Stories about diesel engine warranties range from boat owners who are quite pleased with their service to others who claim loopholes big enough to drive — or tow — their boats through. The truth is that most engine manufacturers are forthcoming about maintenance they expect. Boat owners are wise to know what to do to ensure coverage.
“Some people say, ‘I’ll run it till it breaks. It’s covered under warranty.’ But maybe it isn’t,” says Peter Frederiksen, communications director for Viking Yachts. “Make sure to read that warranty. Ask questions about it.” Frederiksen points out, for example, that engine computers keep records of all alarms. Continuing to run in an alarm condition may void the warranty. Understand what both the engine manual and warranty say about specific alarms, including whether to head to the closest port for repairs or wait for service until a trip ends.
While electronic engine history might exclude warranty repairs by proving negligence, it can also track the progression of parts failures to include otherwise questionable coverage. In one example, a simple air intake problem caused a turbo to overheat. When the turbo shaft broke, it spewed engine oil and the engine seized. Data proved this happened before alarms — and the skipper — could react. “The boat ended up with a new long block. That would have been a $160,000 repair,” says Charlie Schloemer, president of Palm Beach Power. The boat was near the end of its 60-month extended service policy.
With both standard and extended warranties, timely maintenance and careful records help ensure coverage. “They’re not saying routine maintenance has to be done by an authorized dealer,” Schloemer, an MTU dealer, says. “They want a record of who did what, when, and what parts were put in. Oil and coolant must meet MTU specs, and filters have to come from MTU.”
To stay atop warranty requirements, address all issues promptly and completely. Schloemer warns, for example, that MTU requires a coolant sample when he replaces a leaky circulating pump. If that leak was allowed to continue and the cooling system was topped off with plain water repeatedly over several months, the antifreeze ratio likely won’t meet MTU’s specification. That pump might not be covered, nor might extensive repairs caused if that pump failed and overheated the engine.
A clear service history is particularly important during resale. “Having a warranty adds security to the person buying a boat,” Frederiksen says. “Your boat is going to stand out. You’ll get a return on that [warranty] money” — but not if the buyer perceives any question regarding warranty coverage.
