TAMD41 Engine sumps

[Pleinmont]

Hello
I have a VP engine in a 2005 Antares 760.
The bilges are normally dry but from time to time there has been sea water coming in that led to water pooling under the engine (e.g. leaky raw water pump seal and some missing keel band screws).
The water was always pumped out at the first opportunity and the problem repaired asap but the engine sump would have been resting in water for a time.
Normally I keep the engine bay clean and dry and spray the engine with duckoil but not much i can do about the underneath that got wet - other than it will dry off when the engine is run.

Without being able to properly see underneath the engine are they designed to withstand a bit of dunking from time to time?
I presume the sumps are fairly thick and painted well to withstand rust but I am not wholly naive

I only ask as a mate's TAMD41 needed lifting out for a replacement sump recently and it wasn't cheap!
Plus any oil leak from the sump would quickly be catastrophic.

I try to use my boat a few times a month (at least) all through the year weather depending so that should keep the moisture out of the engine bay as much as is practical.

 

[Momac]

I am fairly sure the sump is not provided with any special protection so the salt water ingress you describe should receive immediate attention.

 

[scottie]

We supplied a tamd30 to a crab fisher
The sump was removed and stove enamelled before installation as I recall

 

[Plum]

Hello
I have a VP engine in a 2005 Antares 760.
The bilges are normally dry but from time to time there has been sea water coming in that led to water pooling under the engine (e.g. leaky raw water pump seal and some missing keel band screws).
The water was always pumped out at the first opportunity and the problem repaired asap but the engine sump would have been resting in water for a time.
Normally I keep the engine bay clean and dry and spray the engine with duckoil but not much i can do about the underneath that got wet - other than it will dry off when the engine is run.

Without being able to properly see underneath the engine are they designed to withstand a bit of dunking from time to time?
I presume the sumps are fairly thick and painted well to withstand rust but I am not wholly naive

I only ask as a mate's TAMD41 needed lifting out for a replacement sump recently and it wasn't cheap!
Plus any oil leak from the sump would quickly be catastrophic.

I try to use my boat a few times a month (at least) all through the year weather depending so that should keep the moisture out of the engine bay as much as is practical.

Hi. I have the same boat/engine and the sump appears to be painted mild steel so you are right to be cautious. Suggest you inspect under the sump. I have used two phones and an app that allows one to be slid under the sump as the camera while watching the image on the screen of the other phone. Hope you don't find any surprises. Then, spray some sort of oil to coat the sump. I use wd40 several times per year although other people will probability suggest other types. Spraying around the sump sides will result in the wd40 running down and under the bottom surface. Doing this and continuing with your ongoing work at keeping the bilge under the enging dry should, I hope, stop you worrying.☺

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Scubadoo]

Your are right to be concerned, although not the same engine (Ad31) and guess most earlier Volvo sumps are made from the same material i.e. steel, I had a similar issue for awhile until I solved a water leak. I always ensured the bilge was dry every time I left my boat but the sump still rusted badly and the engine had to be removed to replace the sump and now paranoid, so I check it more often to ensure it doesn't rust again which it hasn't. Not to rely on the Volvo paint as protection, I painted an extra coat with dark green hammerite and so far no sign of any problems.

Best to get something like an inspection mirror or endoscope camera and have a look, worth doing as it was expensive to have my engine removed to replace the sump.

 

[Jamie Dundee]

A 760 here (not mine) was found to have a rotten sump which resulted in the engine being pulled out. When I brought mine back the mechanic involved checked mine, thankfully all ok as it wasn’t something I had checked before buying.

 

[Montemar]

We looked at a Sealine 23 several years ago with a KAD32 engine. Surveyor saw rust under sump due to a leaking water pump and failed it for that. It is a serious problem.
Could the leak be fixed or a pump and float switch installed to remove the water?

 

[Pleinmont]

Thanks all for the advice, will definitely have a good look underneath next time I pop down. There's no water anymore and all dry but will try a GoPro taped to a stick and a torch ? hopefully not find a rusting mess!

 

[Pleinmont]

Hi. I have the same boat/engine and the sump appears to be painted mild steel so you are right to be cautious. Suggest you inspect under the sump. I have used two phones and an app that allows one to be slid under the sump as the camera while watching the image on the screen of the other phone. Hope you don't find any surprises. Then, spray some sort of oil to coat the sump. I use wd40 several times per year although other people will probability suggest other types. Spraying around the sump sides will result in the wd40 running down and under the bottom surface. Doing this and continuing with your ongoing work at keeping the bilge under the enging dry should, I hope, stop you worrying.☺

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

I got an endoscope to have a look under the sump and despite the endoscope being brilliant for anything viewing straight ahead annoyingly I just can't quite get it angled up to see the bottom of the oil pan. It just shows me the hull
Bit disappointed!

Plum - how did you get your phone underneath your engine and move it around without losing it?
I tried a go pro but that was also not successful.
Is your engine bay completely dry too?
Ive got a black absorbent oil quilt underneath that looks like it dates back from the manufacturer. I might pull it out as it holds moisture (no doubt it's going to rip into bits!) and puts muck on the camera.

I'm average size but can't quite get my hand underneath the port side because of the raw water pipe and on the starboard side I can't quite get down far enough because of the coolant reservoir and the oil cooler etc.

