How Do These Engines Look?

[tgotch]

Looking at a 53MY to purchase. Looking for some general feedback about how these engines look based on just photos. Anything stick out as good or bad?














Running Video:

[video]https://streamable.com/06c6mn[/video]

 

[tgotch]

Couple more:












Engines Running:

[video]https://streamable.com/06c6mn[/video]

 

[Bob Quinn]

I think other than hoses inspection a mechanical inspection might help you better.
I know that's a pain. What's easy to do though is get oil samples done. Have you done that?
It's cheap to do.
I've seen really beautiful / repainted engines that were probably in need of rebuild and hadn't had oil changed in years, and oil samples came back suspect.

How many hours? Smoke at start up?

I'm no expert. But we recently purchased a 53 and have been on probably a dozen or more.
These look o.k./normal/ a lot like all the others. Not sure that is what you are looking for.
Pretty doesn't mean anything. But neglect might be able to be seen in old hoses etc. Still doesn't mean much in terms of the internals. Hoses are cheap.

Some of the old Green 6v71 naturals look like they should be dead, they look 40 (or more) years old as they are but will outlive all of us.

I don't understand the "heat shielding? tubes around things. Maybe that is normal but don't recall seeing that on other engines.

Everyone here will tell you have a Detroit Diesel mechanic inspect them. I did not with our purchase, however I was told it might have a bad motor and was priced accordingly so I didn't care. Oil samples came back near spotless, so that made me disregard what I was told - to a point.

I probably wouldn't have paid for a mechanic to check mine out anyways, because I am impatient and impulsive. That and I wouldn't want to spend a thousand or two thousand before negotiating a deal. You can however make your deal subject to an inspection.

 

[tgotch]

Thanks Bob,
I plan on getting a full mechanical inspection, as well as hull survey. Before I go to all the trouble and expense of that, I was just curious if anything in these pics would stand out good or bad. I'm not a mechanic so, any input is helpful.

 

[motoryacht lover]

Those engines would bother me. The turbo blankets need replacing. A lot of oil in the bilge. Just looks like the owner’s maintenance plan was to wait till failure to address things. They maybe fine internally but I think she is gonna pepper the next owner with solenoids, alternators, turbos (all the bolt on stuff) causing problems. If someone is retired and has some mechanical skills this boat maybe fine. But if you are working (not retired) and want to drive down and get on your boat and go then I think this boat will frustrate you. On the other hand, if you don’t leave the dock too much and have time and patience then it might work.

 

[tgotch]

That's one of my concerns. The boat is rarely used(deferred maintenance). The broker stated the port engine was rebuilt in 2013 to the tune of about $35k

 

[Scarlett]

Re build did not happen without proper documentation. The brokers word is not enough. John

 

[SEVEN]

How many hours? Does it smoke at start ?Does it smoke while running? Have you done a WOT sea trial yet? Far to many unknowns to remark other than you got some cleaning to do Ricky. That’s if everything else is in good running condition (which it’s not). I’m always suspect of the maintenance in the heart of the boat. It’s like going into a fancy restaurant to have dinner and then walk in to the bathroom or kitchen and find out they’re like our houses. Get a great diesel mechanic and do a thorough survey on those motors. On the other hand I’ve seen motors that look this bad with 5000 hours on it and they run like champs. It’s always buyer beware.

 

[tgotch]

Engines have about 1400 hours on them. I have not run them yet. Looked at the boat just recently. Deciding on next steps (offer, etc)

Here is the invoice that broker shared with me. Personal info redacted.

 

[SEVEN]

1400 hours, they are just starting to get broken in. The lack of use is not good for these motors. Have a thorough engine survey done before you make your decision. My motor in the room was fairly clean and it still took me over two weeks per motor road to detail. And that’s not doing anything to the motors at all.

 

[SEVEN]

Sorry should have read the last one before I sent it. My motor rooms where in good shape when I bought her. It still took 2 weeks per room to detail, and that’s not doing anything mechanical other than changing the oil and changing the fuel filters.

 

[edward]

How would you start detailing an engine room like that ? Steam , chemicals, start from the top or bottom ??

 

[SEVEN]

Top to bottom, I used the purple stuff deluded. Lots and lots of rags, scrapers, putty knives, spray bottles etc. I started at the ceiling and went down. The biggest mistake I made was cleaning them for those two weeks, then I installed LED track lighting. Once I turned the lights on I saw everything I missed and was back inside the engine rooms for another week. Install the lighting first. I poured about five gallons on the engine room floors and let it sit for about two weeks to soften up the gunk. Used a wet dry vacuum on everything. Almost spotless. The one to ask is Robert Clarkson. He has the cleanest engine room I’ve seen.

 

[Stripes]

The one to ask is Robert Clarkson. He has the cleanest engine room I’ve seen.

Truth.

 

[cww]

Re: How Do These Engines Look

They look fine, but that doesn’t mean anything. You will find oil in the bilges of like 80% of boats with Detroits, welcome to the club. It’s certainly possible to have them leak no oil if you dedicate your life to it, but that’s the exception. You need an engine survey. There is some neglect of basic boat hygiene in the pictures, aside from original oil lines, original turbo blankets, etc., an owner who doesn’t even take a bucket of soapy water to the engine room once every few years is unlikely to be doing much else in there either.

 

[dsharp]

I would rather start with engines like you have than one that has every hose, cable and wire spray painted. There’s no easy where are you to clean an engine room. All a pressure washer does is blow grease and oil everywhere. I would clean up the oil in the bottom first so you don’t bust your rear while you’re working . Yes, you will have to do it again but, it’s a much safer working environment. Use a 3” flexible putty knife to scrape as much gunk out of the bilge as you can. Then wipe the rest out with heavy paper towels or t-shirt rags from Sherwin Williams. If you have compressed air a wash down gun with varsol will cut most of the oil loose. The industrial soap and water works about as well but it will choke the hell out of you is you atomize it. A 3” chip brush works well to dislodge the gunk. I started cleaning bilges at the family boatyard/prison long before I could drive and there’s really no easy way to do it. It ‘s going to take you 2 or 3 times longer than you expect so don’t get discouraged . It’s a lot better job if you have another person helping. Climbing in and out of the engine room with buckets will wear you out.

 

[madhatter1]

I'll add this. I own 2 mechanic (respected on this forum) owned 8-92's on my 46. Although well rebuilt and taken care of you must yearly replace oil absorbent pads all over the engine room. while at this point mine would not be considered "leakers" there is still some spooge over time. Today I replaced all and filled a 5 gallon bucket full of heavy rags. Some with some oil, some that go hard with salt accumulation.

Point is that even healthy engines will have some leakage. ER needs yearly (at a minimum) service and clean up. Yeah there is some oil build up in bilge but have seen worse. My own Cummins 34 repowered in 98 comes to mind. Had to pull engines to remediate. But engines are maintained solid runners.

OP, survey engines. Pass move forward and clean up and paint yourself. Agree that painted engines with lots of overspray are a red flag. prefer in this condition.

 

[jim rosenthal]

You could just throw money at Robert Clarkson until he agrees to do it. Might not be cheap, if he's willing to do it at all, but his engine room looks new.

 

[Timeless72]

Ours looked much worse. Old owner. Tough to access. Engine survey was solid though.
Months of oil cleanup, reworking filters and line, miserable process.

 

[Bob Quinn]

Sounds like we all need to see pictures of Robert Clarkston's Engine rooms!

Anyone ever tried those hand held (or professional) steam cleaners? I know they use them on car engines and at car detailing places. Maybe a shortcut?