16V2000, the good, the bad, the ugly?

The maintenance schedule is more simplified than man or even cat. I’ve been maintaining a pair for 3 years now. Only had very minor issues with a couple sensors and 1 fuel manifold leak. Great engines in my opinion. Smooth, relatively quiet, not terrible to work on and no smoke within a few seconds of start up. Struggling to attach a pic of the maintenance schedule. Message me an email or phone number I’ll send it
And the m designation is the evolution of the series.

I can't tell you about the 4000 hour but I can tell you about some unexpected stuff on low hour engines.

The Mxx refers to some kind of variant of the basic 2000 series (which really means 2000 cc per cylinder). I have M91 V16s, twin turbos (sequential), rated at 2000 HP. The M93 is newer, has 3 turbos, and puts out around 2400 HP. The M94 is even newer and does 2600 HP. The M90, is older and puts out around 1800 HP.

My engines have a bit under 600 hours and sat for several years with no preservation and very little maintenance. I have replaced most exhaust elbows by reinforced ones (the old ones tend to crack) at about 4K a piece including work, one exhaust turbine housing (cracked) same approximate price, two crossover elbows (eroded) same price for both, one main cooling pump (about 6 k), and an oil heat exchanger (about 3K). I also had an MCS repaired (at 3K, cost 25% of the replacement part).

Currently the engines are started at least once a month, oil is regularly changed (I use Rimula), and other maintenance program tasks carried out as per MTU recommendations. Preventive work needs to be carried out, but rationally.

The boat goes out several times a year but usually short jaunts in warm summer Med waters (between 30 minutes to one hour each way) and most of the times cruising at approx 1900/2000 rpm eventually applying peak power for a few minutes. Always very carefully watching the EGTs. From experience, these engines can cruise on for hours endlessly at 2000/2100 RPM.

Hope this helps.

Please keep us up. I'd like to learn more about these beast. Already learned a good bit from post #3.

What are the operating coolant temps at 1900-2000? Does anyone know what temp thermostats they have? Assuming the 12v and 16v will be identical in this regard.

We usually see anywhere between 80 and 90c.
More like 83/ 84
I'll let you know the warning levels later.

Yes, the MTU's run cool. I just bought parts for them. The Secondary fuel filters are ungodly expensive. Like $140 each and not that big......if you have the primary large metal canister fuel filter, it's a parker item and can be ordered elsewhere for 1/2 the price of what the dealer sells it for. Coolant is cheap and easy, a gallon of concentrate is around $50 and makes around 10 gallons of coolant.

Warning level is 212. At 1850 rpm I’m at 181 f. I have 12v2000 trying to find out if that is normal or if my thermostats are 182 or 175? At 1650 rpm I’m at 173F.

View attachment 92480

I would say your readings are in line with mine. Normal to me.

But cold sea waters will lower the engine coolant temperature for sure. See the picture taken in the winter.

ya for sure. I’m running in 82-84F water temps lol.

What

What rpm do you normally cruise at? I’m new to the 2000 series. I’m running around 1900 but 2000 might be optimal?

Depending on seawater temp (and other weather conditions), I would cruise anywhere between 1800 and 2100 to keep the engines relaxed. Above that you might get some high oil temps or other alarms.

Nice to see that also on a boat powered by a pair of MTU V16 engines you rely on an iPad for navigation...
Configured in Italian, by the way. Am I not the only Belpaese citizen around here, maybe?

Actually that was the iPad of the Italian Skipper who delivered the boat.

Wise choice. Schettino was definitely an exception, rather than the norm!

what are you transmission temps at like 1850-1900 RPM?

I don't recall. You must be referring to the marine gears. I may check and let you know next time it operates. But it's a ZF 2555.

Hello Everyone,
What do raiser and manifolds for a 16V2000 MTU life expectancy is ?
Thanks ,
Pete