Inspecting Manifold on Emissions control engines(with cats)

[personalt]

In the fall I bought a boat with 2013 Mercruiser 350 engine. It comes with emissions control and new style maifolds. It only has 110 hours on it but was used and docked in salt water. Last boat we had was 10 years ago but the engine died cause my father didnt maintain the manfolds and killed the engine. So I am leaning on the side that it is ready for a manifold inspection.

Other then the head to manifold ane manifold to elbow gaskets do I need any special parts? These engines seemed to be around since 2011 but dont see much onlne about people instpecting or replacing. Any idea of usefull life on these things?

 

[Scott Danforth]

welcome aboard

your past inspection, you may be headed to manifold replacement.

if it sits docked in salt water, 7-10 year life expectancy on manifolds with the first inspection at 5 years

 

[alldodge]

What's the engine serial number?

 

[Lou C]

I hope you're not in for an expensive surprise. One of our acquaintances has a Mercruiser powered boat (we are 100% salt water here) with Cat exhaust that now needs replacement according to their mechanic and they got an estimate of $4500 for this. However, if the exhaust manifolds themselves are on a closed cooled system, then it may be only the exhaust elbows that need replacement. Hopefully that's the case. If you look at the parts breakdown for these, the parts are VERY expensive and even more so on Volvo Penta engines.

 

[Lou C]

Just to give you an idea what this change has cost boaters, a typical V/P Barr system can be bought for approx. $750 and installed by a reasonably competent do it yourselfer. The regs requiring CATs are what will push me to outboard for my next boat. While outboard engine parts are very expensive too, at least you get away from all the other I/O nuisances, winterizing, drive pulls, bellows/gimble/ujoint replacement, etc. I could tolerate it when the parts were cheap, when they are as expensive as outboard without outboard advantages, WHY buy one?

 

[personalt]

What's the engine serial number?

5.0L, 350, 377 MAG MPI STERNDRIVE EC
Serial - 2A041554
Model - 4M410RLUU

 

[muc]

Yes you are overdue for inspection.
Highly recommend that you read the MerCruiser Service Manual for your engine before attempting this job!
The procedures are well covered and there are good pictures. There are more than a few mistakes that can be made and the manual will help you avoid them.

 

[personalt]

welcome aboard

your past inspection, you may be headed to manifold replacement.

if it sits docked in salt water, 7-10 year life expectancy on manifolds with the first inspection at 5 years

I should have included the fact I planned for the likelihood of replacement. the marina that brokered the boat quoted me ~$2500 in parts (for the two elbows and the two manifolds) and $1000 in labor to replace. After already negotiating down on the price I got an additional $3500 off when I did a sea trial based on this deferred maintenance. I was thinking of doing it myself, not so much to save the $1000 but because I am a control freak and feel it is good opportunity to get familiar with the engine.

NJ season is only about 12 weeks so I figure the main factor of the condition is how well they flushed it at end of the season when they winterized it. But I am financially prepared(as best you can with a boat) for a replacement.

 

[muc]

Your serial number comes back as an 5.0L 260 hp raw water cooled in a 23' Larson.

The price you were quoted sounds reasonable (depending on how much rise the elbows have) if it includes a scan of the engine to determine catalyst health. A visual inspection of catalyst's will only tell so much, a scan tool will tell so much more.

There have been a couple of service bulletins issued for your motor that might be of interest to you. One has to do with a optional re-calibration of the PCM if you are experiencing any nuisance warning light/horn issues and another that covers the problems with the 6" rise elbows.

The Service Manual that you should have is p/n 90-879288300 MerCruiser manual #51

Yes how it was flushed and if the correct antifreeze was used will have a big impact on longevity.

 

[alldodge]

2013 Mercruiser 350 engine

5.0L 260 hp raw water cooled in a 23' Larson.

 

[personalt]

yes, that is what I have. I did see the elbow prices vary a lot. Is there a DYI scan tool? For both my truck and jetski there are PC tools that are vin number limited and priced accordingly but have not seen anything on the merc side. thanks for the info

Your serial number comes back as an 5.0L 260 hp raw water cooled in a 23' Larson.

The price you were quoted sounds reasonable (depending on how much rise the elbows have) if it includes a scan of the engine to determine catalyst health. A visual inspection of catalyst's will only tell so much, a scan tool will tell so much more.

There have been a couple of service bulletins issued for your motor that might be of interest to you. One has to do with a optional re-calibration of the PCM if you are experiencing any nuisance warning light/horn issues and another that covers the problems with the 6" rise elbows.

The Service Manual that you should have is p/n 90-879288300 MerCruiser manual #51

Yes how it was flushed and if the correct antifreeze was used will have a big impact on longevity.

 

[muc]

Is there a DYI scan tool?

Not that I'm aware of. And on a cat motor I highly recommend a laptop based system, the cheaper hand held scan tools don't provide the diagnostic data in a form that's useful.

 

[muc]

If you do get a scan tool.
You will also need p/n 90-8M0086113 Service manual #49 PCM 09 diagnostics.