2000 5.7L Mercruiser - Life expectancy?

[Bl@ck Pe@rL]

Knowing there are lots of variables (maintenance, use, etc), just wondering what a good *rule of thumb* one could use when assessing a "used" 2000 5.7L Mercuiser engine.

For example, if the motor has 500 hours and the owner says they are easy hours mostly from trolling, how much life -> How many hours-> can I expect to get out of these motors before a major over overhaul? I'm fishing for an idea on how much to offer the owner on his boat.

Thanks in advance!

 

[mikeneal]

Re: 2000 5.7L Mercruiser - Life expectancy?

Knowing there are lots of variables (maintenance, use, etc), just wondering what a good *rule of thumb* one could use when assessing a "used" 2000 5.7L Mercuiser engine.

For example, if the motor has 500 hours and the owner says they are easy hours mostly from trolling, how much life -> How many hours-> can I expect to get out of these motors before a major over overhaul? I'm fishing for an idea on how much to offer the owner on his boat.

Thanks in advance!

Like you said, has almost everything to do with maintenance/use. I have seen SBCs go well over 1500 hrs, and I have seen people break them in 50. If it is average use I would say ~1000 before any issues.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 2000 5.7L Mercruiser - Life expectancy?

Ayuh,...2000hrs. is gettin' old,...
3000hrs. is gettin' Old,+ Tried,...
4000hrs. is Not unheard of,...
5000hrs. is a whipped old warhorse that needs to be put to pasture....

Around Here,.... Most motors never see 100hrs... 500hrs. is an amazing find...
Abuse or Freezing Kills most of them....

 

[Bl@ck Pe@rL]

Re: 2000 5.7L Mercruiser - Life expectancy?

Thanks for the info. Wow 1500 hrs would be sweet!!!

I've seen one '96 Proline where the owner replaced his Merc @ 800 hours due to lost compression, said he did all his maintenance every 50 hrs. He has less than 50 hrs on the new motors

And just looked at a '00 Proline with 500 hrs, their mechanic inspected and recommended the replace risers & manifolds, which they did.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: 2000 5.7L Mercruiser - Life expectancy?

I've seen one '96 Proline where the owner replaced his Merc @ 800 hours due to lost compression, said he did all his maintenance every 50 hrs. He has less than 50 hrs on the new motors

Yeah, and I'll bet him the title to that boat against my house deed that all he had were valve issues. SBCs with Vortec heads (since 1996) will tulip valves if the engine is lugged. I'll almost guarantee that's what happened to that motor.
When I had the heads off my 1997 5.7 in 2005, it had over 600 hours on it, and the cylinders, pistons, and everything internal looked nearly perfect. 500 hours on a SBC is nothing.