Specialist in the maintenance and installation of marine mechanics, François Pereira comes back with us on the key points to check on a used boat. "Before you even start the tour, you need to know the life of the engine. To do this, you must have access to your maintenance logbook, to the follow-up of interventions with invoices for example."
Engine stopped
The first inspection consists of looking at the general appearance of the engine. "It shouldn't look like a block of rust!" The bilge and its oil traces are also a good indicator of engine condition. Then we look at the oil. This should not be too thick, indicating that the drain is too far away. The oil filler cap is also checked. It must not show any "mayonnaise" (white oil) that indicates water entering the engine.
The coolant must also have been regularly drained. If this is the case, it remains blue or yellow depending on which one is used. A rust coloured liquid is a sign of neglected maintenance. Indeed, a cooling liquid is changed every 2 or 3 years.
The wiring harness must also be perfectly clean and free of contact oxidation.
Engine started
"A diesel must start at a quarter turn." If not, we wonder about it. Once the engine is running, we check the exhaust. The water must spit and the colour of the fumes says a lot about the internal functioning. Whether it is black or white, or even grey, an expert can tell if the engine is running smoothly or not. The noise of the latter also indicates future problems.
Oil analysis
Practiced by experts, oil analysis remains a good way to find out the condition of your engine. The metal particles carried by the oil indicate engine wear. An analysis can be carried out on the engine oil, but also on the inverter oil.
South Placentia
Launched in 1998, Sud Plaisance now has 4 employees. This company works in marine mechanics, both for professionals and for pleasure craft. Based in Canet en Roussillon, it represents the Nani, Mercruiser and Vetus brands.
