Are Volvo Penta in the real world

Anders_P42 said:
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.
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I can see why a car engine tuner can be skeptic about the usefulness of such alarms, but I would think that big diesels really are in a different league.
After all, with the typical intermittent usage of pleasure boats, I suspect that during their lifespan these engines run completely dry (upon cold start) for much longer than it would take to turn them off after a pressure alarm goes off.
And for most engine components, it still takes a while before they are starved of oil, after the pressure drop is sensed by a properly placed bulb.
Anyway, I'm just thinking out loud, and I'd be curious to hear the view of our resident diesel engines experts.
 
MapisM said:
Well, hopefully an oil pressure alarm would have gone off before wrecking the engine, anyway...
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Most oil pressure alarms come on to late and generally this is below 5 PSI, the damage is already done then unless an aftermarket alarm is fitted and set at a higher oil pressure, unless you meant a low oil level alarm.
 
BMWs, my favourite topic...

got an X3, cylhead gasket gone, drinking oil and after a while water, lots of both.
never bother checking dipsticks or anything, got some lovely warning lights on the dash, when the oil level one is on, you need a lt of oil (give or take, don't even bother measuring, just dump it in and move on), same with coolant, awful thing. Cannot imagine the X5 not to have such warning lights tbh.

and to be on topic, no I never bother checking dipstick and coolant level on my engines, well once at the start of the season after servicing. But I do visit the e/r regularly to check for leaks (of any type) dust from belts (haven't changed any over the last 3-4yrs) and anything looking odd.

V.
 
Something like a not tight enough filter I think will leak out oil at a none catastrophic rate .
If you have a oil pressure guage ( I do on the MAN powered boat and there’s one on the Ferrari ) then you might spot it .In fact you are always at start up starring at the oilP and oil temp guages on the F car waiting for them before “ letting rip “

I tend to agree even with big marine diesels it’s basically game over once that oil film is lost under the pistons .Gets very hot under there and the oil cools as well as lubes

All depends on the sensitivity and headroom of the senors for oil P , and wether when cruising you are alert enough to spot the pressure dropping ,to act in time ?
On the MANs the MMDS has an “outside parameters “ warning if something moves out .A audible alarm and the screen displays the “ fault “ It looks at oil temp as well as P fwiw ?

For example if the boats been stood for a few weeks I often get “ low gearbox oil pressure “ alarm .
I do do the daily checks btw as ER access is easy and aside it’s my man cave :) I like it in there !
So I know there’s some in as I’ve just dipped the gearboxes .They hold about 4 L .
What it will be is because it’s been stood the oil has drained to the bottom and the sensor will be relatively high probably in a oil cooler.As it’s just ticking over while we do the lines within a few mins it sensors a low Pressure.Once I click the sticks in Fwds then the P builds obviously to connect the discs and all is well it stops alarming but I,am left with a date and time retrieval of that code .Which I clear .
When we are using the boat it never happens , only after a prolonged lay up .

Interestingly the Bentley GT has a oil LEVEL facility, that usually comes on low oil .Since it takes about 12 L and there’s only 1cm between the marks I have seen that warning .That 1 cm is 1L
Interestingly that level sensor is via a ECU connected to a bonnet sensor in the bonnet realise catch .
The level sensor has to see a signal from the bonnet sensor before the ECU will extinguish the oil level light after a top up .If it doesn’t despite the dipstick being right after a top up the “ low oil “ light stays on because it incorrectly thinks you have not opened the bonnet .
Oh there’s more , the dip stick and oil filler cap need to be hermetically sealed when replaced , any air leak and a vacuum sensor picks that up and throws a CEL check engine light , you then read the codes using a OBI reader and correct the “ leak “ and clear them .

So if you are not careful an innocent Sunday morning of just dipping the oil level can leave you with a dash board with more lights on than a Christmas tree :)
 
Troll some said, Cant be bothered to read it others said, Should I even be on this forum others intimated.

2294 views and 63 replies in less than 24 hours., Well perhaps someone might learn something from the discussions the thread started.


Still never mind it is Monday now off to do some work on my boats
 
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Bigplumbs said:
Well perhaps someone might learn something from the discussions the thread started.
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Well, let's see:
did you learn that VP recommendations are actually normal, and very similar to what you would find in the manual of any other boat engine brand?
And that it's entirely up to you to follow them or not?
Above all, did you learn that this is pretty much stating the obvious?
 
MapisM said:
After all, with the typical intermittent usage of pleasure boats, I suspect that during their lifespan these engines run completely dry (upon cold start) for much longer than it would take to turn them off after a pressure alarm goes off.
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I suppose there's a fair difference between a cold engine starting and running at 800rpm under no load for the couple of seconds it takes for the oil to circulate, and a hot engine running at 2,800rpm under significant load being starved of oil long enough for the alarm to sound and then for the skipper to realise what it is and react appropriately to it.
 
Bigplumbs said:
Troll some said, Cant be bothered to read it others said, Should I even be on this forum others intimated.

2294 views and 63 replies in less than 24 hours., Well perhaps someone might learn something from the discussions the thread started.


Still never mind it is Monday now off to do some work on my boats
Click to expand...

So notoriety is your goal, attention seeking, need to get out more :p
 
Bigplumbs said:
Troll some said, Cant be bothered to read it others said, Should I even be on this forum others intimated.

2294 views and 63 replies in less than 24 hours., Well perhaps someone might learn something from the discussions the thread started.


Still never mind it is Monday now off to do some work on my boats
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Feel free to be the 10th man but if you are going to post on this basis why don't you state that in the title so we all know. I find this type a post a windup but given you have so many boats to manage I can see your frustration to do all the advisory maintenance.
I'll stick to one boat but please don't make out if you pay an engineer then there is something wrong with this which you often seem to do citing money.
I have various skills but to consider servicing my two KADs once a year and then find I have done something wrong which ends up with breakdown out at sea or actual mechanic damage and the effect this could have (esp with young family on board) is not something I am prepared to do.

When I had a Fairline Sprint I lifted the hatch EVERY time moving the seats - wasn't that much hassle. With current boat I get in the engine bay every time and do the various checks but admittedly not always removing the oil dipstick as in 3 years its never moved but I do check for leaks.

By interest what is your view on the 11th Man Theory ?

BT
 
MapisM said:
Well, let's see:
did you learn that VP recommendations are actually normal, and very similar to what you would find in the manual of any other boat engine brand?
And that it's entirely up to you to follow them or not?
Above all, did you learn that this is pretty much stating the obvious?
Click to expand...

Is that how you see it then...…. Did you read the thread
 
bluetooth said:
Feel free to be the 10th man but if you are going to post on this basis why don't you state that in the title so we all know. I find this type a post a windup but given you have so many boats to manage I can see your frustration to do all the advisory maintenance.
I'll stick to one boat but please don't make out if you pay an engineer then there is something wrong with this which you often seem to do citing money.
I have various skills but to consider servicing my two KADs once a year and then find I have done something wrong which ends up with breakdown out at sea or actual mechanic damage and the effect this could have (esp with young family on board) is not something I am prepared to do.

When I had a Fairline Sprint I lifted the hatch EVERY time moving the seats - wasn't that much hassle. With current boat I get in the engine bay every time and do the various checks but admittedly not always removing the oil dipstick as in 3 years its never moved but I do check for leaks.

By interest what is your view on the 11th Man Theory ?

BT
Click to expand...

11 is not necessary 10 is enough
 
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