Diesel service cost?

[OldSailor41]

We bought a 2014 Ranger31 last autumn. The owners had changed oil at 240 hours but I am not sure what else was done. To make sure I know where the engine stands, I want to do a complete service with oil change and all the filters. I am wondering what others experience has been with the cost of this type of service.

 

[Cutwater28GG]

$1400 for a 400 hour service labor, including oil, air filter, impeller. includes transmissions fluid. does not include coolant flush.
this was on a volvo d4 260 from pacific power (+ tax)
included travel time to Elliot bar marina from their base

 

[Levitation]

You are on the internet on this forum - which is a treasure trove of information.
$1400 will go a long way towards getting you educated instead of you paying through the nose year after year..
There are any number of videos and books on basic maintenance of engines , boat maintenance and so.
(diesel or gas - changing a filter is changing a filter , not rocket science)
There is/was a very popular TV series on maintenance of your boat, and on, and on.
Don't let anyone snow you (or BS you) by blabbering on about the complexity of maintenance.
An oil change is, replace oil and filter. See a video, do one - and suddenly you are an expert.
Same for the fuel filter.
(I just watched the mechanic on a ferry boat change one. He can barely talk a coherent sentence, a rocket scientist he is not, yet he did it in about 10 minutes.
To do the 400 hour check there are a number of steps, but each one is a discrete item and does not have to be done all at once.
Mike (Illusions) has been to a diesel maintenance course (not changing pistons and such, just maintaining the engine.) He found it to be interesting and fun (if not, he will correct me with a slap along side the head)
For a $100 some local diesel mechanic would give you two hours of his Saturday and lead you through the basic steps of maintenance.
On most boats changing the impeller is usually the tough job simply due to being in an impossible place to reach. You could throw in an extra fifty bucks and have the show-and-tell mechanic do that one while you watch :mrgreen:

 

[Scuffy]

I think everyone has a different comfort level. Last year I had a Volvo Penta dealer send out someone to our boat which is only a few miles away in the Florida Keys where we stay. He did an oil an filter change while I watched and asked questions. I bought one of the oil extractors. I keep a stock of parts on board like oil filters,fuel filters, belts, zincs anodes for the generator etc. Now even a spare raw water belt tensioner. I do my filter changes along with changing the oil in both the generator and the boats engine. I can do the impellor changes on the generator.The same oil extractor I used to suck out the transmission oil while also dropping in a new transmission filter. My Volvo manual was pretty clear with instructions. The crankcase filter and the air filter are also pretty easy but the parts are expensive. There are a few things I don't do. Every year I have the raw water impellor changed by a factory authorized mechanic. Even with the access panels removed I just don't physically fit in there. I always supplied the parts. This year I had the impellor changed and both engine belts replaced. Plus Juan the mechanic quickly found what was our problem with rising engine temps do to getting sea grass in the trans cooler. It was pretty simple fix but someone knowing right where to look and how to go about it was worth the price. The cost for the travel time and labor was about 365 dollars for 2.5 labor hours with taxes and charges for expendable items etc. I like to have the parts on hand so it does not impede getting the job done. I did have the impellor changed by it self last year for just over 100.00 dollars in about an hours time after I trailered the boat to Forked River Diesel in Waretown N.J.
So my point is I feel no shame in not being able to do every maintenance task. I think being generally familiar with the boats mechanical items is a plus. I think if someone already has most of the tools required and is familiar with mechanical things makes taking on these tasks easier to take on. The best part about doing your own maintenance is you can do them on your schedule.

 

[knotflying]

Agreed, each of us has our perswonal comfort zone as to how far we want to go. I used to do roofing on my house , bottom paint on my boat and mowing the lawn. Now I sit back and watch someone else do them. Its all about picking your battlers. Impeller changes may be on that list some day, but for now, I like the challenge.

 

[bill46]

My 2014 R31CB D4 and Onan Gen. cost about 800 with some of my parts, should be under 1000 for D4 & Onan with all parts. 200 hr service, oil, all filters, impellers. Mechanic $85 Hr. 6 hrs.

