MTU V8 service schedules

[markc]

Hi

I'm looking at a couple of boats over the next 2 weeks, both fitted with V8 MTUs (600 - 770hp). I have no past experience of these lumps so I would appreciate any experienced views. Also, I have heard about a W5 service that these engines apparently need over 1000 hours and the little info I have managed to find out seems that this is a horrifically expensive service requirement - how worried should I be??!

Cheers
Mark

 

[MapisM]

how worried should I be??!

A bit, because a W5 service is awfully expensive.
The good news is that according to MTU maintenance frequency chart, it's due every 3000 hours, not 1000.
The bad news is that it's either 3000 hours OR 4 years, whatever is reached first.

But wait, there's another bad news.
W6 service which - I quote from MTU maintenance echelon - "requires complete engine disassembly for repair/overhaul of all relevant parts, or the installation of an overhauled engine" - should be every 6000 hours OR 8 years.
And I suspect that the engines you are looking at are bound to be more than 8 years old... :ambivalence:

Just pm me your mailbox if you're interested in a PDF file with the maintenance schedule.

 

[Hurricane]

A bit, because a W5 service is awfully expensive.
The good news is that according to MTU maintenance frequency chart, it's due every 3000 hours, not 1000.
The bad news is that it's either 3000 hours OR 4 years, whatever is reached first.

But wait, there's another bad news.
W6 service which - I quote from MTU maintenance echelon - "requires complete engine disassembly for repair/overhaul of all relevant parts, or the installation of an overhauled engine" - should be every 6000 hours OR 8 years.
And I suspect that the engines you are looking at are bound to be more than 8 years old... :ambivalence:

Just pm me your mailbox if you're interested in a PDF file with the maintenance schedule.

Where did you get that information?
You worried me.
I've just checked the Maintenance Schedule for my CR2000s M93s
And it is nothing like that.

In fact, they are cheaper to maintain than most other engines.
If you use the correct oils, you can get 2 years between services.

My schedule shows a big service at 4000 hours.
4000 HOURS - at the rate I'm running them, that will be 30 years from now!!!

It could be that the engines are very different - you just say V8 MTUs.
Maybe I should PM my Maintenance schedule PDF.

I've had MTU engines now for 9 years and I don't regret having them at all.
Our previous boat had D12s and they are WAY better than Volvos.

I have experience of dealing with MTU for spares and I find them very helpful.

Given the choice, I would probably have MTUs again.

 

[MapisM]

It could be that the engines are very different - you just say V8 MTUs.
Maybe I should PM my Maintenance schedule PDF.

Hi M, sorry to have scared you.
I just assumed, based on the HP that markc mentioned, that he was talking of series 183 engines.
No idea about the maintenance similarities with 2000 series (if any), but my understanding is that they are completely different engines, so I am not surprised to hear that your schedule is different.
If you are curious to see what I found on 183 series, I can email you the files.
Btw, can attachments be sent via PM? And if yes, how? I always assumed it's impossible...

PS: fwiw, I was also surprised to see a maintenance schedule based on either hours or age.
I never came across anything like that with Cat, MAN, or VP...

 

[Hurricane]

Hi M, sorry to have scared you.
I just assumed, based on the HP that markc mentioned, that he was talking of series 183 engines.
No idea about the maintenance similarities with 2000 series (if any), but my understanding is that they are completely different engines, so I am not surprised to hear that your schedule is different.
If you are curious to see what I found on 183 series, I can email you the files.
Btw, can attachments be sent via PM? And if yes, how? I always assumed it's impossible...

PS: fwiw, I was also surprised to see a maintenance schedule based on either hours or age.
I never came across anything like that with Cat, MAN, or VP...

When we bought the boat, I went on an engineering course at the MTU factory.
The course was focused at owners, skippers and dealers.
It was really interesting.

One thing that came out of the course was that MTU are very proud of their fluids research.
We were encouraged to read a fluids specification that they keep updated.
I've bee a bit lazy and not read it for a few years.
I stick to the oils that I know and use.

This is a link to the latest version of their fluids and lubricants specification.
http://www.mtu-online.com/fileadmin/fm-dam/mtu-global/pdf/valuecare/A001061_33E.pdf

IIRC, they categorise their oils into one of three categories and then specify the maintenance period in relation to the category of the oils.

Maybe I should read it again.