Mtu 12v-183te93, 1150 hp

[Freeebird]

What’s the good, the bad, the ugly on these?

Nothing I’m familiar with but figured some of you are. Primarily wondering the life expectancy between rebuilds.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Know a guy that just bought a 60 Viking with a set of them. He hasn't run it except for sea trial, then they put into storage. Don't know much except that the boat is FAST.

 

[Freeebird]

Know a guy that just bought a 60 Viking with a set of them. He hasn't run it except for sea trial, then they put into storage. Don't know much except that the boat is FAST.

Not really interested in speed, just longevity. I know the DD 2-strokes are going the way of the dinosaurs. Would like to stick with a Hatt but wondering what things will look like ten years down the road.

 

[Cricket]

There's a reason the 12v183's weren't offered for very long, MAN and MTU were using the same block and there was nothing but issues for the MTU version. Yes, more problems than the problematic MAN engines, think parts are a problem for the 183's at this point also. Boats with 183's always sell for much less than the same boat with MANs. Know 3 people that had them, 2 Hatts and a Viking, ran 2 of them out of boating. MTU 2000 series are much better engines.

 

[Freeebird]

There's a reason the 12v183's weren't offered for very long, MAN and MTU were using the same block and there was nothing but issues for the MTU version. Yes, more problems than the problematic MAN engines, think parts are a problem for the 183's at this point also. Boats with 183's always sell for much less than the same boat with MANs. Know 3 people that had them, 2 Hatts and a Viking, ran 2 of them out of boating. MTU 2000 series are much better engines.

Oh well, so much for that idea.

These have around 4,500 hours on them, and I know the MANgrenade stories but not shared problems with the MTU’s. Found a beautiful, two owner 74 Sport Deck with a current owner of 20 plus years. I guess I won’t be flying to Vancouver after all.

I know that parts and parts installers for 12V71’s and 92’s are getting harder to find plus the money angle. Makes it hard to be a classic Hatt lover when you’re in the market for one you plan to put a lot of hours on and have to plan around rebuilding.

 

[Boatsb]

Word is they are million dollar engines.


To fix

 

[SeaEric]

Cat 3412's are the preferred power.

 

[rsmith]

71 and 92 are still fine and will be for the foreseeable future if the EPA becomes diesel friendly again. You just have to make sure good parts are going in the engines. The other problem I’ve heard with the German engines is delivery time on parts. I’ve heard not so uncommon parts quoted as 36 month delivery from Germany. Otto don’t care and the next production run on that part may be 18,24,36 months away. Plus Germany is in serious trouble and on the verge of collapse.

 

[rsmith]

But 3412 cats with coolant cooled intercoolers are the Chit remember if it’s not a Cat it’s a Dog

 

[cww]

Oh well, so much for that idea. These have around 4,500 hours on them, and I know the MANgrenade stories but not shared problems with the MTU’s. Found a beautiful, two owner 74 Sport Deck with a current owner of 20 plus years. I guess I won’t be flying to Vancouver after all. I know that parts and parts installers for 12V71’s and 92’s are getting harder to find plus the money angle. Makes it hard to be a classic Hatt lover when you’re in the market for one you plan to put a lot of hours on and have to plan around rebuilding.

You can get parts for all the 53/71/92 series engines with no problem. There was an issue during COVID where DD had switched its manufacturing to China and promptly got caught up in the port strikes / supply chain problems that a lot of companies had, and I had friends waiting on parts for like 6-12 months. But that's all resolved now, you can order everything on the engine from your local DD dealer and it'll be there next week with no problem. There are still so many boats with DD's that I don't see that changing immediately, maybe in 10 or 20 years. I recently rebuilt both my 871ti's and everything was available. From everything I've heard, that is *not* the case with MTU and MAN, a lot of stuff is special-order only, at eye-watering prices. I mean truly crazy stuff like $50k for an injection pump. I couldn't afford boating with bills like that.

 

[Pascal]

But 3412 cats with coolant cooled intercoolers are the Chit remember if it’s not a Cat it’s a Dog

The 3412s didn’t have the cooler issues, it was the C30/32. I ran a pair of 3412Es for about 4000 hours, they were bulletproof. Original injectors, turbos, etc… when the boat sold at 5500 hours

 

[Pascal]

I have no experience with the 12v183 but 3 years into running a boat with MTU, I would never own one!

MTU Parts are crazy expensive and sometimes hard to get. We waited 4 months for a new crankshaft during an overhaul. Turns out it was made in India (at least it s not china) then shipped to Germany for quality control before before sent to Michigan then to Florida … and that’s for a 16V2000 which are fairly recent models. A raw water pump is over $10k. Granted that a for the 2000hp engines but still very expensive parts

Recently, we had to pay $13k for an engine display!

If you really looking at a boat with these, I can give you the number of MTU guy who rebuild both 16V2000 and does all the work on them. Good guy, he will give you the good the bad and the ugly.

 

[Freeebird]

Had lunch with fellow HOF’er and longtime broker/friend, Pat Bustle. He lined me up with a slip beside his 50C at Riviera Dunes Marina in Palmetto, FL many years ago.

He said if the owner(s) has been diligent with the 1,000 hour service (heads are removed), the engines should be good for 10K hours if properly maintained/operated. If that’s the case, these may outlive me.

 

[bigbill]

had to pick up a part at the local detroit dealer yesterday, i asked the parts guy if they had any mechanics that still work on the old detroits, he said no, they all died

 

[Pascal]

He said if the owner(s) has been diligent with the 1,000 hour service (heads are removed), the engines should be good for 10K hours if properly maintained/operated. If that’s the case, these may outlive me.

Removing the heads every 1000 hours?? That’s why maintenance is so high. We never had to pull the heads on the 3412s I mentioned in 5000+ hours

 

[Eddieclemons]

I'm hoping that someone got confused with the term "Running the over head" versus "Pulling the head"

 

[Freeebird]

had to pick up a part at the local detroit dealer yesterday, i asked the parts guy if they had any mechanics that still work on the old detroits, he said no, they all died

Yep. They are becoming dinosaurs, just like us.

If we outlive the remaining DD two-stroke mechanics, we end up owning floating condos. The younger guys either won’t know how to work on them or will simply prefer not to.

 

[Freeebird]

I'm hoping that someone got confused with the term "Running the over head" versus "Pulling the head"

I don’t THINK so, Eddie.

Repowering a 70’ish motor yacht is a “hole” other animal vs a convertible. Just getting that in there, CAT boy.

 

[Freeebird]

Oh yeah, I sent the broker a text asking if the owner had been religious with 1,000 hour scheduled maintenance. Still awaiting a response.

 

[doc g]

that boat in Vancouver has been for sale for a long , long time. Pricewise looks like deal but remains on the market..............Pat