Are Volvo Penta in the real world

[Nauti Fox]

I'm also in the lift the floor before every trip and do the checks and have a glance around group. I think it stems from my marine engineering background, also always did full walkrounds in my flying days.
Personally, I don't think it's over the top, but we all have our own regimes we feel comfortable with.

 

[Bigplumbs]

Not implying that it’s at all correct of course but in my marina in Spain I’m surrounded by dozens of motor boats.
I’ve never seen anyone do a oil dip before they set off.

I suspect that is the truth for many if only they would admit it

 

[rubberduck]

When you say what maintenance do I do...… Do you mean what do I personally do with my own hands or what do I pay to have done... The reason I ask this is because I believe there is a big difference.


Firstly you are incorrect in your assumption that I do very little and that I cut corners, When you say cheapest materials are you implying that inexpensive means that they are poor. If people pay it done and just look at bits of paper saying what has been done do they actually know what was done using what materials and parts.


But to answer your question across my 8 or so boats. I personally:

On my outboards (mainly 2 strokes kept out of the water):

Change the gear box oil.
Change the petrol filters.
Change the impellors. and ensure a free flow of cooing water
Spray the various engine parts with WD40 or similar
Ensure that the fuel pipes are free from damage
Grease the various grease points
Change the water separating filter
Generally clean them and paint etc where any corrosion might be happening.
Inspect and change the anodes as necessary.

On my Inboards I:

Change the main engine oil
Change the impellors
On the legs change the gearbox oil
Change the bellows
Change the anodes
Change the belts
Change the spark plugs on my Petrol in board
Keep an eye on the steering and other oils
Keep the anti freeze topped up
Winterize as necessary
Change any air filters
Check and empty any raw water filters
Antifoul the hull and leg as necessary
Keep any eye on and test batteries
And other stuff I cant think of off the top of my head right now

I also have about 7 - 8 trailers that also need maintenance.

As for the intervivals I do these things when from experience and other factors I feel it is necessary.

What I don't do is follow some timescale which is based on a random period of time called a year or bow to what is often OCD or similar.


Does that answer any of the questions you asked

I Have answered your question so perhaps you will answer one of mine:
Tell me do you do your own maintenance or pay others to do it out of interest...………. Much easier to pay others if you have the cash and also much easier to preach

Mainly pay very carefully chosen others, I own many vehicles of various size in my business, over 200 anyway, which I started from scratch with one van, so have learnt enough to check things are done properly.
My health at the moment doesn't permit much in the way of engine rooms, & I make more sitting behind a desk than I would save if I did choose to do it myself.
Now answer me a question, if you do all the maintenance you say, why start the thread in the 1st place, are you a trainee TROLL ??

 

[nicho]

God BP don't get into flying, the pre-flight checklist will blow your mind in comparison lol.

Amen to that! And followed religeously.

 

[nicho]

Isn’t it. In aircraft engineering (my old profession) this very subject was subject to much debate.

Many years ag a Lockheed TriStar suffered a triple engine failure due to incorrect maintenance leading to all three engines running out of oil on the same post maintenance

Same happened a number of years ago to a British Midland 737, full to the gunnels, East Mids to Tenerife. Climbing out, both engines lost oil pressure after losing all their content. Dead sticked into Luton safely. My mate was CFI and had to try to defend them in court. Guilty finding, with massive fine, and a complete overhaul of some service procedures (I think the oil filler caps were not tightened) -same guy on both engines.

 

[Momac]

I’ve never seen anyone do a oil dip before they set off.

Perhaps they checked the engine bay the evening before ? That's what I do , therefore don't need to lift the hatch immediately before travelling.

 

[Bigplumbs]

Mainly pay very carefully chosen others, I own many vehicles of various size in my business, over 200 anyway, which I started from scratch with one van, so have learnt enough to check things are done properly.
My health at the moment doesn't permit much in the way of engine rooms, & I make more sitting behind a desk than I would save if I did choose to do it myself.
Now answer me a question, if you do all the maintenance you say, why start the thread in the 1st place, are you a trainee TROLL ??

It is about the 10th man and teasing out peoples views

It is also interesting the assumptions people make and often get wrong

You read the thread or part of it so must have been of some interest to you.

I also can make more sitting at a desk or doing other things. but that does not mean that is what I choose to do. Life aint all about the money

Do you agree that paying it done if you have wads makes it very easy to get it all done by others every year with little effort from yourself which in turn makes it easy to preach

I don't think accusing people of being a troll is particularly nice...… I suspect you can do better

 

[Bigplumbs]

Same happened a number of years ago to a British Midland 737, full to the gunnels, East Mids to Tenerife. Climbing out, both engines lost oil pressure after losing all their content. Dead sticked into Luton safely. My mate was CFI and had to try to defend them in court. Guilty finding, with massive fine, and a complete overhaul of some service procedures (I think the oil filler caps were not tightened) -same guy on both engines.

So if it aint broke don't fix/brake it

 

[rubberduck]

It is about the 10th man and teasing out peoples views

It is also interesting the assumptions people make and often get wrong

You read the thread or part of it so must have been of some interest to you.

I also can make more sitting at a desk or doing other things. but that does not mean that is what I choose to do. Life aint all about the money

Do you agree that paying it done if you have wads makes it very easy to get it all done by others every year with little effort from yourself which in turn makes it easy to preach

I don't think accusing people of being a troll is particularly nice...… I suspect you can do better

When it comes to checks which is what this thread is about, which are done by owners, not mechanics, no I wouldn't agree. No one is preaching, but several have questioned your posts, not just me. That leads me to think you are on the wind up (hence the word troll) or alternatively you need to get out more.