 

[Cutwater28GG]

great advice in this thread and like the original poster, I wanted a professional mechanic to do the first service on my new to me boat. my only regret is I didnt gopro video the process! I've already forgotten a lot as I havent done the exercise myself! there is a lot of info/experience coming at you and you won't remember it all!

in hindsight I was very grateful I had the mechanic because he could not get the tranmission fluid access door apart. there is no way I would have solved the problem.

For the future, oil and filters seem pretty straight forward.

 

[Cutwater28GG]

incidentally, are you guys changing oil every 50 hours on the volvo d4 d3's?

 

[bill46]

I changed at 85 and 201 hours. First 85 hours were others over 2 years, I did second at another year.
Believe Volvo book says 200 hours or 1 year.

 

[rt11002003]

At one time I was a highly rated technical specialist in the USAF; even taught the subjects. Worked on all sorts of engines from reciprocating engines to turbo jets, to turbo fans to supersonic ramjets and both liquid and solid rocket motors. And, the related test equipment and airframes for the engines. Worked on sports cars and motorcycles; then boats.

"Most of the basic stuff can be done by almost anyone." (not sure who quoted, heard it someplace) However, today I learned a lesson. I was installing an impeller on my Volvo engine in my R21EC. Found out I couldn't see things as well as I could 60 years ago and handling those small screws holding the water pump cover was a real chore. Fingers felt like tree limbs. I thought I might not be able to finish the task.

Makes me rethink the statement about basic stuff. Maybe not all of us are up to some of the simple tasks. Something to consider before going into remote areas, or offshore.

 

[OldSailor41]

Thanks for all your replies. I will watch a mechanic and take notes, and then see what I am able to do for myself in the future.

 

[OldSailor41]

Following up on my original post, I got the service done today and it cost me just about an even $1,000. About half of that was parts, a little over $300 labor, and the rest tax. Replaced all the filters, including air and transmission fluid, changed the fluids and replaced the impeller. No coolant flush this time. I was glad I learned by watching the mechanic, but I don't think it is worth my while to try to do it myself. It took him less that 3 hours and it gave me a lot of comfort that he has done tons of these jobs. It would take me all day, I would have to get some new tools and equipment, and I would not be sure I did everything right. Not to mention the cursing that I am sure would be part of the experience. I am sure for some people it would be fun.

 

[Cutwater28GG]

who did you use for the service?

 

[OldSailor41]

My service was done at Coastal Marine in Ballard.

 

[Lulu1238]

My service was done at Coastal Marine in Ballard.

I have a 2014 R21 EC equipped with a 2018 Volvo Penta D1-30. What transmission fluid is recommended for my 200 hour oil change?

 

[Someday*]

This is a good topic.

 

[skultuggery]

My service was done at Coastal Marine in Ballard.

I have a 2014 R21 EC equipped with a 2018 Volvo Penta D1-30. What transmission fluid is recommended for my 200 hour oil change?

Volvo Manual Calls for ATF (Dexron II, Dexron III). You wanna follow the lead of this happening cat and you'll snag some Red Line D4 ATF. Stuff is like a rum ration to the sailors of old. Tell 'em Skultuggery sent you.

 

[Haifisch]

Also have an R31. For the past three years have done my own service, not to just save money but to be self reliant in the event I had to do something while on a trip. Here’s a couple of very real possibilities:

#1 You take a trip to Sucia Islands (the furthest north of the San Juans) and discover your motor won’t keep running just as you plan to head home. First step would be to check the fuel filters, best to have spares and the wrench on board and know how to change them. Same goes for the water in fuel sensor. Both are super easy to do.

#2 -A bit more serious… Engine overheats and you have to drop anchor. You check to make sure that you didn’t pick up a plastic bag on your water intake and check your strainer. Both are fine, but it looks like you need to do an impeller change. Access is much easier on the R31, but it sure is easier doing it the first time while you’re safe at the dock.

There are several other scenarios like this, but the time and cost are much higher when you are far from a Volvo mechanic.