Cylinder not firing

EClass20

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Sep 1, 2010
Messages
32
A friend of mine has a Merc 3.0, alpha 1. Just found out #4 has 0 compression via a leak down test. Mech gave him a quote of $1600 to repair. Sounds way high to me. Any insight?

Thanks.
 

sqbtr

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 23, 2010
Messages
716
Re: Cylinder not firing

What did the leak down test show. Ex, Int, Crankcase?

If it's leaking out the crankcase it's probably a holed piston. In that case I would think $1,600 is cheap.
 

EClass20

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Sep 1, 2010
Messages
32
Re: Cylinder not firing

He said either a broken valve or a head gasket. Motor is a '92. $1600 to machine and rebuild.
 

sqbtr

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 23, 2010
Messages
716
Re: Cylinder not firing

Did he do a leak down test or just a compression test?
 

jerryjerry05

Supreme Mariner
Joined
May 7, 2008
Messages
18,078
Re: Cylinder not firing

Got to remove the head to see what the real problem is.
It could be a bad head gasket or a blown piston.Do that and pics always help.J
 

cr2k

Captain
Joined
Mar 19, 2009
Messages
3,730
Re: Cylinder not firing

Could also be a cracked head or block.

The 3.0 is a great little engine, BUT they do not take well to things like overheating, freezing, or lack of maintenance.

If properly AND regularly maintained they will last forever.
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: Cylinder not firing

A friend of mine has a Merc 3.0, alpha 1. Just found out #4 has 0 compression via a leak down test. Mech gave him a quote of $1600 to repair. Sounds way high to me. Any insight?

Thanks.

That price isn't bad, even if it's just a bad valve.
The troublshooting cost too ya know, then you have take apart clean, repair, reinstall, and test run, plus gaurentee your work. With no parts and charging only 75 per hour, that's only 21 hours to do that job in the boat. We also can't see what access you have to your engine. Half of it may be under the back of the boat. Any parts will take away from that 21 hours.
 

Dakota47

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 22, 2007
Messages
722
Re: Cylinder not firing

Buy a New longblock from Rapid o marine for the same cost .
 
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