How Does it RUN? Pt 2: Perkins Diesel maintenance on our Great loop BOAT!

If you own — or are thinking about owning — a Perkins 6.354 marine diesel, this one’s for you. In this video I give my honest opinion after working hands-on with this classic engine, while finishing the heavy (and much needed) maintenance on our starboard side motor. Let’s just say… I hit a few frustration points along the way. Perkins definitely likes their non-standard fittings, and finding parts that aren’t sitting on a local shelf can test your patience fast. I talk about the reality of sourcing parts, what to expect, and whether these engines are worth the headache. Here’s what we tackle in this episode: 🔧 Deep clean and reinstall the “manicooler” (main heat exchanger) 🔧 Install a brand new sea water pump 🔧 Reinstall the valve cover and miscellaneous parts needed to finally fire up this old diesel 🔧 My honest thoughts on owning and maintaining a Perkins 6.354 🔧 A cheap “how-to” trick for cleaning a badly stained bottom on a trailered boat If you’re running older mechanical diesels, restoring a trawler, or just love keeping classic engines alive, this video shows the real side of boat ownership — frustration and all. Drop your experience with Perkins engines in the comments 👇 Are they bulletproof legends… or parts-hunting nightmares? #PerkinsDiesel #MarineDiesel #BoatMaintenance #TrawlerLife #ProjectBoat #DIYBoat #BoatRepair