Engine Hours

[Garcia]

Originally Posted by bigdog

I think the number of hours used is directly related to where you live.

Are you blessed to have waterfront property, and have your boat parked at the dock out front, or is your boat on a trailer, and you have to tow it, every time you want to take a ride with the family.

There's a big difference !

True. I ended up with about 60 hours this summer. the vast majority of those were back and forth between the island and the mainland.

[Dave R]

We did 160 hours, but none of it was on the lake. Does it count?

[Juiced06GTO]

Now granted waterfront does contribute to the ease of racking up hours, but if you really like to be on the water you can find a way to put the hours in. Like I said, we did about 60 from the third week of July to labor Day weekend. We dont have water front on Winni and i trailered my boat up to my family's place on Upper Suncook each time we were there.

[tg38]

pretty close to 400 hrs dealer forgot to clear maintenance from screen. most i have ever used .

[BroadHopper]

30 this year, 46 last year. When the kids were growing up I can average about 60 hours.
This year, I am experiencing oil loss. About a quart, every fill-up. Had a compression check and only 1 cylinder had decent compression. 1260 hours on the clock and it's going to the machine shop.
The '88 454 is going for a complete rebuild including a more modern cam profile and Edelbrock carb. Can't wait for spring!

[Dave R]

I have decided to do major work to both my engines (Caterpillar 3208TAs) this Winter. They are almost 29 years old and have almost 2000 hours. I'll be replacing head gaskets, rebuilding the injection pumps, having all the injectors tested (and rebuilt if needed) replacing all the hoses and belts, and replacing all the gaskets and seals I can get to without pulling the engines out. Will also clean and re-seal the oil coolers, heat exchangers, and after coolers, repaint everything I can, and will be adding Walker Airseps (PCV systems that collect and condense oil vapor and re-route oil back to the crankcase instead of into the engine air inlet where it can clog the after coolers). I got the heads off engine 1 yesterday and it's in great shape. My goal is to have the engines operating trouble-free for the next decade or longer.

[Donzi Minx]

Wow you two guys are a lot more mechanically talented than I.
The best I could hope for is that the 350 without the pan showed 4-bolt mains.
It was not the original Donzi 350, but with 300 hours after replacement.she should sing (with religious Mobil 1 changes) for another 600 hours before the valve seals start to get tired. Looking forward to retirement and a lot more time on Winnipesaukee next spring.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by Donzi Minx

Wow you two guys are a lot more mechanically talented than I.
The best I could hope for is that the 350 without the pan showed 4-bolt mains.
It was not the original Donzi 350, but with 300 hours after replacement.she should sing (with religious Mobil 1 changes) for another 600 hours before the valve seals start to get tired. Looking forward to retirement and a lot more time on Winnipesaukee next spring.

If the new 350 does not have catalyst exhaust, run Rotella T6 or Delvac 1 instead of Mobil 1 (assuming you want to stay with synthetic). Those oils contain a lot more zinc and phosphorous which are REALLY good for engine longevity. Mobil 1 has to be compatible with modern catalyst engines and cannot contain the same additive packages that diesel oils can contain.