the service covered and what was carried out. until then youll have no idea if it was reasonable or not.



Steveeasy
 
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