Excaliber 330 - 2 questions

[vanhanbr]

Sorry if this has been asked before.

1) What is the easiest (cheapest) way to read the hours off the boat?

2) Why are some engine covers red and some silver, what am I missing?

Thanks

[core-rider]

1) Read the hour meter and assume it's correct... Find someone with a scan tool or go to the dealer and have them read the hours off the ECM. That is the most accurate and you can see how many hours it ran at a given RPM range.

2) I think that was more just aesthetics. I don't think there is anything different internally about the Excalibur through the years until they changed the ECM programming that gave it 343HP instead of 330HP. I think they just decided to use red paint a few years on the cover.

[ScooterMcgavin]

I have a question about the drain plugs on the Excalibur engine.. Is it true there are five and are they for water?
If so how often should you drain them? Thanks I'm new to this engine.

[core-rider]

They are to drain the water from the block, heads, risers, and heat exchanger for winterization purposes. They don't need to be removed for regular maintenance.

There is a plug on either side of the engine block near the engine mounts. One of them will be the anti-knock sensor. A plug at the end of each exhaust riser, one small plug in the heat exchanger for the transmission oil cooler, and one small plug in the engine water pump. There are also a few hoses you should disconnect and drain water from them as well. More if you have a heater or wash down shower.

The manual should show and explain all of these plugs and hoses. If you don't have a manual there's PDFs here on PN in he wiring and manuals section.


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[ScooterMcgavin]

Thanks Jason that's good to know and I'll download the manual.

[vanhanbr]

Thanks, can I use a cheapo scan tool from auto zone or do I need something more marine specific. I'm in the market for a boat in the 2000+ age range and was hoping to buy a tool to bring with me to verify hours. I hate to take someone's word for it with all those bad teleflex gauges floating around. I have gt40 in my current boat, trying to bring myself up to speed on this Chevy motor.

[core-rider]

Only the Diacom scan tool can be used, and only GM based engines will give you engine run hours via the ECM. You really only have to worry about the gauges in the early 2000 boats. 2003 - present used better gauges and I haven't heard as much uncertainty with them. If you're looking for GM based engine Nautiques than you should be safe as they weren't installed heavily until 2003 when PCM no longer used the GT-40. You can sometimes find a 2002 with the Excalibur engine though.

[vanhanbr]

Thanks for all the good info.