Hi all
Just curious, what kind of price are you paying for a general service on your marine diesel. Nothing out of the ordinary, just fluids, maybe an impeller and labour.
Cheers
Gos
Select to expand quoteGos2017 said..
Hi all
Just curious, what kind of price are you paying for a general service on your marine diesel. Nothing out of the ordinary, just fluids, maybe an impeller and labour.
Cheers
Gos
Gos, I have to ask, why do you not DIY, it is so simple, oil, filter, a means of extracting the old oil, a few rags to clean and some coolant if required. The big bonus is that you become intimately acquainted with the big lump of iron that propels your boat when you NEED it.
Select to expand quoteUncleBob said..Gos2017 said..
Hi all
Just curious, what kind of price are you paying for a general service on your marine diesel. Nothing out of the ordinary, just fluids, maybe an impeller and labour.
Cheers
Gos
Gos, I have to ask, why do you not DIY, it is so simple, oil, filter, a means of extracting the old oil, a few rags to clean and some coolant if required. The big bonus is that you become intimately acquainted with the big lump of iron that propels your boat when you NEED it.
Absolutely.
I was quoted nearly $500 for my old Volvo , did it myself after I picked myself up from the floor. With the new beta diesel its so easy. YouTube and google are your friends.
After finding receipts for $1100, $800 and $700 for engine services for the previous owner I took it on myself to DIY. It really is so simple, a little time consuming but very rewarding. Basically oil and filter change. Primary and secondary fuel filters. Also impeller. Took me about four hours. Can probably get that down to two next time.
Every other year you will need to change cooling fluid and flush sea water cooling system.
Add in some diesel bug killer once in a while and the above is basically my engine service protocol.
Lots of YouTube vids to help you on you way.
I have found anyone in the marine industry wants a full days work. They make stuff up on the bill to add a few hours labour on. Always ends up being $800 to $1k if you get someone else involved, esp
someome who goes to your mooring, whack on 30 mins travel there and back.
With DIY you will learn how to change primary fuel filter and prime the fuel pump / system. Two very key skills if you are out of rescue services reach.
sorry that was war and peace. Good luck whatever u decide to do.
:-)
Ed
what kind of price are you paying for a general service
The answer seems to be between $500 and $1100.
Makes you think, doesn't it.
gary
All
Thanks for the replies. The reason for my post was because i fell over backwards when I got a quote for the job. Was curious if this was the "norm" around the area.
I will in fact DIY as this is money I can spend elsewhere.
Cheers
Good topic
I do all my routine servicing, but I have just got to the 3 items in the schedule that are marked for an authorised dealer to do. These are:
1. Injectors. Test pressure
2. Valve clearance. Adjustment
3. Reverse gear. Replacing propeller shaft seal
Do people get this done, do it themselves or ignore?
Cheers
Bristol
From Marine Tune, Bayview for a Yanmar 21hp:
Travel to boat on mooring and carry out engine service, drain and refill engine oil and replace oil filter, replace fuel filters and bleed system, strip water pump and replace impeller, clean out sea water strainer. Check belt condition and tension. Check coolant level and test strength. Check mounting, check all cables and linkages, check all hose clamps, wipe out bilge, run and check operation.
Labour
Engine oil
Oil filter
Secondary fuel filter
Impeller
Consumables
Total $502.66
Select to expand quoteBristolfashion said..
Good topic
I do all my routine servicing, but I have just got to the 3 items in the schedule that are marked for an authorised dealer to do. These are:
1. Injectors. Test pressure
2. Valve clearance. Adjustment
3. Reverse gear. Replacing propeller shaft seal
Do people get this done, do it themselves or ignore?
Cheers
Bristol
1. Injectors. Test pressure if motor is running fine and no smoke, ignore
2. Valve clearance. Adjustment. As above
3. Reverse gear. Replacing propeller shaft seal. If not leaking oil, ignore
Select to expand quoteJode5 said..Bristolfashion said..
Good topic
I do all my routine servicing, but I have just got to the 3 items in the schedule that are marked for an authorised dealer to do. These are:
1. Injectors. Test pressure
2. Valve clearance. Adjustment
3. Reverse gear. Replacing propeller shaft seal
Do people get this done, do it themselves or ignore?
Cheers
Bristol
1. Injectors. Test pressure if motor is running fine and no smoke, ignore
2. Valve clearance. Adjustment. As above
3. Reverse gear. Replacing propeller shaft seal. If not leaking oil, ignore
Agree. You will hear a loose tappet telling you it wants adjusting
Select to expand quoteGravy7 said..
From Marine Tune, Bayview for a Yanmar 21hp:
Travel to boat on mooring and carry out engine service, drain and refill engine oil and replace oil filter, replace fuel filters and bleed system, strip water pump and replace impeller, clean out sea water strainer. Check belt condition and tension. Check coolant level and test strength. Check mounting, check all cables and linkages, check all hose clamps, wipe out bilge, run and check operation.
Labour
Engine oil
Oil filter
Secondary fuel filter
Impeller
Consumables
Total $502.66
That seems a very reasonable price
Here is a quote for a maybe unreasonable amount?
Service Chrysler Nissan marine
engine in yacht. R&R engine and
gear oil. Oil and fuel filters.
Impellor, anodes, belts as required.
General inspection of hoses,
mounts, coolant etc. Test run and
observe. Report on any further
work required.
