Propulsion engines
Detroit Diesel marine engine service
Detroit Diesel marine engines are still working hard in plenty of older sportfish and commercial hulls on this coast. I began my career on early model marine diesels, which is exactly this kind of engine, and I still service and survey them.
Detroit Diesel on this coast
These engines are common in older convertibles and working boats where the hull is sound and the owner is deciding between a rebuild and a repower.
What I see most on these engines
Rebuild or repower decisions
The honest question on many of these is whether to keep going or replace. Compression, borescope and parts availability decide it.
Fuel and injection
Injector condition drives smoke, economy and how evenly the engine runs across cylinders.
Cooling and exhaust corrosion
Decades of wet exhaust take their toll, and internal inspection is the only reliable way to judge what is left.
On older marine diesels such as Detroit Diesel, the decision between rebuild and repower is driven by cylinder condition confirmed by borescope, compression results, and current parts availability, rather than by engine hours.
Factory certification is held with Volvo Penta. Work on other makes draws on 20 years of independent marine diesel experience rather than a manufacturer programme, and I will say so plainly if a job belongs with a dealer.
Services for Detroit Diesel owners
Mechanical Marine Surveys
A documented condition report on your propulsion engines and generator, from visual inspection through sea trial.
Diesel Repair
Engine, transmission and generator service on marine diesels, from routine maintenance through a complete repower.
Engine Diagnostics
Find the actual cause before parts get bought, using engine management data, live readings and a borescope.
Other propulsion makes
Volvo Penta
I spent six years at a Volvo Penta dealer and hold Volvo certification, and I began performing marine diesel e...
Caterpillar
Caterpillar marine diesels power a large share of the sportfish and motor yacht fleet on this coast, and they ...
Cummins
Cummins marine diesels are widespread in this region across sportfish, trawler and cruiser installations. I se...
Detroit Diesel: common questions
Do you service Detroit Diesel marine engines?
Yes. Over 20 years in marine diesel I have worked across effectively every make of marine engine found on this coast, including Detroit Diesel. Call with the model and hours and I will tell you honestly whether it is a job I should take or one better sent to a dealer.
Can you survey a boat with Detroit Diesel engines before I buy it?
Yes. A mechanical marine survey covers compression on every cylinder, engine management data, a sea trial under load and laboratory fluid analysis, regardless of engine make.
Do you carry parts for this brand?
Common service parts for the engines I see most often, yes. Model specific components are ordered once the fault is confirmed, which avoids paying for parts that turn out not to be the problem.
Tell me what the engine is doing
Describe the symptom on the phone and most of the time the problem is narrowed before I arrive. Surveys are booked around your sea trial date.