Motor life ?
 

I would like to know what kind of motor life you guy's are getting in your apache's? I know that there are a gizillion differant things to look at with a question like this.... Motor builder, your driving habat's, maintance program.... Etc

Lets take all those things out of the picture and just answer with what HP and the avg hours you run it before rebuild?


This question includes the blow ups and the screw up's...


we have Twin blown 572's= 850hp
Avg life span= 25-50 hours

After having many sets of big blower motors,here is the recipe for long life-hundreds of hours and more

Only use a well known builder
Only use the best parts possible
Always run low boost 4-5 lbs
Always try to run not in the boost
boost= $$$$$$$$$


Seems to work for me-

you mean:
"a well known builder" with a real good reputation....me, i go apprx. 250 hours and change it all from the prop nut to the waterpump....less grafix more spare parts.......m.m...

That same formula works for me too!

We do the same thing here.
"well known builder"
Not one second best part! Top of the line!
3-5 lbs of boost
Dyno tested before going in.
oil changes (mobile syn) ever 15 hours
Every nut,bolt and fluild level is checked prior to going out.
Visuals of bildge during boating are done every 15-20 min.

Even a motor that is running perfect gets rebuilt between 80-100hrs.

I have had a bad string of luck the last 2 seasons hense the reason for this post.

we are running water temp at about 140 and oil temp of around 300 deg, Water pressure is about 17psi at 4200 rpm and beyond. The rev limiter is set at 6200. The motor's are not really making boost untill 4500 and up and max at 5 psi.
The timming is set to a rock soild 35 deg. We run nothing less then 93 octane durning play time and durning a race only race fuel. The boat see's 6200 rpm's once in awhile but not for real long period of time.( 20-30 mins.) And we never hit the rev limiters. She runs in the upper 80's with 4 blades.

In short I feel that the preventive maintenance program is beyond what we should have to do. The boat and motor's are cared for like a new born.
Just wanted to ask what you guy's are getting out of your set up's. We have all heard... "beacuse of the apache weight" "beacuse of the old design" beacuse...beacuse...beacuse BLAH. I happen to disagree with all those old storys! The motor's should run! It might not be as fast as the boat next to you.... or might not be able to get up on plane...But the dam thing should and better stay togeather!

And thanks for the reply's.

The question is, in that 25 to 50 hours how many 20 to 30 minute shots at 6200 are you giving the motors????

95% of the run time is under 5000 rpm

Thanks for the comments guy's. I am really looking forward to hearing from more of you. :)

Timing is another issue-we run 30 deg-easy does it
Oil changes after each poker run or every 10 hrs-cheap Ins.
Shell Rotila 15w-40 with BG additive-works well
Never take the motors past 5500 rpm-live long,be happy
Water pressure is 20 psi-
Oil temp is around 190

Your oil temp seems very high.

I agree, way to high! With oil thermostats I see a max of 220(I just looked at the gauge today) you might experience oil breakdown.

What is acualy breaking when you say rebuilds 25 to 50 hours?? Are you talking catistrophic falure or broken spring , spun bearing? What do your bearings look like when you take them out? Are the parts blued or scored?

6000/6200 on a 572"..... Rod/Stroke ratio on the 572, I wouldn't go past 5700.....

300 oil temp is very high...

Droped,cracked valves, melted and cracked pistons, rod bearings..... Complete rebuilds 90% of the time. I agree with you all on the rpm's. I would like to see the power being made at 5500...but the motors "where built for that rpm range" And according to the dyno sheets that is where the motor is making power. I also agree that the oil temp is higher then I would like but the builder says it is ok??

Where are you all makeing your power? 5500?
Whats your water pressure? and temp?

The biggest question I think we would all like to know is what kind of motor life is everyone getting? (25-50-100-150+ hours) I wish I could post a poll.

Thanks again

I make peak power @ 5800 on the dyno and peak torque at 4600 but turn 5400-5600 rpms max. We spun them to 6K on the dyno just to see what kind of power it made.

If the motor is built right you should get 200-250 hrs on a mild boosted 572, not 50-80.... That's not even one season...

I run 100 degrees water temps and 210 oil temp. 15 lbs water pressure at cruise and about 22 WOT. I also installed small dumps to bleed off air pockets in the rear of the heads.

"Droped,cracked valves, melted and cracked pistons, rod bearings....." It sounds like you're having some problems with either detonation, lean fuel condition, fuel starvation (small fuel pumps). All the problems you're having sound like they are heat related and I'm going to guess you're running lean and/or the fuel system isn't adequate for the motors.

Also, if you're making power that high in the rpm range you probably have the wrong camshaft....

I agree with Panther. Try another builder.

I agree it sounds like fuel problems. That explaines the high oil temps also. What HP did the boat have originally ? tjek that pickups are big enough and go through entire fuelsystem. I have seen fuelpreassure senders that when installed into the fuellines almost blocked off the line.

We had 750's , We upgraded to 850's.

Fuel system=
Holly black pumps ran to high volume mec pumps on motor, The eletric pumps feed the mec pumps then to a Regulator 10 inches before the 850 carbs (new). All new fuel tanks and fuel lines. We run 7.5 fuel pressure. All lines are routed without any hard turns (kinks). The motors never act like thay are starving for fuel. Matter a fact the motors sound and act great....untill a issue. :(

We have looked at all pumping (rigging). I to lean tward the assambley.

How are your holley electric pumps rigged? Are they inline with the fuel line that goes to the mechanical pump or does it T in after the mechanical pump? What size fuel lines are you running?

I run 130 GPH Edlebrock pumps with Mallory 140 gph elec. pumps that have on at anything over 3500 rpms. 7-8 fuel psi no matter what.

Is your builder a marine shop? or auto?

Temp and RPM along with Boost seem to be the guys to go easy on..

..and a good marine buider as well with his cell # is a need.

:party-smiley-048:

Its a marine shop.

The builder isnt being blamed for anything at this point. We are looking at everything right now.

hmmmmm...........i love a good who done it......