Premiumpowertrain's Weblog

What is the difference between a marine engine and a car engine?

premiumpowertrain — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:08:23 +0000

This time of year, this is one of the most popular questions I receive. Many people think that a marine engine is identical to either a car or truck engine, and they will work in both situations. I will be the first, but probably not the last, to tell you that is completely incorrect!

The parts list is the main difference between a marine engine and car engine. The first is the camshaft. The cam profile is set up completely different because of the torque curve needed in a marine environment. Marine engines are designed to run at a lower RPM range where as in a car the RPM range is higher. Think of it this way… putting an automotive engine in your boat would be like running your car at 6000 RPMS for 3 hours strait. They are not designed to handle full throttle for an extended period of time! A marine engine is specially machined to displace the excessive heat that it produces.

Next up are the freeze plugs. In a marine engine, quality engine companies will always use a brass freeze plug. Brass is an excellent material to use in a marine application because of its corrosion inhibiting qualities. Another part that is upgraded in marine engines is the gaskets. In the marine engines that www.premiumpowertrain.com has to offer, we use a gasket with a stainless steel core and Kevlar coating! Yes KEVLAR!

The last difference that I am going to talk about today is how marine engines have two different rotations. The most common is standard rotation (counter-clockwise flywheel rotation), but some engines also have a reverse rotation (clockwise flywheel rotation). The best way to determine the rotation of your engine is to look at the flywheel rotation from the flywheel end of the engine looking forward to the pulley end. Make sure that you are not determining the rotation of your engine by just looking at the propeller.

There are many more differences we could list, but I think I am going to stop there for now. If you have any questions, please leave it in the comments or give us a call at 1-888-520-4666. So next time you are in need of a new engine for your boat, make sure you only go with marine grade engines!

Crate Engine Buyer’s Guide

premiumpowertrain — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:18:12 +0000

Have you been looking for a crate engine, but realized that with all of the different choices on the market you find yourself overwhelmed? If so, you are not alone! We have come up with some common questions that you should be asking to make sure you are getting the most out of your investment…

Q: Is the engine balanced?

A: The reason you want to ask this questions is because balancing will guarantee a smooth running and durable performance engine. It will insure that you have a silky smooth power over the entire RPM range!

Q: Is the engine dyno tested? If so, do I get proof of the numbers?

A: Dyno testing is the ultimate test that any engine can go through! It is essentially a guarantee that your engine is ready to run, with real-world horsepower numbers. While dyno testing, most of the timing and fuel adjustments have been made for you so you will have the trouble free start up that you are looking for when purchasing a high performance crate engine. Also, make sure to get a dyno graph so you can prove that your new work horse makes the power that you were promised it would!

Q: What is the difference between a longblock and a drop in?

A: A longblock usually contains the block, cylinder heads, crank, cam and all internals. Sometimes they can be supplied with the oil pan, valve covers and timing cover. A drop in is just that… drop in and go! They usually come with fuel system, intake, ignition – even the pulley system if you would like! Make sure when ordering an engine you find out exactly what comes with the engine being purchased, and what additional parts you will need to upgrade or replace.

Q: Is there a warranty for the engine?

A: Normally the answer to this question are for race engines not to be supplied with a warranty, but street engines usually do (or should!). Make sure you find out the mileage allowed / time frame and if it covers parts and labor for your mechanic to fix any problems. No one wants to think about the bad things that could happen when buying a new crate engine, you should should always cover your bases.

Feel free to give us a call or check out what we have in our crate engine line at www.premiumpowertrain.com!

What is the difference between remanufactured engines and rebuilt engines?

premiumpowertrain — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:49:00 +0000

When people are looking for a replacement engine for their car, truck or boat, they normally assume that rebuilt engines and remanufactured engines are the same. Did you know there is a difference?

A remanufactured engine starts with a bare engine block. Most of the time it is cleaned in a shot blaster first to remove all of the dirt, oil and grime. Then the block is remachined and cleaned again. Next up is the replacement of all internal moving parts. Replacing old parts with new parts is a critical step in the remanufacturing process. Next up in the process should be the quality testing, which usually includes spin and pressure testing- sometimes even dyno testing! This is also where all of the engine tolerances should be checked to make sure that your engine meets all of the original factory specifications. Since all of this care and precaution is put into these engines, usually the warranty is excellent – it may even be comparable to what the vehicle had when it was purchased new!

When an engine is rebuilt, and not completely remanufactured, what the technician does is basically fix what is broken. The moving parts may or may not be replaced, depending on the condition of the parts. Another major difference is the warranty coverage. Rebuilt engines usually have a shorter warranty period / mileage allowance and don’t offer parts and labor coverage.

Basically, when you are shopping for a replacement engine, you should look at all of the benefits and disadvantages for yourself. Ask important questions – what is more important to me, price or peace of mind? If something happens to this engine am I covered? All of these things need to be considered when purchasing a replacement engine! If you have any questions, or would like to price an engine feel free to check out our site at www.premiumpowertrain.com