Overheating Volvo Engine

[pappaecho]

Anybody got an overheating Volvo? Spoke to an owner last week, who had spent years tolerating an overheating Volvo engine. In the end took the cylinder head off to find that not all the polythene packaging had been taken off the cylinder head gasket, resulting in the blocking of some of the water ways. The boat had a full service history, and there was no record of engine maintenance, other than routine servicing and so it was presumed the boat engine was supplied by Volvo as new with a defective head gasket..
So if you have got an overheating Volvo, you need to add to the list of possible causes "Improper assemby at factory partially blocked waterways in head gasket"

 

[kandoma]

the older engines (md2 or md17d) have very minimal sized cooling channels inside the engine for cooling. If you are using fresh water cooling, this holes may close completly and the cooling is only given by the engine oil. If you have one of this engine and fresh water cooling, you can check for scale build up: with the engine stopped, open the small winterizing water drain. One after another. If the water shoots out, you are fine. If no water or just a trickle comes out, your engine has blocked cooling channels and needs a good dose of vinegar. During the 10'000 hours of my MD17D, the engine had seveal bouts of cooling problems. In the end, the engine overheated constantly because some of the "horses" left the boat.

Peter

 

[bendyone]

Depends on which engine.
The old 2001 had a design problem with the cooling pipe which ran though the head, the hole in it was too small for the job. Mine were sorted out be Volvo soon after the engines were fitted.