What is an old (still running) diesel worth??

[casey1999]

I think it depends on what you want to do with your boat. Will you keep her for another 30 years and sail her often. If you did that, I would install a new beta realizing you will spend neraly $10k when it's all said and done. If this is not what your plans are, get a good repair manual on your engine and start working on her. If your time is worth more than the $10k, then maybe just have someone install the new engine.

I have a 30 year old yanmar raw water cooled. Bought boat last year and engine was in poor shape. There was a leak in the deck that allowed water to drip on the engine for 3 years during a circumnavigation. You can imagine the rust. I have been working on the engine for the last year and got it running pretty good- not perfect. Still got a few things to work on but I have been taking the boat out regularly since purchase. At first I was going to replace with a new engine, but after finding out how much these babies cost, I realized I need learn some diesel mechanics and to fix what I had. In the end it is better, I know the engine as well as some diesel experts and I can fix it at sea if need be- got a bunch of spare parts on hand. Plus, the satisfaction to me of getting the engine running and working on it is almost equal to a good sail. It all depends on what you are trying to do and what you like to do, and how much money you have. I understand volvo parts are very expensive and hard to get sometimes, so this should be factored in which may lean towards a new beta.
Good luck

[fryewe]

Your original question was "what is an old diesel engine worth?" and you have gotten some good answers here. Let me add my two cents...

I have two 35 year old Yanmar 2QM15s. One was the original engine in my first sailboat. It is still in the boat, and running strong.

When I bought the boat 28 years ago, the engine looked nearly new, ran strong and was very reliable, starting quickly and responding quickly and fuel efficient.

A few years later my aluminum fuel tank rotted, and I didn't understand what was going on well enough to fix it until I had "dickered" with the engine and the tank and the fuel system for a couple of years. In addition, the exhaust elbow corroded and cracked and dripped salt water on the aft stbd motor mount for a few months...yeah, my fault, but I was working hard and almost never able to go to the boat to do anything other than make sure the bilge was relatively dry. Bottom line is, through my own neglect the engine became what I didn't want...unreliable and dirty and ugly.

I didn't really have the money to replace it with a new one, and I was embarassed that I had let the engine get in the condition it was in. I also knew there was nothing to lose and everything to gain if I could bring the engine back to order on my own, because I could do it again while I was out cruising. So I dug in...

Bought a tech manual, bought the parts to work on it, bought a fuel tank, pulled the engine, pulled the old fuel tank, put in a new fuel tank, did a mini-overhaul on the engine, put it back in the boat, and have a reliable, clean, responsive, economical engine again. Money spent on the engine was less than 300 bucks. Recently the fuel injection pump failed and that cost another 600 bucks, but that old engine was worth a lot to me, and still is, because I know I can do anything to it other than machining on parts that may need machining. I had never worked on a diesel engine before in my life. I used the manual and the internet, mostly forums like this, to learn, and I read and read. I made a few mistakes, and got a little advice from my friends.

My second engine I bought for 400 dollars from a fellow sailor who upgraded after he overheated the engine running back to harbor in severe weather and a small water leak developed past the head gasket into his engine compartment. I tore the top end down, replaced all the rubber parts on the engine, put all new gaskets and seals in the fuel system, put on a new head gasket, and put her back together. Ran her, and the head gasket still leaked. Parts to do that cost me about 200 dollars. Took the engine to a good machinist who did a head job on it including shaving the head. He also noted that the exhaust manifold was cracked in three places and plugged up pretty badly. He sent the manifold to a welder for me and reassembled the engine (I provided all the gaskets). Total cost was 350 dollars for that work.

I am installing this engine in my second boat. I expect it to give me at least 10 more years of service. This old engine was and is pretty high value to me.

New engine is probably nice, but it's nice to have an engine I know I can work on and maintain its reliability with a bit of expert help from time to time, at much lower cost than a new engine installation.

Good luck.

[FishFinder]

I need someone who thinks like you guys to buy this engine!

[casey1999]

Originally Posted by FishFinder

I need someone who thinks like you guys to buy this engine!

If it where a Yanmar 3gmd I would buy it. I am looking for one to purchase, then take a few years to overhaul on my own, then have it as a spare for the one in my boat- when needed swap it, then take a few years and rebuild that one!

[Plumbean]

I sold a 25 year old Universal that had failed a compression test and needed a complete rebuild on ebay for $350. I didn't have the time or inclination to invest in fixing it up, but for the right buyer I bet they got a good deal.