I just got a quote for an oil change and tune up on an 01 merc 6.2 with B3 including drive oil change and Koehler 5kw impeller and oil change/service. $2800 if it’s pulled on my trailer. Is that normal? The parts are maybe $200.
Crazy pricing? Or is it me?
- Thread starter 270win
- Start date
dan313
Active Member
That's Crazy. I wouldn't pay it. If I had to guess. 5 or 6 hours labor plus parts. $1500 at most.
Some guys are just crooks. Shop around or do it yourself.
Some guys are just crooks. Shop around or do it yourself.
I’ve already started sourcing parts. So far everything looks stupid simple to do.
Soulshine
Well-Known Member
All simple DYI items.
Get a manual. Get familiar with your vessel and spend your money on gas, beer and burgers.
Get a manual. Get familiar with your vessel and spend your money on gas, beer and burgers.
I was just organizing my boat stuff and had my providers price list:
Oil change on 6.2 -- 5-6 qts oil, filter, and labor. --- my place would charge $190
Tune up -- 8 plugs, labor and what not. --- my place prob a few hrs at $140/hr.
Gear oil change -- oil and labor --- my place would charge $300.
Oil change and impeller on genny -- another quart or two, plus impeller, and labor. My place $190 for oil change, $210 plus impeller.
My place, who is not afraid to charge, would probably be around $1300-$1500 +/-. Your guy must be busy.
Oil change on 6.2 -- 5-6 qts oil, filter, and labor. --- my place would charge $190
Tune up -- 8 plugs, labor and what not. --- my place prob a few hrs at $140/hr.
Gear oil change -- oil and labor --- my place would charge $300.
Oil change and impeller on genny -- another quart or two, plus impeller, and labor. My place $190 for oil change, $210 plus impeller.
My place, who is not afraid to charge, would probably be around $1300-$1500 +/-. Your guy must be busy.
suggestions on the manual?
Soulshine
Well-Known Member
Ideally a Merc shop manual for your specific engine, drive and year but I’ve always found the Seloc manuals adequate for maintenance items.
You can grab a clean used one online for around $30.00 that will cover a range of years and engine/drive combinations.
Avoid the Clymer books.
Soulshine
Well-Known Member
I know that where I boat prices are low, but to put things in perspective I pay the same amount that you were quoted for repairs to slip, haul, store and shrink wrap my boat. A little less actually.
- Aug 26, 2020
- 824
- Boat Info
- 2001 380 Sundancer, Raymarine Electronics
2022 Highfield CL310 Dinghy with 20 HP Suzuki
- Engines
- 454 MPII Mercruiser w/ V Drives
I see your out of Illinois, where is your guy based out of?
Northpoint marina on the state line.
ok thanks.
BillK2632
Well-Known Member
That seems high. If you are up for some DIY those are all very simple things - even the tune up, amounts to just replacing plugs, dist cap, rotor, maybe wires if they are original, unless they are troubleshooting a specific problem. Nothing special about an oil change on the engine, gear lube or generator. Water pump impellers can be hard because of access, but the task itself is simple. If you are not into the DIY, $2800 is just robbery - I would have them break that down into parts and labor - maybe there is something in there you were not expecting. At least a hug or cuddle when they are done.
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Stee6043
Well-Known Member
When I read threads like this I think about what it'll be like in 2022 and beyond. Thousands of new boaters in 2020 buying boats, many for the first time, planning for the marina/mechanic to maintain them. They get their first bill like the one mentioned here and they are straight-up done maintaining their boat! Imagine the deferred maintenance coming down the line for us used boat buyers in a few years. Surveys will have never been more important 
Stee6043
Well-Known Member
I'd expect a lot more than a hug at that rate. And it better not be from Chuck the oil change guy
I was expecting and prepared to pay about $1300-1500 to get it all done. I'm very handy and have always done my own maintenance and most of the repairs on my previous boats. My biggest issue is the time to go to the boat just to work on it.
Henry Boyd
Well-Known Member
- Apr 24, 2007
- 6,014
- Boat Info
- ‘09 Sabre 38 Hardtop Express “Serenity”
- Engines
- Volvo D6 w/IPS450 Pods
That seems very high. But that said, you haven’t outlined the specifics of your “tuneup”. Plug wires, plugs and miscellaneous ignition bits can run $500 at marina pricing levels. A closer look at the parts list might shed some light on the numbers. The only time our annual service on the 496 came close to $2000 was the year we bought a new external water pump...
I’d also like to point out our service bill is typically $3800 for two 6 liter diesels, pods, and 9kw diesel genset: filters, impellers, zincs and belts, as well as about 20 gallons of lubricants and four hours travel time. The pods represent about $1200 of that
Plugs, wires, dist cap, engine oil/filter and fuel filter for a single 6.2 gas engine. The drive oil changed and nothing else on the drive. (They did $4800 in drive work last summer so everything else was handled) For the gen. plugs, wires, oil/filter, both fuel filters and an impeller kit.
- Aug 26, 2020
- 824
- Boat Info
- 2001 380 Sundancer, Raymarine Electronics
2022 Highfield CL310 Dinghy with 20 HP Suzuki
- Engines
- 454 MPII Mercruiser w/ V Drives
Thanks a little out of my area, I’m down on the south end of the big lake and I’m looking for an option for a reliable/reasonable mechanic. I know using those two words in the same sentence doesn’t always compute. Lol..
If anybody knows of a guy that works the south end of the lake, Hammond, EC, Portage, MC, I would appreciate the tip.
Thornton69
Well-Known Member
- Sep 15, 2014
- 1,149
- Boat Info
- 1981 245 SDC
2021 Solar 420
- Engines
- '97 5.7 Bravo 2
'20 Merc 25 EFI Jet
Is it possible the tune up that was quoted included fuel system components like a set of injectors?
Plugs are hardly considered a tune up.
Plugs are hardly considered a tune up.
- Jun 2, 2008
- 5,023
- Boat Info
- 1998 450 Sundancer, Achilles dinghy w/15hp
- Engines
- 3126 Cat's
