Engine Survey Cost Reality Check

How old are the four engines and how many hours do they have?

I wish more Owners/buyers would spend the $5k on a survey, will save them thousands in the long run. Simple.

Based on ages and usages and the fact the engines are long ago rebuilds, I think the price quoted is reasonable. Others may know some reputable engine surveyors for less but it won't be significantly less.

Compression checks on detroits are the reason for the costs. After reinstalling the injectors you have reset the timing. Frankly if they don't smokenkna cold start, if the borescope is clean and oil analysis comes out good you usually don't need a compression check

Many owners will object to a compression test, they do not want their engine partially taken apart and put back together, who knows the after affects of the tests and re assy. who would be liable if there are engine problems for the original owner should the deal not go thro. ?

Sounds like the practical process to follow.

I'd insist on having the mech on board for a sea trial first. They need to observe how they are running, temps, vibrations first..

A lot depends on the experience of the mechanic doing the work. Around these parts the number of what I would call good Detroit mechanics is dwindling by the day. If, and it's a big if, I had one of the old pro's I would be perfectly content if he peeked in the air boxes and said the cylinders looked fine. He'd be looking for broken ring lines on the cylinder walls and the spray patterns on the tops of the pistons for possible clogged injector tips. You can't see everything through the air boxes but you can see a good bit. That and a heat gun on the exhaust ports while running will tell a lot about the health of the engines. If you're not sure of the level of experience, go the full monty and break down the rack to check compression (and everything else detailed). After only 300 hours it wouldn't hurt to go through the rack anyway.

Might be worth doing the visual inspection plus reviewing engine/gen maintenance records since SMOH before surveys/ sea trials, especially with sitting for a long time. Might need a bit of work before running the engines/gens.

Out of more DD mechanical inspections than I can remember I only recall one that included a compression check. Visual inspection of air boxes yes on all. In my experience the total cost is in the $2500 range.

These are my feelings, if the bore scope looks good, and they turn WOT and start without smoking I wouldn't do a compression test on Detroits considering you can see into the liners from the inspection ports..... I just did a survey on 2-C32's including all of the samples and 2 generators and it cost $1800.......included EVERYTHING.

I had this happen. A set of Covington 12v71's TI's, they used a 1.46" injector height for some unknown reason even though in the DD book for covingtons and those injectors it calls for 1.98". The buyer bought it and I continued on with him. It black smoked like crazy after this compression test (they set the injectors to 1.98) took the dealer 6 seatrials at lord knows the cost, I know my costs for running the boat and a mate......to figure out they take a generator injector height setting.