W55 replacing W46

[cabo_sailor]

Update: I may not need a new engine. A dockmate asked if could take a look. I said sure. After 2-3 days no fluid seeping past rings. Can fill cylinders with ATF come back in a couple days and they are still full.

After pulling head we found quite a bit of carbon fouling. I suspect injectors need repair or replacement. I've ordered new gaskets. Westerbeke wanted $300+ for head gasket. Mitsubishi sells a complete set, head, valve cover, exhaust, oil pan, etc. for $55. Last Westerbeke I'll ever own.

No apparent wear on cylinders. Smooth as a baby's butt.

Rich


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[MarkSF]

Originally Posted by cabo_sailor

Update: I may not need a new engine. A dockmate asked if could take a look. I said sure. After 2-3 days no fluid seeping past rings. Can fill cylinders with ATF come back in a couple days and they are still full.

After pulling head we found quite a bit of carbon fouling. I suspect injectors need repair or replacement. I've ordered new gaskets. Westerbeke wanted $300+ for head gasket. Mitsubishi sells a complete set, head, valve cover, exhaust, oil pan, etc. for $55. Last Westerbeke I'll ever own.

No apparent wear on cylinders. Smooth as a baby's butt.

Rich


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You can boycott Westerbeke if you like, but that kind of pricing disparity, between core engine manufacturer and marinising distributor, is typical across all brands.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by MarkSF

You can boycott Westerbeke if you like, but that kind of pricing disparity, between core engine manufacturer and marinising distributor, is typical across all brands.

That has not been my experience. Beta Marine for one is happy to help you find the Kubota tractor parts for their marinized version of that engine. Parts for some of the Perkins engines I've had in the past were much more reasonable. In fact, my Westerbeke W58 is just a Perkins 4.154 painted red and I have purchased blue painted Perkins parts for 1/3 to 1/2 of the cost of the identical part from Westerbeke painted red.

[zboss]

Yeah... We are seriously thinking of ditching our WB for a Beta when we finally head off for the long term.

I was speaking with Beta and the engine comes completely assembled and tuned except the wiring harness. All you have to do it put it in, connect the water, fuel, and wiring harness, bolt it down, align it and take off.

[sailnow2011]

Originally Posted by cabo_sailor

Update: I may not need a new engine. A dockmate asked if could take a look. I said sure. After 2-3 days no fluid seeping past rings. Can fill cylinders with ATF come back in a couple days and they are still full.

After pulling head we found quite a bit of carbon fouling. I suspect injectors need repair or replacement. I've ordered new gaskets. Westerbeke wanted $300+ for head gasket. Mitsubishi sells a complete set, head, valve cover, exhaust, oil pan, etc. for $55. Last Westerbeke I'll ever own.

No apparent wear on cylinders. Smooth as a baby's butt.

Rich


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Westerbeke does not make engines, they just marinize them.
My westerbeke is from a mazda pickup. Find your engine base, and find cheep parts.

[cabo_sailor]

Originally Posted by zboss

Yeah... We are seriously thinking of ditching our WB for a Beta when we finally head off for the long term.

I was speaking with Beta and the engine comes completely assembled and tuned except the wiring harness. All you have to do it put it in, connect the water, fuel, and wiring harness, bolt it down, align it and take off.

I'd go with that plan in a heartbeat. I wanted a new head gasket, $300; a new fuel return manifold, $300. My engine, the W46 I'm told is a Mitsubishi 4DQ5. Complete set of gaskets is $56. Unfortunately they did change the fuel return line. I'll have check further.

When I do have to repower I'll start with Beta and have Yanmar also on the list.


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[cabo_sailor]

This is a very old thread. So many of you provided and support I thought one final post was called for.

My friend and I abandoned the so-called "pro mechanics" and did the repairs on my engine ourselves. As a reminder, the suspected problem was stuck rings leading to no compression in any of the cylinders.

We pulled the head and found the rings were stuck due to excessive carbon fouling. Other parts needed replacing and the wiring harness was a mess.

To make a long story a little shorter, the engine I was told needed replacement now runs like a top. It starts instantly, is quiet and smooth. My neighbor claims it runs better than his.

So a big thank you to all.

Rich

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[Saltyhog]

Thanks for the update Rich! That's great news. Were you able to source the parts (head gasket, etc.) somewhere for lower prices than what Westerbeke tries to ream you for? Based on Westerbeke's prices for parts, I honestly think that they are not really interested in selling you parts, but rather hope that the high prices for parts will induce you to just buy a new engine.

[cabo_sailor]

Except for a few parts from Westerbeke we outsourced everything. We were able to get quite a few parts from local auto shops. I'd guess less than $1500 in parts plus bit for expendables.

As I said, now runs like a kitten. I doubt it takes even one revolution to start. The biggest problem was the electrical harness. Bad splices, too many splices and loose connections.

My friend that did the majority of the work expected around $200. I gave him $1500. I've tried to give him more but he refuses. Meanwhile I learned a lot about diesel repair.

Including what I paid my friend I might have $3K into the whole thing. A heck of a lot better than a new engine.

Rich


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