How Many Hours is old

[Davydine]

We are in the process of looking for a new(er) boat and I have the details of one with a Thornycroft T90 engine. The engine has done just under 2000 hours in a boat that is just under 20 years old. 100 hours a year sounds about right but what is the life expectancy of an engine in hours? Should I be getting worried about expensive bills to come, or thinking that the engine is really only just run in?!

On another note we have seen the same model boat with a Volvo engine of similar size. I have heared mixed reviews of Volvo engines of this age, what do you think?

Thanks
David



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[Koeketiene]

On another note we have seen the same model boat with a Volvo engine of similar size. I have heared mixed reviews of Volvo engines of this age, what do you think?

Hi David,

I can only speak for the Volvo - my advice: DON'T!
Ours (Penta 2003) was 13yrs old with 960hrs on the meter, and it has been nothing but trouble since we got it. Tired of throwing good money after bad I opted for a completely engine (Yanmar). Will be fitted in June.

It's been cruel on my wallet, but does wonders for my piece of mind.

<hr width=100% size=1>Experience is a good teacher, but she sends in terrific bills.

 

[cliff]

How long is a piece of string?

Depending on how the engine has been serviced, used / abused, fuelled etc anywhere from 1000 hrs to 10,000hrs. Realistically I would expect nearer the 10,000 hrs if looked after and not run to charge the batteries while tied up to a pontoon etc nor run at full throttle for hours on end although as diesels are governed it is hard to over rev them.

Questions to ask:
Does it start easily?
Is the exhaust "smokless?
Is it free from oil leaks?
Is the sump free from rust?
Does the engine look "looked after"
Is there a service log?
Is the block etc free from corrosion?
Are the control cables and linkages in good condition?
Does the engine rev freely when the throttle is opened?
Does the engine tick over smoothly?
If an oil pressure gauge is fitted, is there good oil pressure?
Does the oil pressure warning light / buzzer go off immediately after starting the engine?

Answer yes to these and be happy, there is probably a lot of life left in the engine.

I am sure other posters can add a few other questions to the list.

There are lots of checks you can do but if the engine runs well leave it alone. The costs of having injectors and pumps tested / overhauled can run to a couple of hundred.

One of the biggest killers of diesel engine is dirty fuel either sand, grat, salt, bugs etc so change your filters regularly and try to avoid "old jerry cans" for fuel .

Finally if you are concerned have a diesel engineer check it over for you

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[Althorne]

If you are especially worried why not employ a diesel engineer to do a full and thorough inspection. Make sure he is suitably qualified, will know what your worries are, should be insured against major mistakes and could be useful in future for servicing. I understand the going rate is about £80. If you find a boat you 'must have' but it has a doubtful engine history or engineers report you can always refuse to buy or negotiate a substantial amount off towards a new one.
Had a friend do the same recently and found the engine, outdrive and anodes needed and investment of £2000, so money well spent.

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[PeteMcK]

It wouldn't be a Moody 34 you're looking at? You have to begin to be suspicious of any engine over about 5 or 6 years old. Having said that, my 25 year old Thornycroft T90 (about 5000 hours with no overhaul) gives me little cause for concern because I know it well. If you need any detailed info on the engine, send me a PM. Spares are all readily available and cost a small fraction of V-P's equivalents.

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[Will_M]

To quote cliff….

“Depending on how the engine has been serviced, used / abused, fuelled etc anywhere from 1000 hrs to 10,000hrs.”

No statement could be more true, make & model of engine generally has bugger all to do with it.

We have in daily use since new in 1996, a Volvo Penta MD2030/120S which runs upwards of 1,400hrs per year so has covered an absolute minimum of 11,000hrs.

Only this year are we probably going to replace this engine package as the saildrive is getting on abit, although presently there are no concerning issues with either the engine or transmission.

Its not particularly over serviced as its in use a min of 5/6 days per week. Its service history generally consists of one week ashore per year having a pukka seeing to…

The engine has never required or received any major surgery, its only ever been standard service items.


What are we going to replace it with??

Simple answer to that one. 1x new Volvo Penta MD2030-D/MS25S

 

[Davydine]

Moody 34... How did you guess! To be honest I am probably worrying over nothing but when we bought our current boat it had a Stuart turner engine which ran well for a time. When it stopped running well I very quickly got fed up of tinkering with the thing to get it to start and having to put in a fresh clean set of spark plugs in difficult situations. The replacement Nanni is fantastic but it was an expensive business fitting a new engine. Not an experience I want to repeat if I can help it!

Regards,
David

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[CharlotteRusse]

I've got a Moody 29 of 1981 vintage with original Bukh DV20 engine. Runs like the proverbial sewing machine.

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[LadyInBed]

In car terms if you do 12000 miles / year at an average of 40 mph, that’s 300 hours / year
People seem to say that 100,000 miles on a diesel car engine isn't excessive, so take it from there and fiddle the figures to suit, taking into account Cliff's good advice.


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[SydneyTim]

More of the same really, I think in general you're better off with an engine that's been used than one that's been sitting there doing nothing. If it's been looked after and used it could have thousands of hours left on it.

I am just repowering my boat that has a 14 year old Lombardini engine in at present. The boat has been used as a live aboard cruiser or as a sailing school vessel most of its's life and was doing several thousand hours a year in the latter phase. For a raw water cooled heap of junk like that I'd say 14 years and probaly 15,000 hours bare minimum is a pretty good return, similarly I know of boats with a 500 hours on the engine in 7-8 years and they are nothing but trouble.

Drove round Oz a few years ago in a 15 year old Toyota diesel 4wd with 350,000km on the clock and did nothing but change the oil every 5000km and had absolutely no problems whatsoever.

Get a mechanic to have a look and if it comes up clean from that it will probably go for another 10 years if you look after it.

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[PeteMcK]

It's hard to say you're worrying about nothing but in the M33 and M34, the T90 doesn't have to work very hard, hence a large proportion of them are happily chugging along on their first engine. Specialist AMC-Thornycroft in Preston will do a rebuild to new condition if you ever need it. As someone else said, if you're in any doubt at all, get a marine mechanic to have a look over it before you buy: if it's good just now, then it'll have a lot of life left in it provided it gets basic servicing and the belts and hoses are kept on top of. Exhaust swan necks only last about 5 years but they're about an hour and £100 in parts to replace.

If it has the TMP/Meadows gearbox, Thamesway Marine supply parts all the way up to new boxes. Their overhaul rates are on their website.

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