I'd love to know how i can properly see images of the underneath of the oil pan without sending a child down there
Any hints let me know.

 

[Bran]

My endoscope came with a small mirror attachment that fits on the end of the endoscope, angled at 45 degrees. Can you get hold of something similar?

 

[Pleinmont]

My endoscope came with a small mirror attachment that fits on the end of the endoscope, angled at 45 degrees. Can you get hold of something similar?

Ah thanks - yes I'll check the box later as there was a little bag of attachments in there when I opened it the other day.
I should have looked more closely before rushing out with it

 

[Plum]

I got an endoscope to have a look under the sump and despite the endoscope being brilliant for anything viewing straight ahead annoyingly I just can't quite get it angled up to see the bottom of the oil pan. It just shows me the hull
Bit disappointed!

Plum - how did you get your phone underneath your engine and move it around without losing it?
I tried a go pro but that was also not successful.
Is your engine bay completely dry too?
Ive got a black absorbent oil quilt underneath that looks like it dates back from the manufacturer. I might pull it out as it holds moisture (no doubt it's going to rip into bits!) and puts muck on the camera.

I'm average size but can't quite get my hand underneath the port side because of the raw water pipe and on the starboard side I can't quite get down far enough because of the coolant reservoir and the oil cooler etc.

I'd love to know how i can properly see images of the underneath of the oil pan without sending a child down there
Any hints let me know.

It is very dry and clean under my engine. A clump of rag poked underneath and moved around with a 500mm stick will clean any oil or coolant leaks that appear. You may have st start with rags moistened with white spirit. Once it is clean down there, just lay the phone under the gearbox (ideally a phone with a light on it, attach a length of string with sticky tape you you can pull the phone out after, pair to another phone on which you can view the image) then gently guide the phone with a stick or a piece of bent wire to make it slide forwards under the engine. Go slowly. Take pictures or record video on the second phone.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[andy59]

I got an endoscope to have a look under the sump and despite the endoscope being brilliant for anything viewing straight ahead annoyingly I just can't quite get it angled up to see the bottom of the oil pan. It just shows me the hull
Bit disappointed!

Plum - how did you get your phone underneath your engine and move it around without losing it?
I tried a go pro but that was also not successful.
Is your engine bay completely dry too?
Ive got a black absorbent oil quilt underneath that looks like it dates back from the manufacturer. I might pull it out as it holds moisture (no doubt it's going to rip into bits!) and puts muck on the camera.

I'm average size but can't quite get my hand underneath the port side because of the raw water pipe and on the starboard side I can't quite get down far enough because of the coolant reservoir and the oil cooler etc.

I'd love to know how i can properly see images of the underneath of the oil pan without sending a child down there
Any hints let me know.

What about one of these ? Monument Tools Plumbers Inspection Mirror 180mm

 

[Plum]

What about one of these ? Monument Tools Plumbers Inspection Mirror 180mm

The sump on the OPs engine is buried between the bearers so its near imposible to get a mirror in a position see all of the sump base. I have one of those mirrors and I could only see about 15% of the sump base



.
Edit: for anyone reading this thread from here onwards many of the posts are specific to the Beneteau Antares 760 motorboat and have drifted off topic!

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Jamie Dundee]

The sump on the OPs engine is buried between the bearers so its near imposible to get a mirror in a position see all of the sump base. I have one of those mirrors and I could only see about 15% of the sump base



. View attachment 104101

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

Off topic but did you cut short the air inlet hoses? You’ve got a much less cluttered engine space than I have.

 

[Plum]

Off topic but did you cut short the air inlet hoses? You’ve got a much less cluttered engine space than I have.

Previous owner did it. Certainly makes sense. Don't see why they need to be that long. Interestingly, my three hoses on the starboard side are not connected to the outside vents on the starboard side which are blocked off in a way that could only have been done when the boat was built.

 

[andy59]

The sump on the OPs engine is buried between the bearers so its near imposible to get a mirror in a position see all of the sump base. I have one of those mirrors and I could only see about 15% of the sump base



. View attachment 104101

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

Ahh , i see , that is tight. What about a phone on a selfie stick ?.

 

[Jamie Dundee]

Previous owner did it. Certainly makes sense. Don't see why they need to be that long. Interestingly, my three hoses on the starboard side are not connected to the outside vents on the starboard side which are blocked off in a way that could only have been done when the boat was built.

Interesting. That’ll be me with a Stanley knife tomorrow then

 

[Plum]

Interesting. That’ll be me with a Stanley knife tomorrow then

Before you cut ............ my hoses, just behind where they are cut, have two screws in each that screw into the end grain of the plywood sheets they pass through to stop them falling through into the hidden void beyond. Do not cut them completely. Leave a flap to hang on to so they don't disappear into the void. Fit the screws, then cut off the remaining flap.☺

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Jamie Dundee]

Before you cut ............ my hoses, just behind where they are cut, have two screws in each that screw into the end grain of the plywood sheets they pass through to stop them falling through into the hidden void beyond. Do not cut them completely. Leave a flap to hang on to so they don't disappear into the void. Fit the screws, then cut off the remaining flap.☺

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

Thanks for the warning. How did I know it wasn’t going to be as easy as a quick chopping job?