Inaccurate hour meter.

***z275st*** · 02-13-2008, 09:18 PM

Has anyone else had an hour meter they found to be inaccurate?
During the summers of “06” and “07” it seemed the hour meter was adding more time than I felt the engine had run. I had never put a stopwatch to it so I thought it was probably just me not wanting the hours to add up. Last fall I added a SmartCraft SC1000 system monitor that plugs into the engine ECM. The hour meter shows 339 hrs. and the SC1000 reads 251 hrs. That is a substantial difference. I don’t know where the hour meter is picking up the extra time, it doesn’t move while anchored and listening to the radio. I guess any chronometer can gain or loose time. I thought I would post this so that if anyone felt their hour meter may be adding to fast they might be right! On your next mechanic visit you might want them to check ECM engine hours.

***ShabahZ250*** · 02-13-2008, 10:18 PM

Wow, that's a pretty incredible find! Sure makes me wonder now... But what's strange, my hour meter clicks away when the boat's anchored and turned on!

Keep monitoring this during boating season, and see if the discrepancy continues!!

Shame they don't make that system for my engine...

***z275st*** · 02-13-2008, 10:30 PM

Should only add hours while the engine is running! You might call your local mercuiser guy and see if he can check hours on your engine.

Z275 · 02-20-2008, 05:29 PM

My Z275 has the same issue with the hour meter. It shows 680 hours now :-) It also runs with the ignition on and the engine off and to make matters worse the radio only works when the ignition is on so it's been racking up lots of hours just being anchored. I'm fixing the radio issue by putting it on an accessory switch but not sure what to do with the hour meter. It seems to be 30-40% fast.

***z275st*** · 02-21-2008, 09:43 PM

Z275,

If you are interested in the Smart Craft let me know. I can look what part #s I used and send pics. It cost me around $250 bucks. It is very accurate on fuel usage as opposed to using fuel gauge. With GPH and GPS speed I can calculate MPH. I also think I will unplug my hour meter until engine hrs catch up to it.