To d3 or not to d3, that is the question!

[Portofino]

So how do the others cope with new fangled variable boost ?
They have sequential turbos , usually two .A smaller one at the lower rpms boosting a mother of one at the higher .

No variable vanes to stick or require NASA sized computing power to work the actuators ,connected up with chocolate tea pot connections .Left in a salty environment asking to corrode.

I recently sat in the ER of a Pershing 108 with triple MTU 2450 Hp V 16 s .Couldn’t fault any of the engineering , mech or electrical.Coming up to a 1000 hrs .Nothing off putting that would worry me .

 

[raptorheli2]

Well I never expected a bun fight ?

So the boat has never been used on rivers, yes it looks virtually brand new as it spent a few years laid up inside storage shed at marina.

I intend to cruise west coast of Scotland just the same way I use my rib, I will probably put 100 hours ish a year on it. I have no intentions of plodding it around, it will spend 90% of its life at the cruise speed (23 knots ish).

As said, if these are a total mare I'm happy to keep the rib I have for now.

 

[Tranona]

It’s all about informed choice guys reaching out .The more he understands the more informed that will be .
Lets avoid the car comparison s they rarely end up well with marine / boats .

[/QUOTE

The OP was asking about this specific engine in a specific boat. What good is a long diatribe about how (on your opinion) Volvo are rubbish and every other engine is brilliant whereas in fact the buyer in this sector does not have a choice because the majority of the boats are fitted with Volvo.

The car comparison is completely valid as the base engine does not care whether it is in a car or a boat and very few engines die because the mechanical parts of the engine fail. Very few small sports cruisers get onto 4 figures on hours which is equivalent to between 30-40000 miles in a car in mixed use. These engines are not stressed with most only taking 170hp from 2.4L.

 

[Portofino]

Post #16 has nailed the coffin on this thread i would have thought.


@ Tranona , I never said to quote you they are “ rubbish “ or others are “ better “ . Where did you get that from ?
Explained why they are popular in my first post . Not necessarily on merit alone .

 

[Momac]

When I changed my boat in 2014 I eliminated a particular model of boat simply because it had the d3 engines with no other diesel alternative.
Read post 16 as said.

 

[raptorheli2]

Post #16 has nailed the coffin on this thread i would have thought.


@ Tranona , I never said to quote you they are “ rubbish “ or others are “ better “ . Where did you get that from ?
Explained why they are popular in my first post . Not necessarily on merit alone .

Post 16 has no info, pointless.

If the problem is turbo banes then big deal, happy to clean it as required.

So what exactly are the common issues these suffer from? The legs I don't know anything about as of yet.

 

[julians]

Post 16 has no info, pointless.

If the problem is turbo banes then big deal, happy to clean it as required.

So what exactly are the common issues these suffer from? The legs I don't know anything about as of yet.

I had heard on other forums that they can be a bit sensitive to low quality fuel ,and that the variable turbo vanes can stick, but I have no actual first hand experience of them,so treat my comments as gossip.

Some friend of ours had 2 x d3 in a sessa (I think it was a sessa), theirs were fine over a number of years .

 

[raptorheli2]

I had heard on other forums that they can be a bit sensitive to low quality fuel ,and that the variable turbo vanes can stick, but I have no actual first hand experience of them,so treat my comments as gossip.

Some friend of ours had 2 x d3 in a sessa (I think it was a sessa), theirs were fine over a number of years .

I've read hours worth of things but it is mostly I've heard rather than I've had or know fact X, and hich is fair enough but it doesn't help make an informed decision.

The turbo I'm not in the slightest bothered about, the clean fuel is no surprise and can be fixed with good filtration before and after the tank so not fussed about that either.

I'm not saying these are good engines as they clearly have niggles but what are they commonly failing for? I can't suss that out quite yet.

 

[Chris_d]

To answer OP D3 avoid at all costs, get a proper marine engine even if older tech.

 

[Portofino]

Have you read this ?
Is t the statment that the volvo penta d3 diesel 190 hp a ''disposable engine '' fair

Or picked up on this …..https://www.mby.com/news/volvo-penta-issues-limited-engine-recall-31248

You are at the right place btw . Both ^^ MBY .

How engine savvy are you ?

 

[rafiki_]

To answer OP D3 avoid at all costs, get a proper marine engine even if older tech.

What are proper marine engines? Most are car (light duty) or truck derived. My Cat 3126’s were used in buses, agricultural and static machinery. Fantastic engines. D3’s were designed for Volvo cars. Worked fine if properly maintained in many applications.
There are few engines designed purely for marine applications excepting huge diesels in commercial marine applications..

