www.iFourWinns.com

As I am considering buying a new H180 with a 3.0 mercruiser I was wondering how many engine hours I can expect before a need for a rebuild , just curious ?

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Ardy
Adelaide South Australia
Red H180 3.0 Merc

How hard do you intend to run it, and how judiciously will you perform maintenance on it? I know of people with the 3.0 in other 18' boats who couldn't be happier with it.

Now if you're trying to wear it out, I'm sure that can be done...

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Salt or freshwater, in fresh you can go from 1500 to 2000 depending on how well it's maintained, salt, not as long, unless you have closed cooling. I/Os are maintenance intensive machines, that's why some prefer outboards esp in salt. Too bad FW no longer sells any OB models.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Will make sure that oil and other lubricants are changed as specified if not earlier . Hardest work will be taking me slalom skiing approximately 30 to33 mph. I weigh in at around 85 kg or 200 pounds if my conversion serves me correctly. Don't intend thrashing the daylights out of it but it will get used about 100 hours a year.Oh yeah fresh water use only
any thoughts
Ardy South Australia

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Ardy
Adelaide South Australia
Red H180 3.0 Merc

I would suspect that pulling you at 30-33 mph, the 3.0 will be pulling you at close to around 4000 rpm. The 180 with my family (of 4)in it cruises at about 25-27 mph turning 35-3600 rpm with the aluminium prop on it (sorry, can't recall the numbers on the prop right now, I'll have to check for ya). I don't know if that would affect longevity or not, as it is still well within the normal operating range for that engine.

From what I had read before we bought our 180, the 3.0 is a pretty tough little engine, some have even said that it was tougher than a 5.7 (just what I had heard). It definately is not the smoothest or most refined power unit though.

I would agree with LouC, at 100 hours a year, you are talking 15-20 years out of the engine before a rebuild, and that sounds plausable if the engine is maintained correctly.

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2009 H180 w/3.0 Merc
Homebuilt Minimax Hydro
2011 Zodiac Cadet 310

We wakeboard behind my 180 and we did it ALOT last year and still struggled to get over 70 hours of run time on it. I would say you have atleast 15-20 years and by then you will easily be hit by the new boat bug. Just do that maintenance and use the proper fluids and you will have lots of worry free water time.

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Four winns 180 horizon

generally seems pretty good come on July !!!
Ardy

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Ardy
Adelaide South Australia
Red H180 3.0 Merc