Your Worst Story About a Diesel Mechanic ?

[Boracay]

My experience has been that we need to be very realistic about the age and condition of diesel engines.

Many are over 20 years old, rarely used, have been run at idle for long periods, are long out of production and have been neglected in a salt water environment all that time. With some mechanics charging over $100ph and major parts costing multiple boat bucks it's just not economically feasible to fix them.

I'd imagine a mechanic's worst nightmare would be to be looking at an old, tired engine with an obscure fault and a poor owner while knowing a wealthy powerboat owner is on the way over with a new engine to service...

[meyermm]

Originally Posted by Boracay

My experience has been that we need to be very realistic about the age and condition of diesel engines.

Many are over 20 years old, rarely used, have been run at idle for long periods, are long out of production and have been neglected in a salt water environment all that time. With some mechanics charging over $100ph and major parts costing multiple boat bucks it's just not economically feasible to fix them.

I'd imagine a mechanic's worst nightmare would be to be looking at an old, tired engine with an obscure fault and a poor owner while knowing a wealthy powerboat owner is on the way over with a new engine to service...

Yes especially when you can see a multitude of problems he does not want fixed. When those faults start to fail he will say "bloody mechanic I had him here last week know I have all these other problems".

[SvenG]

Originally Posted by meyermm

Yes especially when you can see a multitude of problems he does not want fixed. When those faults start to fail he will say "bloody mechanic I had him here last week know I have all these other problems".

While working on old engines in unserviceable installations is indeed a pain, it would seem a lot more professional to decline to take the job rather than to punish the owner (if that is indeed the intent).



-Sven

[meyermm]

Punish the owner really you must explain more I am enthralled by your logic.

[Boracay]

Pulling the plug on an old engine is not an easy decision. In many cases the owner won't have the money available for a "repair" that will be a substantial proportion of the boat's value.

I'm not sure it's fair to ask a mechanic to make that call.

As owners we need to have the resources to maintain our boats. It's a calculation that needs to be made before the boat is brought, and after we need to set aside sufficient funds to keep the boat in good order.

[meyermm]

Originally Posted by Boracay

Pulling the plug on an old engine is not an easy decision. In many cases the owner won't have the money available for a "repair" that will be a substantial proportion of the boat's value.

I'm not sure it's fair to ask a mechanic to make that call.

As owners we need to have the resources to maintain our boats. It's a calculation that needs to be made before the boat is brought, and after we need to set aside sufficient funds to keep the boat in good order.

Too much common sense and logic there.

[meyermm]

You could just imagine the mechanic informing the owner that due to the poor condition of the boat he will not take the job on. Owner would then run the mechanic down as arrogant and rubbished his boat.

[SvenG]

Originally Posted by meyermm

You could just imagine the mechanic informing the owner that due to the poor condition of the boat he will not take the job on. Owner would then run the mechanic down as arrogant and rubbished his boat.

Wow.

So, if I have a perfectly running older, low hour, engine that I want to have serviced to keep it in good tune and to let me know if there are any issues, then I should expect the mechanic to do severe collateral damage because he didn't have the guts to turn down a job he didn't want ?

I must put the boat on the market right away as even a refit would not cure the access problem !



-Sven

[perchance]

Originally Posted by SvenG

Wow.

So, if I have a perfectly running older, low hour, engine that I want to have serviced to keep it in good tune and to let me know if there are any issues, then I should expect the mechanic to do severe collateral damage because he didn't have the guts to turn down a job he didn't want ?

I must put the boat on the market right away as even a refit would not cure the access problem !



-Sven

You are asking an awful lot of your mechanic. You expect him to be clairvoyant and have x-ray vision. I don't know of any one who can predict potential problems with an engine by examining the outside.Short of tearing the engine down and measuring to check that all is within its wear limits there is no reliable way of knowing the life left in the old beast. If you can't afford a decent mechanic you had best learn to diy.

[SvenG]

Originally Posted by perchance

You are asking an awful lot of your mechanic. You expect him to be clairvoyant and have x-ray vision. I don't know of any one who can predict potential problems with an engine by examining the outside.Short of tearing the engine down and measuring to check that all is within its wear limits there is no reliable way of knowing the life left in the old beast.

Then I'd expect the mechanic to tell me that. Maybe suggest an oil test and do it.

If you can't afford a decent mechanic you had best learn to diy.

Not sure where that comment fits into the discussion ?



-Sven

[never monday]

Originally Posted by SvenG

Then I'd expect the mechanic to tell me that. Maybe suggest an oil test and do it.

-Sven

I've long advocated AGAINST random spot checking with oil analysis. The results if not plotted over time will scare the average uninformed owner.

[meyermm]

Sven you seem to be on a mission & I am having a real problem following your reasoning. But what seems clear is any mechanic working for you would find the job very stressfull. I doubt that any mechanic will satisfy your requirements.

PS. I think that most who read my earlier post when I used the words poor condition of the boat would have known I was referrring to the engine as that is the thread topic.

[boatman61]

I'm NOT a mechanic... but short of major breakdowns I've managed to fix a variety of problems from exhaust explosion, cooling blockages in head/system, leaking fuel/cooling, blocked filters/injectors, thermostats, impellers, pumps, dirty/water logged fuel, charging etc... all it takes is a w/shop manual, patience and common sense...
The mechanics for when the engines blown and needs a rebuild..

[SvenG]

Originally Posted by meyermm

Sven you seem to be on a mission & I am having a real problem following your reasoning. But what seems clear is any mechanic working for you would find the job very stressfull. I doubt that any mechanic will satisfy your requirements.

Boy, you couldn't be more wrong. The mechanics who did all the collateral damages don't even know that we haven't called them back because we were dissatisfied. We paid up in full and left it at that. We won't tell anyone to avoid them unless specifically asked by name, but we also won't recomend them.

You may think it is ok to do repeated actual damage while doing basic service, that's your prerogative. I chose not to do business with such "professionals" again.

As for being on a mission, that part you do have right, a mission to figure out how to get good diesel service when word of mouth has such a spotty record in our experience. The other stories I related were from other owners when we were asking if they were happy with their mechanics since we were trying to find someone dependable and skilled.

This thread has been a real eye opener.



-Sven

[meyermm]

Originally Posted by boatman61

I'm NOT a mechanic... but short of major breakdowns I've managed to fix a variety of problems from exhaust explosion, cooling blockages in head/system, leaking fuel/cooling, blocked filters/injectors, thermostats, impellers, pumps, dirty/water logged fuel, charging etc... all it takes is a w/shop manual, patience and common sense...
The mechanics for when the engines blown and needs a rebuild..

Yes I agree to a point but like anything some have a natural talent for mechanical jobs others do not. Years of experience in any trade will short circuit most jobs. Knowing what will work what wont work and spotting future failures are unlikely to be found in a workshop manual.