 

[raptorheli2]

Have you read this ?
Is t the statment that the volvo penta d3 diesel 190 hp a ''disposable engine '' fair

Or picked up on this …..https://www.mby.com/news/volvo-penta-issues-limited-engine-recall-31248

You are at the right place btw . Both ^^ MBY .

How engine savvy are you ?

Seen both, again the turbo is mentioned as is how clean the fuel is, both preventable with maintenance and I'm happy to do that. I've looked after my outboards and inboards for many years.

Most in the first thread that own the engine have had no or very little issues outwith the vanes or maybe injectors (fuel?)

 

[raptorheli2]

To answer OP D3 avoid at all costs, get a proper marine engine even if older tech.

OK.... Why avoid at all costs?

A proper marine engine to me isn't these toy size motors, my old man is a class 1 marine engineer at sea whole career.... Those are proper marine engines but they won't fit in a 7m boat!

 

[raptorheli2]

What are proper marine engines? Most are car (light duty) or truck derived. My Cat 3126’s were used in buses, agricultural and static machinery. Fantastic engines. D3’s were designed for Volvo cars. Worked fine if properly maintained in many applications.
There are few engines designed purely for marine applications excepting huge diesels in commercial marine applications..

Sorry for all replies, the multi reply doesn't work well on my phone for some reason.

There was mention of boring out as an example when engine is tired and it isn't that easy with this engine as to why it's not a marine engine. I've not read this being done but why would you bother when there is literally hundreds of 2.4 recon engines available for the cars?...why not just swap the long lock and whack the ancils on if okay?

 

[scottie]

My experience of D3 lapsed when I retired some years ago so my thoughts that having a pair had the advantage of having a spare when not if it failed

 

[gordmac]

I suspect you will be limited to basically Volvo for an outdrive diesel boat. At that size petrol outboard is an option, cheaper to buy, but getting petrol on the West coast is an issue. If the boat is good and matches what you want I would go for it but get a look at the service history (not just engine, outdrives need looking after) and maybe a mechanical survey. And have a pot of cash to pay for the repairs and parts that are an inevitable part of Volvo Penta ownership.

 

[raptorheli2]

I suspect you will be limited to basically Volvo for an outdrive diesel boat. At that size petrol outboard is an option, cheaper to buy, but getting petrol on the West coast is an issue. If the boat is good and matches what you want I would go for it but get a look at the service history (not just engine, outdrives need looking after) and maybe a mechanical survey. And have a pot of cash to pay for the repairs and parts that are an inevitable part of Volvo Penta ownership.

You are correct it is either the volvo or occasionally the 1.7 mercruiser GM diesel, neither is amazingly appealing. I had previously ruled out diesel inboard due to the horror stories you hear but I've never paid much attention to them as I've been with outboards for 15 years plus now. The boat I was after (aquador 21wa) for a few years I absolutely hated when I went to Ireland a few weeks ago to see one for sale. This diesel came up and is basically like new so I figured maybe time for a change away from trailer my boats to just keep them in the water...... Decisions.

 

[Tranona]

Post #16 has nailed the coffin on this thread i would have thought.


@ Tranona , I never said to quote you they are “ rubbish “ or others are “ better “ . Where did you get that from ?
Explained why they are popular in my first post . Not necessarily on merit alone .

From your posts on this thread. Read the OPs question and then explain why your long diatribes in posts#5&19 where you specifically stated that other makers engines are better (although none in this category) are of any help help to the OP. Post#11&20 specifically criticise Volvo for the design feature of the engine without any evidence that this is a problem in marine use.

Your post#5 is only your take on why Volvo are popular in this class (and in others). They are popular because they meet the requirements of the market and it is up to the other manufacturers to change that through competition - and as noted nobody has tried seriously in the small HP diesel sport boat market - and a fair case could be made that those that have tried have been far worse than Volvo.

 

[Tranona]

Those interested in this subject might want to read this thread from 2015 when the forum had members who knew their subject - and the engines were current (or just about to go out)
forums.ybw.com/index.php?threads/is-t-the-statment-that-the-volvo-penta-d3-diesel-190-hp-a-disposable-engine-fair.436653/

 

[Frederick911]

Had my 2012 200hp D3 for 5 years now, awesome engine performance and fuel economy is amazing. Serviced properly and used pretty much every weekend out in the Solent. The earlier versions did suffer with issues. Mine I have confidence with.