Smoking Volvo

[Amp1ng]

Hi all,

I have a Smokey VP 2002, think its oil (smells like its oil), plus its running very rough on idle and at various stages in the rev range. The vibrations through the hull are getting progressively stronger on each outing. Engine is on 3000 hours so I'm expecting the worst will come to the worst and therefore interested to know from any previous experience how much should I be expecting to spend on a full bottom and top end rebuild for this engine?

Thanks

 

[scottie]

It is known as a smokey engine so may not be as you think.
Before pulling it to bits it's worth checking the engine mounts as they do fail on a regular basis.
If the the smoke is black rather than blue then its more likely to be fuel related a non function injector is also a suspect to cause vibration.
Worth checking the cost of a rebuild kit .
Sorry cant give up to date prices you asked for .

 

[MoodySabre]

Get it looked at by an engineer. I doubt that it needs a bottom end rebuild - a top end overhaul will make a difference. The rough running and vibration may be something relatively cheaper like injector servicing and engine mounts. Look for the cheap options first.

 

[wotayottie]

Look for the cheap options first.

Wise advice - its very easy to think first of the expensive and complicated , ignoring the cheap and simple.

Volvo engine mounts fail regularly on that engine. Sometimes you cannot see easily where they have gone. In my case it was a crack right across a stud and a marine "engineer" ( mechanic really) didnt spot it either. So if it is not obvious where, put a crowbar under the engine and lever it up a bit with a pal looking for problems.

Are you burning oil? If so you will have been topping up the oil level? If not its more likely diesel. If you are burning engine oil, then a re-furb of the cylinder head and the valve seals is reasonable cost and an easy diy job. I would happily tackle the bottom end myself but if you dont fancy that then you may well be getting into a "shall I replace" dialogue. A recon shop will replace all the seals, bearings rings etc because they have to guarantee the work and this plus their labour will make it expensive.

 

[Amp1ng]

Hi Scottie,

Thanks for the reply. The smoke is white/blue. Engine mounts were replaced mid season last year with genuine volvo parts and I rechecked em again last weekend. No obvious signs of tearing, no fractures in any of the associated brackets and everything is tight. The vibrations have slowly gotten worse this season especially since using the engine harder in an attempt to keep things loaded up properly (perhaps she was too old for that kind if treatment). Vibes have always been a bit of a problem so last season I gave the stern gear a thorough check, examining the shaft, coupling and replacing the cutlass bearing plus shaft alignment with spacer down stern tube. Things were much smoother at the beginning of the season but there has always felt like an underlying problem had yet to be discovered.

Re the vibrations the fuel system is going to be be my first area of investigation, I'm thinking injectors, injector pumps then maybe valve gear. Now with the recent increase in smoke I'm worried about the rings.

 

[Amp1ng]

"if it is not obvious where, put a crowbar under the engine and lever it up a bit with a pal looking for problems."


Had a go at this last weekend - no obvious signs of damage to any of the mounts, the only other thing i could do is take them off completely and re examine

"Are you burning oil? If so you will have been topping up the oil level?"

I have topped up the oil a couple of times this season by an amount that it takes to bring the level from the bottom of the dipstick to the top. I have some oil in the engine bay beneath the engine from a leak I have yet to find but this is only a little pool easily wiped up with some kitchen roll so the majority is getting burnt me thinks.

"If you are burning engine oil, then a re-furb of the cylinder head and the valve seals is reasonable cost and an easy diy job"

Interesting because I ran the engine with decompression lever engaged to see if it had a marked effect, engine ran very quietly and with not much impotus (so much so it didn't feel like it had fired - didn't feel like half an engine) and when the lever was disengaged the full normal volume and wobble returned.

When I actuate the throttle from idle at the engine when she picks up there is a lot of diesel knock and engine wobbles quite severely for a bit then at full throttle engine is smooth and sounds good.

 

[Bilgediver]

Hi all,

I have a Smokey VP 2002, think its oil (smells like its oil), plus its running very rough on idle and at various stages in the rev range. The vibrations through the hull are getting progressively stronger on each outing. Engine is on 3000 hours so I'm expecting the worst will come to the worst and therefore interested to know from any previous experience how much should I be expecting to spend on a full bottom and top end rebuild for this engine?

Thanks

Like others are saying do not go for a full rebuild unless you are sure. Very expensive.

At the least it could just be a duff injector and or fuel pump delivery valve. At worst you have one or more leaking exhaust or inlet valves.


You can find out if you have a duff cylinder by slightly loosening the injector supply pipe on one injectors at a time a listening to the engine note. if it hardly changes when the nut is slacked off then that cylinder is at fault.

The leaking valves can be checked by beg or borrowing a compression gauge or even just turning the engine over by hand if you have the room and can get your hands on a starting handle . you will be looking for an easily detected difference in resistance between cylinders going over compression.
Even removing the injectors and holding a champagne cork in the injector pocket ca give an indication. IE hold it in one pocket at a time and wind the engine on the starter It will not pop out if the valves are the problem and leaking enough to cause a problem.

You can get the heads reconditioned at any local engineering place an preferably one that doesn t use the word marine in its name. The ones catering for motorcycles and cars can fix valve seats and valves though you might have to supply them the new valves if they can t get them.

The valves and seats have different angles so do not grind and grind and grind as they will not last long. The manual gives the angles which differ between seat and valve by about 0.5 degree. (Nominal 49 on some small volvos)

If the compressions are fine then you may have a fuel problem so get the injectors checked by an injection specialist. See in Yellow pages.

 

[pvb]

When I actuate the throttle from idle at the engine when she picks up there is a lot of diesel knock and engine wobbles quite severely for a bit then at full throttle engine is smooth and sounds good.

If it runs OK at full throttle, it probably isn't anything terminal. The old 2000-series engines were always rather smoky, so that's not necessarily anything to worry about. I thought I was going to have to remove my trusty old 2003T this year to sort an oil leak, and naively asked the local VP dealer whether it would be an idea to do a top-end overhaul while it was out. They said it would cost so much in parts that the money would be better put towards a new engine, and I believe them. As it happened, the leak was fixable with the engine in situ, so the 2003T is soldiering on for the time being.