 

[stelican]

When you say what maintenance do I do...… Do you mean what do I personally do with my own hands or what do I pay to have done... The reason I ask this is because I believe there is a big difference.


Firstly you are incorrect in your assumption that I do very little and that I cut corners, When you say cheapest materials are you implying that inexpensive means that they are poor. If people pay it done and just look at bits of paper saying what has been done do they actually know what was done using what materials and parts.


But to answer your question across my 8 or so boats. I personally:

On my outboards (mainly 2 strokes kept out of the water):

Change the gear box oil.
Change the petrol filters.
Change the impellors. and ensure a free flow of cooing water
Spray the various engine parts with WD40 or similar
Ensure that the fuel pipes are free from damage
Grease the various grease points
Change the water separating filter
Generally clean them and paint etc where any corrosion might be happening.
Inspect and change the anodes as necessary.

On my Inboards I:

Change the main engine oil
Change the impellors
On the legs change the gearbox oil
Change the bellows
Change the anodes
Change the belts
Change the spark plugs on my Petrol in board
Keep an eye on the steering and other oils
Keep the anti freeze topped up
Winterize as necessary
Change any air filters
Check and empty any raw water filters
Antifoul the hull and leg as necessary
Keep any eye on and test batteries
And other stuff I cant think of off the top of my head right now

I also have about 7 - 8 trailers that also need maintenance.

As for the intervivals I do these things when from experience and other factors I feel it is necessary.

What I don't do is follow some timescale which is based on a random period of time called a year or bow to what is often OCD or similar.


Does that answer any of the questions you asked

I Have answered your question so perhaps you will answer one of mine:
Tell me do you do your own maintenance or pay others to do it out of interest...………. Much easier to pay others if you have the cash and also much easier to preach

Have a word with volvopaul he might give you a job.

 

[tico]

Gobsmacked..to do the checks means rolling up the cockpit carpet, lift off 3 cushions and place in the front of the cockpit, move outboard and table , lift 2 seat bases before lifting engine hatch. But with practice it only took 5 mins. As far as im concerned, well worth it. Can't believe anyone would not bother.

 

[Momac]

Gobsmacked..to do the checks means rolling up the cockpit carpet, lift off 3 cushions and place in the front of the cockpit, move outboard and table , lift 2 seat bases before lifting engine hatch. But with practice it only took 5 mins. As far as im concerned, well worth it. Can't believe anyone would not bother.

I expect there are many boats that require some cushions etc to be moved to allow engine access. I had a S23 and must say the procedure required for engine bay access was a nuisance due to restricted space on the S23. However I never skimped on engine bay checks - it is all the more important when there is only the one engine. Once the hatch was up there was no problem for regular checks although an expanding waistline would be restrictive for some tasks.

S23 engine bay

 

[[70521]]

This leaves me thinking are they in the real world and can we believe most of their maintenance advice

It's quite simple. That is what the manufacturer recommends, it is up to you to follow it or not. If you don't it is at your risk.

 

[pks1702]

But you don't know what my regime is...….. You should not assume that because a person seeks to generate a discussion or argue an opposing view at a particular time in order to gauge views...... that they hold one particular view over another.

I have always believed that the 10th Man theory is very important



We need the

Oh of course, right, gotcha, I agree you prove the 10th man theory, no doubt.

 

[Anders_P42]

Interesting that the problem you had which could have been worse was caused by the service work ! presumably carried out to prevent problems

Yes one of the filters wasn’t tightened properly, work carried out by Volvo agent. They were quick to come back to rectify and left it well cleaned up. Lucky I checked or they would be picking up cost for new motor.

The oil had pooled against a stringer at the front end of engine. I always check there for leaks before setting off now.

 

[petem]

I always check oil, coolant, etc either after a run or before one. IMO, more importantly is a visual inspection for oil leaks, water where it shouldn't be, belt dust, etc.

 

[MapisM]

Lucky I checked or they would be picking up cost for new motor.

Well, hopefully an oil pressure alarm would have gone off before wrecking the engine, anyway...

 

[MapisM]

S23 engine bay

One thing that I always found interesting here in the asylum is that often, even in the most useless threads, there are posts worth reading/watching.
In this context, your pic is a perfect example of what I mean. Respect! :encouragement:

 

[Anders_P42]

Well, hopefully an oil pressure alarm would have gone off before wrecking the engine, anyway...

My car engine tuner calls them dead engine alarms. I’m not sure if same would apply with slower rpm marine diesels, still at 2000rpm its 33 revs per second which is still going some if there’s no oil pressure.

 

[rosssavage]

Hydraulic tappets are a good early warning system... had a BMW X5 that spung an oil leak. Started the car in my local supermarket car park and I could hear tappet noise. No oil px warning.

Nearly drove off but thought it sounded odd, so popped the bonnet, checked the dipstick and found no reading.

I happen to carry a spare 2l of oil in the boot (along with jump leads, bulbs and tow rope) - put that in, still nothing on the dipstick.

Started the engine and the tappets were now quiet. Drove it home (less than 2 miles) and put another 3 litres in (it has 6l capacity) so I must have been down to 1 litre when the tappets got noisy....

No lasting damage luckily, but your mechanic is right - by the time the light comes on, it’s game over.