Mercruiser D7.3Litre diesel

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ChrisKaye

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I have been considering a new boat, well new to me which has a pair of 12 year old Mercruiser D7.3Litre diesels in it, boat has done average hours @50hrs/year.
What is the esteemed panels view on these engines ?
Ive just about got the hang of my AD41's and am pretty pleased with the old plodders really, parts are not too expensive and always a supply of second hand bits to hand.
Am I going to have to get used to sticking my hand in my pocket more regularly and deeper with the proposed Mercruisers ?
Are they reliable, is the cost of parts about the same, are they as easy for me maintain as I have found the Volvo's to be.
 
If you are used to paying for Volvo parts, the mercs should be a pleasant suprise. I would have thought with 12 year old engines it is more the way they have been looked after rather than the inherent design which is important. Any serious faults and they probably wouldn't have made it to 12 years, but even the best engine can be wrecked by bad/non existant maintenance.

Remember, these are basically US truck engines, which are designed to do a couple of hundred thousand miles, ao the 600 hours these have done should be peanuts - again, so long as the previous owner(s?) have shown them a bit of love!
 
Hi Pete
I set myself a target of using current boat more than 50hours last year, got really excited to think I was pretty close to the 50 hours and then my hour meter packed up !

Can we just concentrate on the question please
 
Umm, if these have been working fine, then maybe, but those V8 mercs haven't got the best reputation for not-leaking or not-breaking. The 6-cylinder ones are generally much better.

Parts costs for newish mercs are generally lower than the equivalent Volvo costs, although this might not be true for older, out-of-production engines.

Mercman or spannerman might be able to elaborate.

dv.
 
Not having a go at you as I know you get out and about, but just surprised 50 was the average for a WHOLE year /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

As for the engines can't help, sorry /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]


As for the engines can't help, sorry /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
Pete, they are the big metal things in the bottom of the boat /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Hi Pete
Sure I read on here that was the average
This boat was in Spain before, so that may explain it or perhaps it was always in the repair shop ! /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
I have twin D9 575hp, they fit neatly into the 25fter /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif. (well I would if I could get them to fit, I only have a measly D4 260hp /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif)
 
Just wondered if 50hrs a year is enough to keep some lumps like that in good condition, seems hardly enough to get them warmed up. Better to be sure as the engines are the expensive bits as we all know /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
More of a general comment really. If its the same as cars, the manufacturer is legally obliged to provide spares for 15 years following the last production. Neither manufacturers or particularly their suppliers like making spares for very old cars, its a distraction from their current business and no-one makes any real money out of it, so they generally meet their legal obligation and no more.

If its the same for marine engines, and your engines were towards the end of a production run, then you could find spares difficult to get in a few years time. I suppose the good thing then about Mercs is they made and sold lots of em, so there should be lots of knackered engines to strip down.
 
Chris the MerCruiser 7.3's are very often trouble. Spares availability is also a problem on some parts. One of our least favourite diesel engines. Even if they survey well the non-availability of some critical part can mean real problems later down the line.

David
 
As said a couple of posts above the main concerns on these engines is the maintainance history. Full history is a plus anything sketchy... walk away.
These engines do have parts issues not to say you cant get anything for them.
Mercruiser used this engine for only 3 years and the d-tronic version for 2 so parts that are available from mercruiser stock has depleted vastly.
The non d tronic engine is a Navistar engine so bits can be obtained through them and the d tronic is a ford based engine.
Dont get me started on Bravo 3`s any sign of corrosion is going to cost so either get it checked by someone competent and get a quote and take it off the asking price, or walk and find something with a repetable engine in.
 
Why not have a look at a boat with an upstairs to it.

The horrid waves look much smaller from up there /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
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