Thoughts on the color of these 480ce engines?

[SeaNile]

Doing my research as usual and here are a few pics of 2004 480ce engines with about 400hrs and I'm positive the original heads and props. I'm sure it is over propped. My question is in the range of colors are these tan and OK or are they brown af and way over heated?

 

[Woody]

Doing my research as usual and here are a few pics of 2004 480ce engines with about 400hrs and I'm positive the original heads and props. I'm sure it is over propped. My question is in the range of colors are these tan and OK or are they brown af and way over heated?

Given your two choices I'd go with brown af.

 

[Mark.60]

Hard to tell from pic due to light.
Try the seaboard marine site, Tony has lots of info on your concerns. Best of luck.
Looks like maybe overheated

 

[JHornsby3]

I want to say the lighter is where the more heat would have been. On that turbo, the compressor is brown but the turbine being white, there would be more heat there. Same with the center where the shaft is oiled, would have been hotter than the compressor.

Was it over heated? Could be. But I have also seen bad paint turn color with just heat.

 

[becnme]

The aftercoolers should be white along with the charge air tubes running from the turbo. These engines have been run hard on a way over propped boat. When the aftercoolers are serviced and the boat is propped correctly the tubes and aftercooler will be a light tan.

I have had experience with this problem on a boat with 500 hours that dropped a valve seat. After the rebuild the engine was painted and the prop pitch was reduced (2 inches) which reduced the EGT to the point the paint no longer turned the dark brown seen above.

If you are planning to purchase this boat I would build in the cost of new heads into the price.

 

[Carpediem44DB]

I second @becanme. The brown is the heat of the compressed charge air, The reason that the turbine section is still white is that the turbo is water cooled. I would price in the head upgrade and prop rework for sure. In this crazy market though I would not be surprised if the boat sells to someone without those adjustments to price.
Carpe Diem