volvo 2003

pessimist

pessimist

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 May 2003
Messages
3,210
Location
Exmoor. Boat in Dartmuff.
Visit site
Seriously considering putting in an offer on a boat equipped with two of these engines both with around 1700 hours running driving sail drives. Each has had the exhaust elbow replaced recently. Should I be worried about these engines as I've read horror stories about them. As far as I am aware they have been regularly serviced and the current owner seems a meticulous (and honest) sort of chap.

Thanks for any opinions/info.
 
pessimist said:
Seriously considering putting in an offer on a boat equipped with two of these engines both with around 1700 hours running driving sail drives. Each has had the exhaust elbow replaced recently. Should I be worried about these engines as I've read horror stories about them. As far as I am aware they have been regularly serviced and the current owner seems a meticulous (and honest) sort of chap.

Thanks for any opinions/info.
Click to expand...
If the maintenance has been careful they are good and strong. Particularly lucky to get a spare too!
 
pessimist said:
Seriously considering putting in an offer on a boat equipped with two of these engines both with around 1700 hours running driving sail drives. Each has had the exhaust elbow replaced recently. Should I be worried about these engines as I've read horror stories about them. As far as I am aware they have been regularly serviced and the current owner seems a meticulous (and honest) sort of chap.

Thanks for any opinions/info.
Click to expand...

I suppose the "spline issue" is something to check on if they have MS2 upper gear boxes and are in the relevant serial number range.
 
Fairly sound engines, and 1700 hours isn't much at all. If they've been well cared for, they should be fine for many years longer. But be aware that parts availability is starting to get tricky. I had a 2003T for many years.
 
Is it the Turbo version? If so then they are a wee bit more problematic. If not the turbo you have a cracking engine.
 
Sandy said:
Is it the Turbo version? If so then they are a wee bit more problematic. If not the turbo you have a cracking engine.
Click to expand...

Things to watch for on the 2003T are corrosion of the steel oil supply pipe to the turbo, and corrosion of the alloy oil cooler.
 
Our 2003 had 1900 hrs on it when we bought the yacht 12 years ago. Still going strong. Spares available from VP and a number of other suppliers. If one engine really did go bang then a replacement are about £1500. Simple to work on and self service.

Pete
 
VicS said:
I suppose the "spline issue" is something to check on if they have MS2 upper gear boxes and are in the relevant serial number range.
Click to expand...

I apparently the spline issue is not such a problem when the engine is coupled to a saildrive . I suspect though this is only so if the props are fitted with a rubber hubbed prop which would help dampen torsional .
 
My 2003 has (touch wood) been entirely reliable - apart from the time I was investigating a fuel problem and forgot to turn the fuel back on :culpability:

Reports of poor starting are most often due to poor technique. Get the seller to demonstrate the right way to do it. Mine will take a bit of churning when it hasn't run for a while, especially if there's ice on the deck, but it will go eventually.

The only thing is that they're getting on a bit, and some parts are hard to come by.
 
I think the 2003 is a meligned engine, usually due to poor maintenance and bad fitters working on them. They use Push fit connectors on the water cooling. We found in Greece engineers called them "crap fits". my direct experience of this is that if they are levered off unevenly, you bend them slightly and they then require gunge to seal them. I spend ages getting them straight after an attack by a greek engineer - who should have known better.

Like all engines if they are overheated, they are never the same after.

My 2003T is now 30 years old with god know how many hours. It starts from cold instantly, without even using the cold start (in Greece) . The cold start is activated by pulling the engine stop up once and then starting.

Its a good idea to treat the heat exchanger as maintainable part - strip - every 7 - 10 years, and the same on the oil cooler (on Turbo only) which sits un noticed under the heat exchanger - Mine disintegrated at 27 years, - luckily, when this forum drew attention to problems here, I stripped it down and it had become pink and brittle.

Its a very good engine if looked after.
 
I was told about 2/3 throttle but, in fact, the owner's manual doesn't specify how much. I tend to use full throttle to start from cold anyway, as it catches a lot quicker, then throttle back to a fast idle, ~1100 rpm as it starts.
 
Mine is 30 years old and running fine. Easy to start. Have had to replace the freshwater pump this year due to age. I think its done about 2800hrs.
 
Stemar said:
I was told about 2/3 throttle but, in fact, the owner's manual doesn't specify how much. I tend to use full throttle to start from cold anyway, as it catches a lot quicker, then throttle back to a fast idle, ~1100 rpm as it starts.
Click to expand...

For cold starts he manual available from the VP website says " put it in the max position"
 
Chris_Robb said:
That I take is is only for the moment you pull up the shut off valve? I would hate to start at full throttle especially if standing for a long time.
Click to expand...

The engine takes a few seconds to reach max rpm so as soon as the engine starts and revs begin to rise you reduce the throttle lever to a high tick over. Unlike a modern engine these engine's components are quite heavy so it takes a few seconds for the revs to increase. If you stand and do nothing, yes the engine will reach max rpm.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top