Useful life of an engine?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Deleted User YDKXO
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interesting numbers; my circa 2008 CAT C12's appear to be just inside this 1:1 factor... not that I'll be any less paranoid about cossetting them :)
 
No idea, M.
But you might be interested to hear that the maintenance echelon of the MTU 183 series (which is the last MTU engine essentially built upon the same block as our MANs) was even more restrictive - and I'm sure that this was valid regardless of any emission regulations.
I found out the following while speaking with an engineer of MTU IT in La Spezia, when I was evaluating the F175 and F165, powered by the 12V and the 8V versions of the same engine respectively.
MTU had 6 steps/levels, from W1 (daily operational checks) to W6 (which - I quote - "requires complete engine disassembly for repair/overhaul of all relevant parts, or the installation of an overhauled engine").
And echelon W6 frequency was depending on the engine ratings:
1A - continuous unrestricted
1B - high load factor
1DS - low load factors
3A - power generation/continuous
Now, for 1DS engines (the version used in pleasure boats), W6 maintenance was scheduled every 6000 hours OR 8 years, whatever reached first. Fwiw, at the opposite extreme, W6 maintenance for 3A engines was scheduled every 24000 hours or 18 years.
Otoh - again fwiw - that MTU engineer told me that he has some clients with 1DS engines installed in fast boats used for daily touristic trips, 20 years old, with 15+ k hours clocked (and counting), which were yet to be overhauled...

You don't mean MTU - they are now owned by Rolls Royce so, these days they are really posh engines.
 
TAMD40b's....33 years old and 2600hrs, Absolutely no oil usage between services and still running as sweet as a nut with instant starting even in midwinter.

2600hrs equates to around 75000 miles in road hours (assuming 30mph average speed) so I can't see any reason for mechanical bits to be worn out on an engine that would normally be expected to exceed 500k miles in a truck. Ignoring premature failure due to the usual boat issues of overheating etc. Other forum reports have shown this old engine will exceed 8000 hours if cared for.

I refute the strange computations in a previous thread, they take no account of build quality and engine design which would be a contributing factor to an engines lifespan.
 
Just to reiterate before JFM and MapishM attempt to “rip my head off “ or point out a spelling mistake :) — I,am not saying it’s scientific ,just a bit of fun
LOL, you are saying that as if ripping each other's head off wouldn't be also part of the fun... :D :D :D
 
So my Cat 3126's are 442 cu in, therefore at 355 hp should last a while?
According to my local Finnings man, the Glensanda quarry fast ferry has a pair of 3126’s, over 20,000 hrs without a rebuild, so we should be good for a few years, oil change every 200 hrs or annual, single grade of course and a bit of TLC every now and again
 
I read somewhere about a pilot launch with Volvo TAMD41 engines that had done 20000 hours each, with only routine maintenance.
 
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