Help Volvo Penta KAD 42B

[Joel.Lengyel]

Hello all,

I am looking at buying a 1994 Dorado with a 1994 Volvo Penta KAD42B and a DP duo outdrive. The motor has 650 hours on it and I would like to know any pros and cons of this setup. I have been looking online and reading the service manuals, plus talking to mechanics and all I have been told is Volvo prices are high for parts. I am looking for more of a common issue discussion. I have been reading about overheating in the #6 but that is about it. Does anyone know more about this motor and drive configuration? Does anyone know anything about the Dorado 30 hulls? just want to use all of my resources.

Thank you

Joel

 

[Pendana]

Don't know much about the boat but Volvo KAD 42B's are good robust engine. Keep em serviced and they're bomb proof.
The DPE duoprop stern drive is probably better than it's later variants which were developed to handle more power.

 

[DavidJ]

Volvo prices are high but they do have a massive service network all over Europe. The fact that your boat has Volvos puts value on and will be far easier to sell than say Mercruser. I take my evidence from Sealine prices with or without Volvos.
I believe earlier KAD42's had head gasket problems which was solved with later 42's, maybe others can say when the change came in. If your year is close to the introduction of the KAD43 then you could be ok.

 

[Greg2]

We had KAD42Bs in our last boat. Great engines with only the usual marine engine maintenance issues. The kompressor tension pulleys are prone to going so need replacement periodically and if memory serves they are around eighty quid a pop.

I think most issues had been worked through by the time they moved from the A to the B variant. One thing to note is that the coolant reservoir on the B is smaller and in reality probably undersized. One of ours kept kicking out coolant and I kept topping it up until I realised that it found its own level with very little in the tank. Thing to remember is that what is in the tank is tiny compared to what is in the whole system.

 

[Momac]

One thing to note is that the coolant reservoir on the B is smaller and in reality probably undersized. One of ours kept kicking out coolant and I kept topping it up until I realised that it found its own level with very little in the tank. Thing to remember is that what is in the tank is tiny compared to what is in the whole system.

I have the same thing with my kad32's so perhaps the expansion tank being too small is a volvo penta thing in general. Certainly the coolant level need not be above the low mark on a cold engine, and possibly even lower than that . If a calorifier is installed it adds to the amount of coolant so even more expansion capacity is required.

 

[oldgit]

volvo penta thing in general..

my Perkins is exactly the same...When cold there is barely a dribble in the bottom of the header tank it only fills when hot.
Try to cold fill header tank to any "common sense level" and it promptly just chucks it out into the bilge the first chance it gets..