Mstrlucky74
Member
For my boat engine and/or similar what are a few of the most important things to maintain, check etc. I know oil . Thanks
Most important maintenance to do's...
- Thread starter Mstrlucky74
- Start date
Air O'Nautical
Well-Known Member
- Feb 5, 2008
- 2,316
- Boat Info
- 1995 400EC. Raymarine E80, Tridata, 4kw dome, Garmin 943
- Engines
- 2013 7.4L Mercruiser Blue water.
Hurth straight shaft 630's,
Westerbeke 7.0 BCG
The number 1 killer of marine gasoline engines is neglect of the exhaust manifolds.
Due to cost, many leave it too long and water is injested into the engine.
Exhaust parts are less expensive than a new engine..
Due to cost, many leave it too long and water is injested into the engine.
Exhaust parts are less expensive than a new engine..
RollerCoastr
Well-Known Member
- Nov 15, 2007
- 3,884
- Boat Info
- 1997 400DA
340HP 7.4 Mercruiser Bluewaters
Garmin 741, 742, 8212, 24HD, Intellian I2
- Engines
- 1999 280BR
Twin 250HP Merc 350 Alpha Ones
*in salt water
In freshwater, corrosion of exhaust components is (almost) a non-issue. Cooling issues leading to overheating is biggie no matter how much salt the boat is floating in.
In freshwater, corrosion of exhaust components is (almost) a non-issue. Cooling issues leading to overheating is biggie no matter how much salt the boat is floating in.
skolbe
Well-Known Member
- Oct 3, 2006
- 3,549
- Boat Info
- 320 Sundancer, Zodiac 290 Wave Inflatable Tohatsu 6HP, Boston Whaler 130 Sport
- Engines
- 350 Mag V-Drive - Kohler 5ecd
Impellers, Oil Changes, Transmission Fluid/Gear Lube.
katricol
Active Member
Old hoses......change all yours that haven't been along with new clamps
SloBurn
Active Member
- May 30, 2013
- 842
- Boat Info
- 1994 270 Sundancer. 7.4L Merc. Tow with a 2006 Dodge RAM Hemi
- Engines
- 340 HP Merc 454 c.i.
Bellows, if you have them.
Mstrlucky74
Member
Thank you!
H2ONUT
Well-Known Member
trflgrl
Active Member
- Jun 23, 2014
- 982
- Boat Info
- 1989 Sundancer 300
- Engines
- Twin 350 Merc/Alpha 1 Gen 1; Quicksilver 4.0 gen
I was overwhelmed when I got my boat--no maintenance records available. I started with inspection/replacement of the simplest/least expensive/least time consuming things to pick off a few while making a plan for the larger work items.
Engines
Oil/filters
Fuel filters
Trans fluid
Power steering fluid
Coolant (NA for mine as they're raw water cooled)
Spark plugs/wires, distributor caps/rotors
Thermostats
Verified all bilge pumps and float switches operate in every mode intended.
Had all the sending units/alarms tested.
Added a portable CO monitor as a backup to the integrated system.
Mine has stern drives, so I opted for full lower unit inspection/service the first season, too, on the assumption it may not have been done regularly.
Had hose/clamp inspection and replaced some.
Had some wiring cleaned up--in the ER there was excess wiring not harnessed/restrained in any way, as well as some capped/taped connections that should have been butt spliced with shrink wrapping, etc.
Did battery maintenance (was using wet cell at the time)
And a note to help members help you: please add specifics to your Boat/Details information and expand as needed when you post. It's much more helpful if you say "Merc 5.0/Alpha 1/Gen 1" than "Mercruiser/my engine." Although there may be commonalities among boats of the same year/model, we don't know out of the gate what package yours has, or whether a PO modified anything. Perhaps not critical in this thread, but better baseline detail can elicit extremely focused responses in other arenas. (So add your model size, too: 215, 330, whatever.)
Engines
Oil/filters
Fuel filters
Trans fluid
Power steering fluid
Coolant (NA for mine as they're raw water cooled)
Spark plugs/wires, distributor caps/rotors
Thermostats
Verified all bilge pumps and float switches operate in every mode intended.
Had all the sending units/alarms tested.
Added a portable CO monitor as a backup to the integrated system.
Mine has stern drives, so I opted for full lower unit inspection/service the first season, too, on the assumption it may not have been done regularly.
Had hose/clamp inspection and replaced some.
Had some wiring cleaned up--in the ER there was excess wiring not harnessed/restrained in any way, as well as some capped/taped connections that should have been butt spliced with shrink wrapping, etc.
Did battery maintenance (was using wet cell at the time)
And a note to help members help you: please add specifics to your Boat/Details information and expand as needed when you post. It's much more helpful if you say "Merc 5.0/Alpha 1/Gen 1" than "Mercruiser/my engine." Although there may be commonalities among boats of the same year/model, we don't know out of the gate what package yours has, or whether a PO modified anything. Perhaps not critical in this thread, but better baseline detail can elicit extremely focused responses in other arenas. (So add your model size, too: 215, 330, whatever.)
- May 14, 2008
- 3,541
- Boat Info
- 1988 390 EC
- Engines
- 454 Mercruiser Gassers
Fart filter. :grin:
sdleo26
Member
- Feb 5, 2011
- 526
- Boat Info
- 290 Amberjack 2004
- Engines
- 350 5.7 MAG MPI Horizons w/ V-drives
This ^^^^^everything else assuming your oil is kept right would not have disastrous results in terms of cost when neglected. That said if your an offshore guy/gal, you better maintain everything religiously. Besides manifolds/risers, my maintenance items would be the following:
1. Water separators
2. Fuel filters
3. Oil/ filter change every season (100hrs or less)
4. Ignition wear items like plugs, wires cap/rotor
5. Belts
6. Hose clamps tight etc
7. Checking bilge for salt water intrusion and fixing if found
8. Transmission fluid/ filter every 300 hrs
9. Cycle ridlyme through closed cooling system
10: exercise thru hulls
