D2 55 Volvo Penta problems, please help!

[tunkas]

I'm having problems with starting my D2 55.
It seems like there is a lot of resistance while starting the motor, like something is interfering... battery is fully charged, oil recently changed... It is extremely hard to turn the engine manually (over belt), not sure is this is normal?
Eventually I was able to start the engine but it takes 2-3 minutes until it starts working normally, without somewhat strange sounds...
Is it possible that some water was able to penetrate in the engine and that some sort of rust or damage happened inside?

It's worth noting that some water was found in the carter when old oil was pumped out, not sure how it could get there and could this be the reason for engine problems? What and how to check for this issue?

Thank you for your help and advice - it's most appreciated!!

 

[volvopaul]

I'm having problems with starting my D2 55.
It seems like there is a lot of resistance while starting the motor, like something is interfering... battery is fully charged, oil recently changed... It is extremely hard to turn the engine manually (over belt), not sure is this is normal?
Eventually I was able to start the engine but it takes 2-3 minutes until it starts working normally, without somewhat strange sounds...
Is it possible that some water was able to penetrate in the engine and that some sort of rust or damage happened inside?

It's worth noting that some water was found in the carter when old oil was pumped out, not sure how it could get there and could this be the reason for engine problems? What and how to check for this issue?

Thank you for your help and advice - it's most appreciated!!

Sounds like it's suffered an hydraulic lock and you have a bent con rod

 

[tunkas]

Sounds like it's suffered an hydraulic lock and you have a bent con rod

@volvopaul thanks for answering!!
So I definitely need to open up engine and make this right?
Any other advice what else should be done?

Anyone else care to share their point of view?

 

[rbcoomer]

Diesel engines don't crank as easily as petrols by hand due to higher compression so depends what you are comparing to, but the fact there was water would be a major cause for concern for me. If the oil wasn't emulsified then the water probably hadn't been there long, but even a short time is bad news for corrosion. The slow cranking could be low voltage at starter - either poor battery or poor wiring etc, but given that you say battery is charged/good this seems unlikely and unless prolonged cranking with a low battery has damaged cables, wiring would seem unlikely too as it would likely have been a progressive effect. If it's happened suddenly, then I'd say VP is right and some sort of water ingress/hydro lock - supported by the strange noises and 2-3 minutes to run 'right'. It still won't be 'right', perhaps just a bit quieter when warm - I can't imagine it will provide much power and running it isn't going to help the ultimate bill to fix, so I think probably wiser not to! If you've ever had an old diesel car with glow plugs, you'll know that even one not working makes it harder to start - thus damage/loss of compression in even one cylinder (e.g. bent valve etc) will have similar/worse effect but will also run poorly as that cylinder isn't providing any power...

 

[QBhoy]

Hi
Hard to tell without seeing and hearing, but as mentioned, it sure sounds like hydraulic lock. This could be as a result of many things. Water leaking from head or cooling jackets etc would be the worst case. The best case is that it's coming from the fuel system. This is probably unlikely though and would need to be fairly serious. That being the case, it's unlikely to run, unless it was only on one of two cylinders (or 2 of 3, can't remember how many that engine has). Be worth checking the pre filters and tank (if possible) for water. Water in the fuel mechanical fuel pump would make a racket of a noise, as these are normally lubricated by the fuel it's self.
If you are feeling brave technical, the next time it is slow or hard to turn over, stop, pop the injectors out and turn it over. If water pumps out, you have a water ingress problem and it's defo hyd locking.
Either way, it's not a good thing. This would easily bend a rod. Water can't be compressed, as we know. It's will either lock the engine or bend something. Something has to give !

 

[QBhoy]

If you have cooling water exiting out the exhaust system, this might be a place to look too. Anywhere there is an engine (internals) and water interface could be suspected. It may be running into the the exhaust system (through corrosion etc) and back through the valves and into cylinders.
Water in the oil is a sure sign of water ingress.....obviously.

