Life Expectancy Of An Outboard???

[Deleted account]

On 12/25/2014 at 9:04 PM, S Hovanec said:

There are some Hondas in service with the coast guard that are in the 15000-20000 hour range.

This is silly talk. 

 

Q: What does the Coast Guard call the P-100?

A: Main Propulsion.

 

Go Navy! Beat Army!

[cyclops2]

Of ownership on the 4 wheeled boats ?

[Way2slow]

15,000 -20,000 hours on and outboard motor, that would take some serious documentation for me to believe that. 

That's like a 1/4 - 1/2 million miles on an automobile engine and they are not operated at anywhere near the rpm an outboard is.  I also know it's not uncommon to put 1/2 million miles on a car engine, my daughter's 2003 Buick Century with the 3.1 engine has over 430,000 on it and other than the A\C compressor and thermostat, has never had a wrench on anything but the oil drain plug, spark plugs and transmission oil pan.

I'm also well aware, the death of any engine is short trips where the engine is going through constant thermal cycling.  Get one up to heat and let it stay there, no telling how long one can last, and I'm sure when the Coast Guard starts one up, it stays running a long time before shutting it off again.  But! still, 15,000 hours on a gasoline outboard, I would have to see the proof.

Also, how often do you start off in your automobile by punching it to the floor and just keep it there, or maybe back off to about 4,500 rpm.  Operating conditions for outboard motors are a heck of a lot more severe than an automobiles.

[cyclops2]

My non computer controlled engines are pushing 36 years.  With the cheapest plug changes as needed. No PM ever done.

 

They do not have ignition points. 

The USCG  P-100 is a portable Diesel fire fighting pump.

My Ship in 1957 had 1 of those small fire pumps.