Slow Starting

[Dougie_the_Mate]

We have an 18 H.P. Volvo Penta 2002 on our Centaur and since we got it it has taken its time to start after a lay off of any description. The instructions we got with the boat suggested that the previous owner had the same situation. Some times it starts fairly promptly, but at others it takes several attempts.

I had got used to its eccentricities and once it is going it runs very sweetly and usually starts promptly while on passage. A friend who is fairly knowledgeable about such matter tells me whenever he sails with me that it should start better than it does.

He thinks it maybe a fuel starvation thing, but could be to do with the compression - I lean towards the latter.

Is it possible to fit glow plugs to the manifold of this particular engine to provide some pre-ignition heat - an alternative suggested solution of sticking a flaming blow torch up the air filter to provide heat is not one that am comfortable with - Mrs Dougie wll not set foot on a boat that is dependent on such a strategy even though it might well work.

Any advice welcome.

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[reeac]

I understand that the VP 2000 series is susceptible to corrosion of the valve seats leading to poor compression and hence poor cold starting. A proper compression check would presumably confirm this although an expert can, I believe, tell from the feel when using the starting handle.

 

[smeaks]

Check out your fuel line. If the feed is out of the top of the tank, through the filter/seperator and then to the engine I bet there is a problem where a tichy air leak is allowing the leg of fuel to drain from the filters feed back into the tank. This will lead to a small lenght of air in the engine fuel feed. Once this is through the engine would start. Once on passage the fuel has not the time to drain hence the engine restarts without problem.... just a theory in your case but I have heard of this before.

 

[cpedw]

I think the 2000's are all like this. My 2003 needs the full cold start procedure whatever the weather. It then starts pretty reliably every time.
For a "cold start", set the throttle about 3/4 open, pull out the engine stop, push it back then press the starter. It's tedious but effective.

Derek

 

[paddywackcocker]

I think this has been brought up before, but here goes anyway
The cold start for the 2000 series is, open throtle 3/4 pull out stop cable fully and then return back, turn key and should start, reduce throtle.

 

[paddywackcocker]

as I saud I thought it had been brought up before, but that was weird

 

[philip_stevens]

I have exactly the same problem with our 2003.

The only way I can get ours to start reasonably quickly is to engage the cold start, and turn the engine over with the decompression lever upright until we can hear it change note with the turn-over on the key.

We then re-set the decompression lever to normal, re-set the cold start, and turn the engine over on the key. The engine now starts within 5 secs. Thereafter, during the day, it, like yours, starts quickly.

Don't turn the engine over for too long as you may well flood it with cooling water.

This is our way of overcoming the reluctance to start, and I am sure it is low compression of the rings. We intend to have the valve gear off this winter to make sure it is not the valves.

 

[Csail]

Sounds like a bit of air in the system to me.

 

[Dougie_the_Mate]

Thank you for these suggestions. The start procedure described is what we do. We have tried priming the fuel with the wee bleed pump - this is what made my friend suggest fuel starvation. We have also tried using the compression lever upright method, but perhaps not as systematically as has been suggested here so I will give it a go.

Over the winter I will try to get it thoroughly checked out to find what the problem really is and hopefully get it sorted.

 

[PLEIAS]

Hi there,
I had the same problem with my 2002.Then after adjusting the valve clearance my mechanic showed me a different cold start.Full throttle, pull out cable and while starting the engine push it back in then reduce throttle. It works for me every time allthough the engine is old.Hope it helps as down here (Greece) it maybe a lot warmer.

 

[nigelhudson]

We have a 2002 which had the same problem. We lifted the cylinder head and found the condition that the other poster described - pitted valve seats. I got the head ground, the valve seats recut and the valves reground. The result is that the engine has much better cold starting.

 

[philip_stevens]

That gives me a better direction to go in this winter when I lift the head, as I thought it may be the rings on our 2003.