 

[Portofino]

You have not said what boat it's in ,or the age ?
If the exhaust riser is poorly installed so that at rest the height of the standing water ( from the spray elbow ) is too high ,ie only a few cm from the exhaust valve then it's possible for water to drain back into a cylinder via an open valve ,if the boat is rocked about or tilted ,by wind or lift out ?

The cylinder fills up say a cup fill and over time it seaps through the 3 rings into the bottom 1/2 .Thats what you saw when you changed the oil .Its not been mixed ,so probably not emulsified .
How ever any remaining water "up top " in the cylinder or more added by further adverse boat movement will as said cause cylinder lock to a degree or two .
Unlike gases water does not compress ,so a piece of metal will bend or # ,usually the con rod .

What make ,modal and age of the boat ?
Can you think if it's been rocked about ,tilted ,or lifted swinging about recently ?

I Allways leave the seacock(s) open @ lifts --- to basically allow it to drain .

 

[QBhoy]

Just beat you to it portofino. Great minds and all that. Haha.

 

[tunkas]

Diesel engines don't crank as easily as petrols by hand due to higher compression so depends what you are comparing to, but the fact there was water would be a major cause for concern for me. If the oil wasn't emulsified then the water probably hadn't been there long, but even a short time is bad news for corrosion. The slow cranking could be low voltage at starter - either poor battery or poor wiring etc, but given that you say battery is charged/good this seems unlikely and unless prolonged cranking with a low battery has damaged cables, wiring would seem unlikely too as it would likely have been a progressive effect. If it's happened suddenly, then I'd say VP is right and some sort of water ingress/hydro lock - supported by the strange noises and 2-3 minutes to run 'right'. It still won't be 'right', perhaps just a bit quieter when warm - I can't imagine it will provide much power and running it isn't going to help the ultimate bill to fix, so I think probably wiser not to! If you've ever had an old diesel car with glow plugs, you'll know that even one not working makes it harder to start - thus damage/loss of compression in even one cylinder (e.g. bent valve etc) will have similar/worse effect but will also run poorly as that cylinder isn't providing any power...

Water was not emulsified, but is as you say a concern point...
I must correct myself regarding the noises (it's my father that is operating the boat, so I understood him wrongly) - they last just for a couple of first seconds after starting the motor, and are more likely connected with prolonged cranking attempts that put too much fuel into engine... Also, after the engine starts it works steadily and with normal usual power...
Having all that in mind it might be that poor wiring is what is the problem here?

 

[tunkas]

Boat is 12 years old, ELAN Fisherline 19ft

Boat wasnt rocked or turned, although it was out during the summer to do the regular outside maintenance.
Also, propeler was changed and some water leackage happened alongside axle, due to poor fitting. This was dealed with recently, just before water was noticed in the drained oil.

So what to do? Oil was changed completely after that, should it be donbe again? Should the engine be removed and opened to check for additional water somewhere inside?

Thanks to everyone on your avdices and expertise, it's muvch appreciated!!

 

[QBhoy]

Tunkas
You have kind of lost me, I'm afraid.
Are you saying the propeller was changed then the boat started taking on water ? I'm not sure how that would happen. Do you mean the propeller shaft was changed and started leaking ?
What oil had water in it ? Was it the engine oil ? If this was caused by the boat taking on water through the shaft gland....it must have been a pretty serious amount of water, to get into the engine ?
If this is the case, there will surely be water pretty much everywhere else. Fuel tanks and systems etc possibly ?
Really need to understand exactly what we are talking about. Otherwise, it's just guessing at best.
Thanks

 

[rbcoomer]

I think this is a shaft drive boat by the sound of it but also can't see how water would get from shaft to engine? Unrelated I suspect - taking on water (into bilge) presumably due to failed shaft seal as QBhoy says. Was the boat partially submerged?

If it's been submerged, battery cables will have got wet with salt water and corroded - that would definitely result in poor cranking and probably very hot cables! Replace them before they catch fire if that's the case. Lots of voltage drop in cable will also cause more current through starter and greatly shorten it's life!