6 hours labour @ $120 = $720 excl GST
MISC parts
2 x Racor 10 Micron
1 x Racor filters
1 x impellor
5 x Rubia TIR7400 15/W/40
1 x oil filter LF247
Rags, sealants, anodes, belts, solvents etc
Waste oil disposal gov levy
Liability insurance
Total misc parts = $670.10 excl GST
No allowance has been made for
raw water pump overhaul if
required, seized or snapped bolts,
engine cleaning, touch up or
detailing, stripping of primary fuel
filters if required etc.
Total service cost $1,390.10 excl GST
I have noticed that a replacement of the coolant impeller is mentioned frequently, I only have experience with a regularly flushed outboard so I don't come up against this issue. So my question is, 'what is actually, or possibly, happening to the impeller that it requires such regular attention'. Is there such an encrustation of barnacles or other shelled creatures that it really needs needs this replacement, or is it a wearing away of a metal impeller due to corrosion?
Select to expand quoteGKandCC said..
I have noticed that a replacement of the coolant impeller is mentioned frequently, I only have experience with a regularly flushed outboard so I don't come up against this issue. So my question is, 'what is actually, or possibly, happening to the impeller that it requires such regular attention'. Is there such an encrustation of barnacles or other shelled creatures that it really needs needs this replacement, or is it a wearing away of a metal impeller due to corrosion?
we have a fairly new Beta 25, and find that the impeller fins are quite fragile. we're lucky to get a year out of an impeller, and we don't even use the motor much...
Select to expand quoteAgent nods said..
Here is a quote for a maybe unreasonable amount?
Service Chrysler Nissan marine
engine in yacht. R&R engine and
gear oil. Oil and fuel filters.
Impellor, anodes, belts as required.
General inspection of hoses,
mounts, coolant etc. Test run and
observe. Report on any further
work required.
6 hours labour @ $120 = $720 excl GST
MISC parts
2 x Racor 10 Micron
1 x Racor filters
1 x impellor
5 x Rubia TIR7400 15/W/40
1 x oil filter LF247
Rags, sealants, anodes, belts, solvents etc
Waste oil disposal gov levy
Liability insurance
Total misc parts = $670.10 excl GST
No allowance has been made for
raw water pump overhaul if
required, seized or snapped bolts,
engine cleaning, touch up or
detailing, stripping of primary fuel
filters if required etc.
Total service cost $1,390.10 excl GST
What size engine is this for?
6 hours labour and they don't do a coolant or sea water flush? What are they doing for six hours? Perhaps they do two hours of "observing".
Looking at the parts prices I don't see how they can get to $650. Is that 5L of oil or 5x5L (25L total).
Everyone has to make a living but this is ridiculous.
Select to expand quoteCav30 said..Agent nods said..
Here is a quote for a maybe unreasonable amount?
snip
Total service cost $1,390.10 excl GST
What size engine is this for?
6 hours labour and they don't do a coolant or sea water flush? What are they doing for six hours? Perhaps they do two hours of "observing".
Looking at the parts prices I don't see how they can get to $650. Is that 5L of oil or 5x5L (25L total).
Everyone has to make a living but this is ridiculous.
Perhaps for 6 hours labour they have removed the engine to make it easier to do the service............
Excerpt of a recent phone call:
"Hi. I would like to have my two cylinder Vetus engine serviced."
'Sure, you know it's going to cost you over a thousand dollars?'
"Hm. Isn't that a bit dear, just over the phone, you reckon?'
"Nah. It could be as much as fifteen hundred or more if we find some problem.'
"Thanks." 
To myself:
You f&%$!/@ imbecile.
Well, l am not going to ignore my motor but sure, l am going to ignore the mechanic at Balmain Marina! 
I do my own servicing ( Bukh DV10 ) with the help of Missus. I can just get under the sump, so I cut a 3 litre
milk bottle in half lengthwise, I insert this under the sump plug, ease the plug out to half fill the container
then put the plug back in and missus takes the container off me ( I'm lying prone on the cabin sole ) and
pours it into a 2 litre milk bottle then we repeat the process until the sump is empty. I much prefer to do it
this way rather than try to suck the oil out through the dipstick hole. I'm just lucky that I have good access
to the engine. Oh, and I change the impeller every year, regardless.
Select to expand quoteGKandCC said..
I have noticed that a replacement of the coolant impeller is mentioned frequently, I only have experience with a regularly flushed outboard so I don't come up against this issue. So my question is, 'what is actually, or possibly, happening to the impeller that it requires such regular attention'. Is there such an encrustation of barnacles or other shelled creatures that it really needs needs this replacement, or is it a wearing away of a metal impeller due to corrosion?
My understanding is they're all just rubber and if too much crap makes it through the water intake, they just disintegrate. They spend their time twisted into place and over time, especially if they're not used, can get brittle, break and send bits through the engine. Big impact thanks to a cheap part, so everyone makes sure to check them and replace them at the drop of a hat.
I do 2x 6 litre Cummins turbo diesels with 30l of premium Cummins oil, 6 filters, coolant test kit, replace annodes etc and my labour for $350 per year for both engines.
Do all checking of heat exchangers, turbos etc replace raw water impellers every 3 yrs but keep spares including belts.
I have had this boat for 12 years and it runs like a dream.
Like a lot on here I know ever sound the boat makes.
Since I installed my engine myself, I've continued doing the servicing as well. Just follow the maintenance manual.
I wouldn't ignore adjusting the valves when recommended as per the manual. It's a quick simple task, and will minimise the chance of bigger problems developing.
My manual suggests changing the raw water impeller every 500 hours, but that sounds a bit long to me. I've checked it a couple times but I'll probably change it after 300 hours. Occasionally I've left the seacock closed for a minute or so when starting up, which can't be good for the impeller.
