Engine Nut
08-12-2006, 10:18 AM
As director of Customer Service for Indmar, we see, hear and deal with engine issues on a daily basis. Occaisionally, engines experience catestrophic failures in the field. Failures such as connecting rods through the oil pan or engine block are rare but they do occur.
Sometimes these failures occur early in the life of an engine (during the first 20 hours) and can be related to defect or assembly issues from GM, the engine block supplier. These failures are not caused by the boat operator and although unfortunate are generally reteted as warrantable failures.
Other times, these failures occur on engines that are considered "broken-in". They may have 50, 100 hours or more of operating time. Almost all cases that we see of these types of failures can be related to improper maintenamce or lack of lubrication. It is imortant that the engine oil level be checked before each use and maintained at the proper level. It is not unusual for a marine engine to consume some oil. Consumption of a quart of oil every 18 to 20 hours is not out of the ordinary.
Please check your oil on a regular basis. A marine engine operates in a much more severe duty cycle than an automotive engine does and needs a little extra care.
Larry Engelbert
Director of Customer Service
Indmar Marine Engines
Sometimes these failures occur early in the life of an engine (during the first 20 hours) and can be related to defect or assembly issues from GM, the engine block supplier. These failures are not caused by the boat operator and although unfortunate are generally reteted as warrantable failures.
Other times, these failures occur on engines that are considered "broken-in". They may have 50, 100 hours or more of operating time. Almost all cases that we see of these types of failures can be related to improper maintenamce or lack of lubrication. It is imortant that the engine oil level be checked before each use and maintained at the proper level. It is not unusual for a marine engine to consume some oil. Consumption of a quart of oil every 18 to 20 hours is not out of the ordinary.
Please check your oil on a regular basis. A marine engine operates in a much more severe duty cycle than an automotive engine does and needs a little extra care.
Larry Engelbert
Director of Customer Service
Indmar Marine Engines