Engine - repair or replace?

[sighmoon]

My engine has a small issue, and I'm looking at spending another £1k on it. It has swallowed about £3500 over the last 4 years.

In the long run, would a new engine be better value?

 

[reeac]

My engine has a small issue, and I'm looking at spending another £1k on it. It has swallowed about £3500 over the last 4 years.

In the long run, would a new engine be better value?

We'd need to know the make, model and age of the engine and also what the money has been spent on before being able to make a judgement.

 

[Tranona]

No easy answer as it depends on so many things as reeac says, plus the boat that it is in and what your future plans are.

 

[sighmoon]

It's a volvo 3003T. It has a new oil cooler, new injectors, and now the injector sleeve wants changing. It's from 1987 and has 1,000 hours on it. It's a little smokey (blue/black) too, so I'm just wondering if it's getting to that age.

The boat's a 1987 Dehler 38, which we plan to keep for a long time yet. We typically do about 600 miles in a season, with young kids aboard.

I've heard the figure of £6k bandied about for a new engine, but I haven't got a proper quote yet.

 

[sailorman]

why did you replace the injectors on such low hrs
I replaced my 4108 some 12 yrs ago it had done 2300 hrs & i had spent £1100 on the gearbox 9 months earlier & then is smoked something terrible, you couldnt see across the marina. I replaced it & have no regrets but i had planned to keep the boat. to rebuild could have been £2>3k & i would have still have had a 23 yr old engine ( at the time ) designed in the 50s

 

[Tranona]

It's a volvo 3003T. It has a new oil cooler, new injectors, and now the injector sleeve wants changing. It's from 1987 and has 1,000 hours on it. It's a little smokey (blue/black) too, so I'm just wondering if it's getting to that age.

The boat's a 1987 Dehler 38, which we plan to keep for a long time yet. We typically do about 600 miles in a season, with young kids aboard.

I've heard the figure of £6k bandied about for a new engine, but I haven't got a proper quote yet.

Not one of Volvo's finest efforts, but you have replaced the weakest bit - the oil cooler. However, the engine has been out of production for more than 25 years. Good replacement would be a Nanni or Beta, but suspect your final bill will be nearer £10k if you pay for installation as you will need a new prop plus other ancilliaries such as exhaust, seal etc may need replacing as well. Long term well worth it as the new engines are much smoother and quieter and will give another 25 years of good service.

 

[Talulah]

You could get an oil analysis done. This may then give you a better picture of what state the engine is in.
I've spent the last couple of weekends helping a friend replace his Volvo MD22L with a Yanmar 4JH5E. The engine was 1995. He wants the confidence a new engine brings.
(For anyone thinking of replacing a Volvo MD22L with a Yanmar 4JH5E the engine beds are the same width apart but have to be raised by 65mm. Also the exhaust size goes up from 65mm to 75mm. The prop shaft coupling was the same. That was last weekends job. Coming weekend is to reconnect diesel pipes, fit engine panel and refit diesel tank and saloon furniture. Plus electrics.)

 

[Tam Lin]

I was in a similar position with my md2b, which was ten years older. I hadn't spent much money on it but it was a choice between spending several thousand on it or going for a new engine. In the end I chose a new engine as the old one was pretty rusty. The cost of the engine itself was half the total cost as all the ancillaries had to be provided or replaced. Financially it didn't make sense to do it but I will have a nice Beta 20 to see me through the next few years.

 

[sighmoon]

why did you replace the injectors on such low hrs

Because it wouldn't start. One of them was severely blocked, another less so.

 

[ghostlymoron]

With the benefit of hindsight you should obviously have replaced it four years ago but now its the age old question. You've spent as much as a new engine on it and want to get a return on that. However, faced with another grand to spend, I think it's time has come. I've never heard of anyone who regrets fitting a new engine although it rarely makes economic sense. Marine diesels are pretty robust and last indefinitely provided you can source and afford spare parts. On balance I would say replace it.

 

[scottie]

As said earlier not one of Volvos best but often as especially with westerlies many were fitted as overpowered with the advice that the turbocharger was just there if you needed it and could be (switched off?) ignored if not required .
It was maybe an example of Volvos almost evangelical use of turbocharging.
The injector sleeve leaking is most likely the result of drawing the injector without the correct tool.
I would think that you are reaching the time to replace but sorting the inj sleeve is the correct short term solution.
Watch that you get the correct sleeve against engine spec.

 

[sighmoon]

I would think that you are reaching the time to replace but sorting the inj sleeve is the correct short term solution.
Watch that you get the correct sleeve against engine spec.

In the fresh light of the morning, I agree. Sooner or later there'll be something terminal, but this isn't it.

 

[macd]

Also the exhaust size goes up from 65mm to 75mm.

Perhaps worth noting for anyone in a similar position, that the two exhaust stubs for cylindrical (NLP-series) Vetus water-traps can be bought separately, making it easy and neat to go from one exhaust bore size to another. I think the available sizes are 40, 45, 50, 60, 75 and 90mm (so this would perhaps have been no use to you, Talulah).

 

[Talulah]

Perhaps worth noting for anyone in a similar position, that the two exhaust stubs for cylindrical (NLP-series) Vetus water-traps can be bought separately, making it easy and neat to go from one exhaust bore size to another. I think the available sizes are 40, 45, 50, 60, 75 and 90mm (so this would perhaps have been no use to you, Talulah).

A useful tip because he is replacing his Waterlock with a Vetus NLP75.
I've told him though that if I were him I would replace the entire 65mm pipe with 75mm and change the skin fitting. The reason being 75mm to 65mm doesn't sound much but it is a 25% reduction in cross sectional area.