Engine Hours: How Many Are Too Many?

[Coxswain]

The hour meter stopped on our Perkins M50 at 1800, that was apparently 10 years ago...
Ignorance is bliss!! she is a nice motor though!

[oldcal46skipper]

After nine wonderful years cruising, I am back at work rebuilding marine diesel engines. I prefer Perkins as they are robust, slower turning and parts are readily available. When we do a total re-manufacture of a Perkins 4.108, we tell the owner that 10,000 hours is easy with PROPER maintenance.
-Change oil and filters as reccommended
-do not overheat, maintaing raw and fresh water pumps, heat exchangers, etc
-do not lug, i.e. prop size, boat type, displacement, gear reduction all must be proper
-find and repair water leaks, interior and from leaky decks
-calibrate the injectors at 1,000 hours
-adjust the valves at 1,000 hours
-look and listen when the engine is running

YMMV

[Coxswain]

Originally Posted by oldcal46skipper

After nine wonderful years cruising, I am back at work rebuilding marine diesel engines. I prefer Perkins as they are robust, slower turning and parts are readily available. When we do a total re-manufacture of a Perkins 4.108, we tell the owner that 10,000 hours is easy with PROPER maintenance.
-Change oil and filters as reccommended
-do not overheat, maintaing raw and fresh water pumps, heat exchangers, etc
-do not lug, i.e. prop size, boat type, displacement, gear reduction all must be proper
-find and repair water leaks, interior and from leaky decks
-calibrate the injectors at 1,000 hours
-adjust the valves at 1,000 hours
-look and listen when the engine is running

YMMV

You are a handy man to have around!! may have to ask you a few questions on my Perkins Prima M50! Glad you posted!

[Boatguy30]

A Perkins will go 10,000 or so if taken care of

[4arch]

The problem with maintaining an engine is that it can be difficult to find reliable and reasonably priced mechanics when the tasks required exceed the capabilities of the owner. I also have a Perkins M50. Runs quite well but has oil leaking out the air intake manifold and is probably due for a transmission rebuild. Not issues I particularly want to tackle myself. I've tried several local mechanics and most don't want to touch this increasingly rare engine. They are happy to sell me a new Beta or Yanmar. I'm sure if I could connect with the right mechanic the engine could have thousands more hours but that seems to be a huge challenge in a throwaway society.

[Coxswain]

Yes, I understand your frustration, and the lean towards a more readily available part supply that comes with the Yanmar etc.

[zeehag]

where i am the gringo alleged mechanic will only quote 10,000 usd to take a peek at your drippy brit engine, and then sell you a 30,000 usd yanmar, for which parts are hard to find here. lol
GOOD mechanics are locate-able via fishermen here. they also do not speak much english, and are more than gleeful to rebuild your english engines WELL and for less...
i found the best time to rebuild is after the crunching sounds are finished and before the damn thing seizes. short window.

[oldcal46skipper]

Originally Posted by 4arch

The problem with maintaining an engine is that it can be difficult to find reliable and reasonably priced mechanics when the tasks required exceed the capabilities of the owner. I also have a Perkins M50. Runs quite well but has oil leaking out the air intake manifold and is probably due for a transmission rebuild. Not issues I particularly want to tackle myself. I've tried several local mechanics and most don't want to touch this increasingly rare engine. They are happy to sell me a new Beta or Yanmar. I'm sure if I could connect with the right mechanic the engine could have thousands more hours but that seems to be a huge challenge in a throwaway society.

Find some old guys who know how to fix stuff rather than replace.

Okay, we recently had customers bring their engines to us from Virginia and Massachusetts for us to rebuild. Either we do really good work or our prices are too low. We are booked up through 2014, but are taking reservations for 2015.

After cruising 14 years, BEST days of our lives, we are "hook down" here on Bayou Chico, living upstairs over our shop with our beloved Cal 46 at our dock and helping others pursue their "Cruising Dreams"

Tom from the Cal 46 Satori, Pensacola, FL

[SimonFirth]

6cyl 96hp 5.3l naturally aspirated Ford from 1971. 4500 hours, serviced every 200 hours. Engines tend to die of under use and under servicing. I don’t see any reason to replace it.