D4 engine with rust

[jonsdl]

Hi all,
I’ve recently purchased a Sealine S38. With lockdown restrictions I was unable to be present for the survey but the engines were described to be in ‘very good cosmetic condition’ and nothing was flagged about any rust or corrosion. To my surprise upon delivery of the boat after having a good look around I found substantial rust to the lower part on one of the engines. I have yet to inspect the other as I was pressed for time. There is also now a build up of residue around the heat exchangers on both engines which wasn’t present on my brief viewing before purchase.

The residue on the bottom of the engine bay was also not present on my viewing but was present after survey, road transport and a 5 minute trip on the water from the crane to my berth.

I am presuming that the heat exchangers are blocked. On the final image you can also see a dribble of what I presume to be water.

Am I panicking about nothing or should this have really been noted and taken more seriously at survey?

Any advice and/or opinions would be appreciated.








Thanks.

 

[DavidJ]

Who on earth did the survey?
The obvious leak from the heat exchanger can probably be cured with a new seal and isn’t necessarily a sign of a blocked unit.
I would feel let down if I were you but IMHO nothing that can’t be sorted.
Await far more experienced than me!

 

[BruceK]

Last July I lightly spray painted my engines (single coat on top of previous coats) and in August dropped in after lockdown. I had neglected to tighten a raw water pump hose and discovered this problem on the way to my berth. Distance less than 500m. My engines looked worse than yours after a week before I could clean with fresh water. Unbelievable and cursed. I say this because the engines may well have been cosmetically in good condition. Salt is a real PITA. Wash down with fresh water, aply a rust inhibitor and re paint after sorting out the leak. Lockdown hasn't been kind on any boat. Expect a lot of similar stories.

 

[ICTM]

Charge air coolers need sorting - seems to need doing every 5 years or so. Costly as the gaskets/O rings are a stupid price........a quick google shows marine parts asking €600+ for the gasket kit.
If they are not sorted there is a good chance they will eventually take out the starter motor. It is a known weak point of these engines which any half decent surveyor should be aware of IMHO.

 

[Irish Rover]

I would definitely be sending those pics to the surveyor and asking for his thoughts/explanation and if his reply didn't satisfy me I'd be asking his professional body for their views.

 

[volvopaul]

Good god who did that survey , I’d be on the phone to him right now asking him for at least 6 k to sort the issues out .
Both intercoolers and heat exchanger are leaking salt water and need to be removed and stripped down , cleaned and re sealed .
I wouldn’t use the boat until this has been done .

Id be interested to hear who the surveyors was , I’d make a guess if it’s in the uk .

 

[volvopaul]

This is just a typical purchase where brokers say they can sell anything at the moment .
I would always advise anyone be present at survey , don’t just take reports without being there on the day .
Never buy a boat from a video link , this example sounds typical underhand sale as any broker knows the pitfalls of older D4/6 engines , I’ve so far this year carried out many D4/6 intercooler and heat exchanger removal strip and clean I’ve lost count .

 

[volvopaul]

Charge air coolers need sorting - seems to need doing every 5 years or so. Costly as the gaskets are a stupid price........a quick google shows marine parts asking €600+ for the gasket kit.
If they are not sorted there is a good chance they will eventually take out the starter motor. It is a known weak point of these engines which any half decent surveyor should be aware of IMHO.

And don’t forget to tighten the hose clip from the turbo ?

 

[Andy Bav]

We purchased a new to us V42 in Dec 2016 with D6 engines, and had them surveyed by Volvopaul, who picked up an identical problem. At least we proceeded with that purchase with our eyes wide open, and the bill of €2,800 (local Spanish VP agent) to strip and clean them, 18 months later, was expected.

Hope you get this sorted to your satisfaction, but looks like a bumpy road for you. Good luck.

 

[jonsdl]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I think a letter to the surveyor is in order. To be continued...

 

[Fishtigua]

If I remember correctly, early D4/6 cooler end caps were plastic and utterly rubbish. They should all be metal ones by now, thanks to Volvo warranty.

 

[spannerman]

I have seen this several times on these engines, if water drips onto the starter it can cause electrical faults in the main engine harness which is engine out to replace, I have had at least 6 engines out for this repair just because the leak wasn’t attended to.
Throw it back at the broker.

 

[volvopaul]

I have seen this several times on these engines, if water drips onto the starter it can cause electrical faults in the main engine harness which is engine out to replace, I have had at least 6 engines out for this repair just because the leak wasn’t attended to.
Throw it back at the broker.

Brokers are not liable for anything, they act for the seller not the buyer unless of course it’s a stock boat which can be very difficult to prove .
Id say the man who surveyed this boat knows abs nothing about this particular model of engine , doesn’t normally survey motor boats and really isn’t fit to carry out this kind of surveying .

 

[Seahope]

I would always advise anyone be present at survey , don’t just take reports without being there on the day .

Very good advice! I belatedly learnt that when it comes to boats and the service industry around them that trust has to be earned.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Following this one with interest. @jonsdl if you're a member of the RYA their legal team may be able to assist (or at least provide some options)

 

[AdeOlly]

We attended survey and sea trial on Friday of our own prospective purchase which has a single D4. We already knew the intercooler leaked which has led to a corroded starter motor and corroded port engine mounts from the engine check we had the local VP agent carry out beforehand. The engine's only done about 150 hours since since the cooler was replaced five years ago. The oil cooler is also weeping sea water. To put it all right the cost is nudging towards £4k. (Engine mounts £531 each!) We are back to negotiating table...

 

[Portofino]

Why not simply bypass a VP aged D4/6 or any VP power boat now parts are becoming an issue for that matter when considering a boat that’s not new or new ish ?
Start with hull shape then it’s engines ............then work the rest like flybridge grilles of what ever after those two ?
Compromise the add ons not the hull or machinery............it’s what I did .

Can’t say we have missed guard rails folks .Or the radar in the summer Med .

 

[A_8]

Hard to say for sure from the pic only but you may have more issues with the hull losing its integrity. What's that looking like a bad crack circled in red?

 

[volvopaul]

Hard to say for sure from the pic only but you may have more issues with the hull losing its integrity. What's that looking like a bad crack circled in red?

That’s where the liner meets the transom

 

[A_8]

That’s where the liner meets the transom

Yes but it looks like the liner has semi parted from the hull.