Carver Owners Forum

CATS have a set maintenance schedule , period. They have a "recommended" rebuild time in hours rather than a take on oil analysis and then a call. Low hour oil and fluid changes, they get their colon in a knot if you don't use their filters and in my instance make it almost impossible to honor a warranty. As for Hats and Viking, they are using their engines in their "low end" builds. most Hats and Vikings have Mann's. I have been there and will again, say "CATS are useless". I had a chance to have purchased my current 94 with Cats, but choose the gassers instead. Again, just an opinion, from a diesel mechanic, who has been there and never wants to go back again.

Points taken Tony but I think you can say most of the above about every brand. In my experience, I can't say that any one brand has a worse failure rate than the others. The only mysterious catastrophic failure I've run into was on a Yanmar, still left wondering about that one. As for regular maintenance, it depends on what we're talking about. I wouldn't count fluid changes for example but mechanical adjustments or major component changes are a different story and I'm not talking about the regular peripherals like impellers, belts, filters, etc. Let's face it, every brand has it's pros and cons, none are a perfect build mechanically. One must also consider price points, are there better, of course, but one must weigh everything when considering dishing out extra cash for pricier brands going into a boat. The market dictates that one. I guess it hinges on one's tolerance level when it comes to maintenance and past experiences dealing with repairs and the OEM for comebacks and warranties. I liken it to sterndrives; none are a perfect build as they all have pros and cons. The best drive would be a combination of all the pros in each brand. While that would be the best drive, I suspect there are those that would still take issue with some aspect of the design based on their own experiences. Personally I think CATS are work horses. Do I wish some changes were made? of course, but we can say that about every brand.

I cannot compare as I only know my D6 series Volvos when it comes to diesels.

So far I think they are great.

Impeller change is a piece of cake as well as fuel filters and oil filters. Oil filters are actually self draining so when you remove them, they are empty. Nice design as there is actually a drip bowl and drain hole if there were a drop of oil or 2 that you spill. D series are the only marine diesels with hydraulic lifters so you never need to adjust the valves. Other cool feture it they are self draining so to speak so no winterization is required after haul out. I do not trust this and still run some pink stuff through the system. So far I am quite pleased with the overall setup.

Yes parts are spendy however a little searching goes a long way. Found out Mann makes both the primary and bypass oil filters and instead of $45 each the come to $12 and $17 for the exact same item except the exterior color. Volvo crankcase vent filter is $125, exact same Mann filter is $25.

So far I am quite pleased with the overall setup.

Good to know Hans, I have been using Volvo filters only - I'll check the Volvo numbers agains the Mann ones.

The valve adjustment on the TAMD units is scheduled for the 1000hr service. I am currently at 510 so a bit off for me yet. I do like the self draining filers on the D6 series, I am actually looking at a remote filter bank for my filters. Current setup has 2 filters on their side which is a PITA.

As for Hats and Viking, they are using their engines in their "low end" builds

Check your info Tony....

Cats are standard in EVERY Viking....MANNS are optional.

Cats are standard on EVERY Hattaras....other engines are optional.

Customers opt for the optional engines NOT because of a lack of quality, but because of HP and speed. On every optional engine in both the builders models there is a 500hp differential on between the standard CAT and the optioanal units. Viking cutomers want to get out to the canyons first, which means more HP required and therefore bigger engine option.

A 5 min tour around Yachtworld shows loads of 70+ Vikings and Hatts with CATS.

Look at the history of the 3208 CAT diesel - touted by many on the Billfish circuit to be one of the best engines ever.

As Viper said, you cant paint a broad stroke over an entire brand.

Lyndon670 wrote:....the 3208 CAT .....one of the best engines ever.....

+1

Just my opinion, but ALL diesel parts are expensive. I think the issues arise cause you have to periodically clean out anything that contacts sea water, which includes engine coolers (heat exchangers) aftercoolers or intercoolers, and trans oil coolers. Computer controls make engines run cleaner and better, but I think it is the cooling issues that cause problems the most, regardless of engine brand. FYI, I have Cat 3208 TA's and all services have involved cooling issues because of salt water usage.