The swede
New member
Is it possible to increase the power of a Volvo Penta AD41 (200bhp) ? How?
Tuning a 200bhp Volvo penta
- Thread starter The swede
- Start date
Questor
Active member
I looked into this a few years back, with a tuning company at the TRL in Crowthorne. They had means of "optimising" (pre common rail) diesel engine performance, and had been successfully doing so for years on cars
However, given the huge difference in cost over vehicle injection pumps and the injection pump on an AD41, it's probably best to leave well alone.
However, given the huge difference in cost over vehicle injection pumps and the injection pump on an AD41, it's probably best to leave well alone.
The swede
New member
I assume the AD41 has no electronic brain one can play with also?
Play with turbo or air intake?
Play with turbo or air intake?
oldgit
Well-known member
That engine is fairly old already do you really want to make it more unreliable
The swede
New member
That's not the intent indeed.
The question was simply whether it is possible.
I know quite a bit about tuning cars, especially as I tuned my own weekend toy, and it didn't make it less reliable.
I also tuned old Audi Quattro's, no electronics here to play with, but by playing with the wastegate valves, intake, exhaust, turbo, etc you got a fair amount of extra power, without losing out on reliability really.
Does the AD41 actually have a turbo? Or is it normally aspirated?
vas
Well-known member
hi there,
I came into boating with a similar background, tuning turbocharged cars with good results and great fun.
until I realised that some (or all...) of them turbocharged diesels run at 2bar constant over hours and hours to no end
Then I realised that it's not something I want to deal with...
cheers
V.
I came into boating with a similar background, tuning turbocharged cars with good results and great fun.
until I realised that some (or all...) of them turbocharged diesels run at 2bar constant over hours and hours to no end
Then I realised that it's not something I want to deal with...
cheers
V.
The swede
New member
hi there,
I came into boating with a similar background, tuning turbocharged cars with good results and great fun.
until I realised that some (or all...) of them turbocharged diesels run at 2bar constant over hours and hours to no end
Then I realised that it's not something I want to deal with...
cheers
V.
Moment, you're telling me a standard AD41 runs at 2 bar constantly ??
vas
Well-known member
Moment, you're telling me a standard AD41 runs at 2 bar constantly ??
no idea if this engine is turbocharged, may be NA
however, IF it is turbocharged it's going to be running something like that...
I mean even 1bar constant is no joke...
The swede
New member
Jeez. And I thought I was gonna blow my Mitsi to bits by having the occasional peak to 1.8 overboost (so 2.8 total).
Still wondering if the AD41 has turbos or not. Some sources say it does, some say they do not
Still wondering if the AD41 has turbos or not. Some sources say it does, some say they do not
Wiggo
New member
The 40 series engines came in a variety of guises
AD40 150/170? hp normal aspiration
AD41 200hp turbocharged
KAD42 230hp super- and turbocharged
KAD43 as above (redesigned internals)
KAD44 260hp super- and turbocharged (with 24v head)
KAD300 285hp as above
AD40 150/170? hp normal aspiration
AD41 200hp turbocharged
KAD42 230hp super- and turbocharged
KAD43 as above (redesigned internals)
KAD44 260hp super- and turbocharged (with 24v head)
KAD300 285hp as above
oldgit
Well-known member
My AQD40A was 135 Hp and had a a very very low boost turbo charger.
Non blown version was about 90hp or similar.
......and possibly all based on same sized block , and having at the end to handle twice the output.
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Questor
Active member
But have you actually heard of any 300s letting go?
The swede
New member
So if you add a supercharger to an AD41 you have a KAD 42? (Or am I being simple).
How big are these engines actually in capacity? I thought the old diesels had really big blocks compared to the current 2400cc D3 etc.
Questor
Active member
I believe that that is the case. Re Capacity it's a 3.6 litre, 6 cylinder.
Wiggo
New member
It's a bit more complex than that, but in principle, yes. There were a bunch of other detail differences between them, but the K indicated the Kompressor...
They're all the same 6 pot 3.6l lump, as Questor says.
The swede
New member
Would fitting a set of compressors to the AD41's be an option?
Or are you better off selling the AD41's and buying a set of KAD42 / 44 ?
Wiggo
New member
Volvopaul or Col would give a definite answer on this, but I suspect there were a lot of internal mods between the AD41 and KAD42, so probably not a viable option. ISTR that the early 42's had some problems that needed a bit of an internal rework, and that was probably what led to the 43 being brought out. I am led to believe the 43 is a far better motor than the 42 was.
The swede
New member
In summary, leave the AD41's as is and if you need more power, walk away or find a hull without engines and fit two KAD300's.
Wiggo
New member
Or a pair of KADzillas like Col's: started life as KAD43's (or maybe 42's), but now turned into a pair of fire-breathing beasts that he reckons are north of 300hp.
The swede
New member
The question then comes whether the cost of the diesels, plus the tuning (we're now into £10000's) still make it worthwhile...
You need to use A LOT of petrol with your standard 330bhp V8's petrols to recoup the difference
