4.3 V6

[stlouisramsfan]

I just went over 600 hours on my 1996, how many should I expect to get out of it? How many hours does yours have? thanks!

[AlexisandChad]

The 4.3 is a solid little motor.  Of course it all depends on your maintenance cycle and how well you take care of it.  You can have a brand new motor and blow it up just as easily as having an older motor and taking care of it and never have issues. 
I would say that you should have someone take a real good look at it and maybe test the compression.  Got a friend who has a 1998 chapperal that has over 900 hours on his and he has yet to have issues.  But he is quite anal when it comes to maintenance.  My .02

[kleake]

I have a 97 182 with the 4.3.  Engine runs great with the exception that it doesn't like to turn off sometimes,,,,,, guess it doesn't want to quit playing.    I don't have an hour meter so I really don't know, but the previous owner said it likely had 5000 hours on it as they used it alot.  He was obviously exaggerating, but it doesn't use any oil and will likely keep ticking for quite some time.

[siebt]

It is not a direct correlation, but if you think of it like a car:  600 hrs @ 60 mph = 36,000 miles.
The 4.3 is a sawed-off small block 350 and there are many 200,000 mile engines going strong with 5,000 to 5,000 hours on them.  My 5.3 liter 'burb has almost 4,000 hrs on it and I will drive it anywhere; fully loaded and pulling our boat or camper.

Again, not a direct comparison but I would expect most boaters cruise around at approx. 3,000 to 3,500 rpm in a small run about which is quite an easy pace for that engine.

The outdrive, I feel, is more at question than the engine.  I have no idea how many hours a well maintained outdrive will go.  I know my last B3 had over 400 and was a bit loose in the steering, but had no other issues at all.

[siebt]

By the way, did you ever build a bow filler cushion?

[Oldntired]

A car engine spends most of its time a low output power or none as it cruises on the highway.  A boat engine is under stressful power outpiut all the time, never slacks off so dont expect the same hours on a boat that a car engine gets.  Just keep an eye on the oil pressure and when that drops or the engine starts to burn oil or overheat, then you need to look into it.  Until, enjoy....