Problems with Volvo D6 engines

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Hornby

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Within 12 months from new my steering has failed twice due to hydraulic leaks in the steering rams. Replaced under warranty but when are they going to stop failing. At least no steering in a moror boat is embarrassing, at worst . . Now the crankshaft has gone through the block causing a smoke filled boat. Under 200 hours engine time. What's going on? Anyone else had these problems with Volvo D6?
 
Hope its still in warranty, the rams presume its stern drive the ends of the rams on the early ones were alloy, they have now been modified with brass ends, just cost someone up here 5 k in repairs, not good, would have made vp pay for it if it was mine.

I have mixed feelings about the D6 didnt think it would stand the test, now they have it up to 435hp where are they going when the warrantys up.
 
Hornby - its invariably easier to poll replies and advice if you complete your profile. Sorry to hear about your D6 - surely it cannot be the norm as they have sold quite a lot of these.

You must use your boat a fair bit then coz 200 hours in 12 months is going some. What boat is it?
 
I think the D6 was originally rated at 280HP and with 5.5L (336 cu in) capacity, that would be eminently sensible for a marine engine. Boosting the power up to 435HP might be OK if it was a car engine but not a marine engine.

The golden rule of "no more than 1Hp for every cubic inch capacity" seems to be well and truly broken here.
 
200 hours on mine in three years, so far (I hope I'm not tempting fate here) they have been faultless.

They are smooth running and the power delivery is excellent, they are also economical when compared with the older kad series. We have had friends who are boat owners out with us and all comment on how quiet they are. We have been on several of their boats including two of the same model as our and they sounded positively agricutural.

We did have problem with white smoke on start up when first delivered, but that was cured be a software update and there was a factory modification to the oil return pipe.

Other then this we are chuffed to bits.
 
A friend of mine has had the steering fail on his D6-310. Poor guy had a nightmare as was trying to get out of a lock on the Thames and the boat needless to say was virtually undriveable and clobbered the lock on the way out. Boat has done less than 100 hours, so not at all impressed, but hopefully all sorted for the long term now.
 
The D6 has been available as 435hp on shafts for over a year now. A 370hp aquamatic version will be launced at Southampton.
 
Thanks for your reply. Boat is a Windy 42 (May 06) my 3rd Windy which I rate very highly. Our norm is 250/300 hours a year but these engines should do thousands if looked after well, which they are. We cruise at 30kn and seldom go anywhere near the max of 42 to 44kn.
 
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