80 hour difference in 2 engine hours.....what would explain

[mjd1962]

I am looking at a 2006 Sundancer with 8.1 HO mercruiser engines. One engine has 190 hours and one with 118 hrs...generator has about 190 hours. I am concerned at the high differential being indicative that something major was done to one engine....any insight into this would be helpful.

 

[mistercomputerman]

I would guess that a motor blew up at 72 hours requiring replacement.

 

[MExcelsior]

ECM replacement and didn't set hours?

 

[1990-270-da-lover]

I'm surprised that the gennie has as many hours as the main engines. Sounds like he started everything at the same time each time he went out. The differential could be that he was trolling alot fishing or a faulty hour meter, or a problem occured on the lower hour engine and he didn't do anything for awhile and ran the boat on one.

I am looking at a 2006 Sundancer with 8.1 HO mercruiser engines. One engine has 190 hours and one with 118 hrs...generator has about 190 hours. I am concerned at the high differential being indicative that something major was done to one engine....any insight into this would be helpful.

 

[trit21]

I'm surprised that the gennie has as many hours as the main engines. Sounds like he started everything at the same time each time he went out.

ARe you suprised because the gen should be lower or higher? My gen has 2000 hrs on it while my engine 800. We start the gen everytime we leave and it runs the entire time. AC/Frig/Icemaker etc. Just confused on your post as here in FL that is the norm mostly from what I can determine.

 

[JimFromMD]

The differential could be that he was trolling alot fishing or a faulty hour meter, or a problem occured on the lower hour engine and he didn't do anything for awhile and ran the boat on one.

+1 on fishing/trolling as a guess. That was the case with my dad's boat. I would check to see which engine drives the power steering. If the engine that does not boost the power steering is the lower hours one, then fishing with one motor (the one that helps steer) is a likely candidate answer. As a side note, his boat also did have an hour meter die, but he had the work order documenting the hours on the old meter when it was changed.

 

[Southpaw II]

Are you seeing the hours on the ECM or the tach? He could have had a bad tach replaced.

Don

 

[johnsross3]

I'd ask the owner or broker for an explanation; that is a big difference.

 

[Gunn]

+1 on fishing/trolling as a guess. That was the case with my dad's boat. I would check to see which engine drives the power steering. If the engine that does not boost the power steering is the lower hours one, then fishing with one motor (the one that helps steer) is a likely candidate answer. As a side note, his boat also did have an hour meter die, but he had the work order documenting the hours on the old meter when it was changed.

+2. I often troll in the mid/late summer and fall fishing for Bluefish, Rockfish and Spanish Mackerel. However, I try to even out any inconsistencies in my engines. Problem is, running the one without power steering is a major pain. I'm a couple hours off between the two now due to a fuel pump failure last year requiring a 3hr. limp home on one engine.

My boat doesn't yet have 300hrs on her, but the generator has nearly 800hrs...

 

[1990-270-da-lover]

ARe you suprised because the gen should be lower or higher? My gen has 2000 hrs on it while my engine 800. We start the gen everytime we leave and it runs the entire time. AC/Frig/Icemaker etc. Just confused on your post as here in FL that is the norm mostly from what I can determine.

I would agree with you, depending on location the gennie could be run more than the engines if it were started then ran even when on the hook etc. I thought since being from the Balto. area that was odd. We don't even need A/C most of the season. Hence the surprise.

 

[Gunn]

I would agree with you, depending on location the gennie could be run more than the engines if it were started then ran even when on the hook etc. I thought since being from the Balto. area that was odd. We don't even need A/C most of the season. Hence the surprise.

Say what?! Maybe it's because I'm 2hr south of Baltimore in the manly portion of Chesapeake Bay grin , but it is crazy hot and humid in the summer months. If our boat didn't have A/C....well...we wouldn't own her!

 

[my DOG HOUSE]

Agree on genny. I have 300 on the engines and almost 900 on the gen.

 

[mistercomputerman]

How close are the serial numbers on the engines? That might be a clue.

 

[randerson]

Ignition left on? Happened to me, 1 engine has about 40 less hours on it.

 

[JVM225]

Could be a lot of reasons. Faulty Hour meter changed out, ECM, motor changed at some point, etc. I would ask for an explanation.

 

[mainstream]

Ignition left on? Happened to me, 1 engine has about 40 less hours on it.

I don't know about the ignition being on would cause that in that new of a boat I was told on the newer boats the engine clock will not register unless the ECM registers rpms and ignition I know my 09 only registers when engin is running. Just my .02

 

[1956olds]

Inspect the bolt heads on the low hr engine,see if any transmission ,head,valve cover ortiming chain cover bolt heads are missing paint.If one engine is missing paint on a lot of bolt heads its a sign of an overhaul,or at least major work.

 

[skolbe]

With a low hour boat. The original servicing dealer could probably pull the records. When we were looking - found a couple boats low hours - engines had been replaced. Not disclosed in the selling process. Decided to pass on them both at the time. Could be trolling or could be a replacement.

 

[Henry Boyd]

The 496/8.1 is an ECM engine. Hours of operation history is stored in the ECM. A replaced ECM would reset the hours. I dont think a replacement can be pre-set.

To run up the hours without running the engine, not only must the key switch be on, but the starter switch has to be in the run position.

By plugging a PC with the Merc scan software, you can get the rpm history displayed by rpm range. As best as I can recall from seeing our 496 scanned is that it is possible to see how many hours are at idle or less.

Henry


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Someday Lady II]

Could be a lot of reasons. Faulty Hour meter changed out, ECM, motor changed at some point, etc. I would ask for an explanation.

Previous owner of my boat was an avid fisherman, trolled with one engine (the one with power steering). Instead of putting the power steering belt on the other engine for a couple of years I wound up with 300 hours more on the starboard engine.