cat 3208

[k25824]

Hey all - wondering if anyone knew anything about the cat 3208 marine diesel, specifically the 210 HP version? Reliability issues? Life expectancy? Thanks.

[NoTies]

The 210HP version of the 3208 was a very reliable engine with good life expectancy. When Cat started wringing up to 450HP out of the same block they developed problems but were still not too bad in a recreational vessel. I would budget for a 10000hr pre-rebuild lifespan on the 210, dropping down to 3000hr as you move up in HP to the 450.

[motion30]

what do you think the hrs would be on the 320hp version?

[NoTies]

In a recreational application I would budget for about 6000hr pre-rebuild for this HP. Like everything else on a boat, engines are subject to sh*t happens events and the greater the HP the greater the chance of something breaking before it wears out. All of the failures I have experienced with the high (375 & up)HP 3208s have been where something went bang (crankshaft usually) but these were all in commercial workboats subject to rapid acceleration and deceleration up to 150 times per day.