Yet ANOTHER boat on the list

[ontheplane]

If you've seen my posts recently you can see we're jumping around a bit in what we want.

We're now also looking at a small bowrider with the Merc 1.7DTi diesel.

Do I remember some posts hereabouts about these engines having many problems?

Certainly 120HP from a tiny 1.7 diesel seems a bit too overstressed to me....

Thanks

 

[rafiki_]

See my post on your other thread. These are good engines, supplied by Isuzu, and marinised by Merc in Belgium. Great if properly maintained.

 

[mercuryman]

1.7

Marinised in Poland.

The engines are a pain in a Merc dealers back side. Phone Barrus and ask for Jon Hay. Ask for a view on the 1.7. I take your point on a correctly serviced package at the specified intervals but the failures I have seen the units were serviced as per manufacturers specs.

It maybe you are lucky as you are in a fresh water envoirment. What we found is that on most of the sports boats the blower vents were all at the rear near to the turbo. Salt mist entered the boat.Once that has got in it played havoc with the wastegates. Also the nice tight little turbo jacket acted as a sponge and soaked it all up which you guessed it dripped right onto the actuator arm.

Like i said in my other post get a compression check and budget or chip the price down to cover a turbo overhaul worst case £600. A new unit is £1300 if i remember correctly.

Also if its a rusty looking engine/wet damp engine bay get the belt tensioner and idle pulley looked at. Its a big failure area.

Overheating is common every few years on these due to the way the cooling system is designed. The heat exchanger drains but only half way. This tends to lead to blockages as the calcium builds up. The intercooler lies at the bottom this tends to be the biggest cause of overheat.

A new short motor to give you an idea is £7000. This is a block,crank and pistons. Nothing else no sump, heads or cams.

There are many units putting in good service dont get me wrong but get those items checked before going ahead.

1 So visual check of idler,tensioner cambelt pullies.
2 compression check should be 400 ish psi off top of my head
3 sea trial and watch temperature. Dont run it on muffs as the temp will never get there
4 budget in for a turbo overhaul