New Deisel Engines From Mercruiser

[2002 LAUNCH SS OWNER]

I know Indmar has deisel engines available, but I thought I would share the news that Mercruiser is now using Volkswagens Toureg V6,V8 diesel engines, the V8 can put out up to 350hp and 500 foot lbs or torque, comes standard
with fresh water cooling, weighs almost 800 lbs( great ballast for V drive boats). Fuel savings of up to 30%, top rpm 4200.Imagine the pulling power of this engine in a direct drive boat, out with the 454 and put in new V8 diesel* The down side is the cost, just like getting a diesel for your 3/4 ton truck, buck up the dough if you want the best.

Imagine one of these new V8 deisels in a older Saltaire that came with a big block** it would be a sweet boat

[Moose]

I would love to put a diesel engine in my Saltare. Wakeboarding through the cloud of black smoke from take off would be sweet.

[haugy]

This would have to be on a Saltare that was getting new stringers though. I wouldn't drop one in on mine without new stringers. The mounts will be WAY different, and the structural changes you'd want to make would be perfect while rebuilding.

I'd like to do something like that, but I'd also want to see the torque curve and at what RPMs it's highest at. Shouldn't be any black smoke if your settings are dialed in right. Black smoke means you aren't burning diesel completely and efficiently. Those VW diesels are just damn amazing engineering at getting the most power from the fuel.

So how much cost are we looking at for the engine? $4800?

[jasun]

http://www.cmdmarine.com/Product2/4...._specsheet.pdf

[tg0824SSVGG]

Agreed. I am on my 3rd TDI from VW. They are great and run forever. Of course, I also have 2 big power strokes for pulling boat and camper!!


Todd

[Sirgonz]

Would be nice to get same pulling or better pulling power on less fuel.... Wonder what took them so long?

[Salty87]

is diesel still worth it with higher initial cost and higher prices at the pump?

[cadunkle]

No thanks, I don't buy foreign junk. Might be interested in a marinized 7.3 if the ROI was right, but I doubt you'll get that with an off the shelf engine package as the costs for marine diesels are typically quite high. If your engine needs freshening up you can get more torque than that VWs 516 ft/lbs and likely at a much lower cost. Of course you will not get the lowered fuel consumption though.

Agreed. I am on my 3rd TDI from VW. They are great and run forever.

If they're so great and run forever, why are you on your third one? I'd think you'd still be on the first. Not bashing, just don't understand.

[haugy]

A 7.3L would be overkill big, and I'm talking engine size not power. That would be a giant brick. While they are good engines, the 7.3L, 6.0L, and the 6.4L I've run and been around have all had major repairs.

The VW TDi's nothing.. Only thing one needed was some light maintenance. People get newer ones because they are nicer cars inside, better suspension designs, quieter versions of the TDi, etc.

I'd vouch for the VW Tdi's well before I vouched for any of the truck diesels, Chevy, Dodge, or Ford.

Before this turns into a which diesel is better battle. Boats have been running diesels for years. They run strong, long, and reliable if taken care of. I swear by my Cats and Detroits. The Cats have been through hell and back, literally.

The only reason it hasn't been pushed so hard in smaller boats is Diesels used to be Taboo. The smoke made people think the worst, the smell was acrid and powerful, and the noise was immense. The new diesels, burn cleaner and with minimal smell, and they are much quieter. Plus they've been able to get real high power ratings from much smaller versions which really limited them in the small boat category. Only thing holding them back now is the cost of diesel itself. Notably much higher, so the real question will be how's the mileage rating on these engines in boats?

[tg0824SSVGG]

Why the 3rd one?

I live in the boonies first off:
* Passat number 1: 1996, I finally got rid of it in 2011 with 385,000 miles on it - ran like a scalded dog, got 50MPG, but the body was falling apart
* Jetta number 2: 2011, The Jetta just wasn't the right car for what we need, it had 49.000 miles on it
* Passat, number 3: 2013, it's got 1500 miles on it.

I have big kids, and the back seat in the Jetta is just too cramped. Back seat in the passat is huge. Nothing wrong with the Jetta - and the first passat was just getting old.