Volvo 2030 - thoughts?

[Tintin]

Hi, what is the 2030 like? Good, bad, indifferent?

Are there known common problems to look out for?

Or should I be overjoyed (excpet for official spare costs) ?

 

[john_morris_uk]

It's a Volvo badged Perkins. We have the 2040 variant which is essentially the same engine.

I understand them to be pretty reliable well built engines. The later ones have a better way of attaching the bottom bracket of the alternator. The Volvo specific spares can be expensive, but in my experience they are no more expensive than Yanmar spares etc. Use one of the specialist suppliers (eg Volspec etc) for bits and buy the equivalent filters from specialist dealers is the usual advise.

The full workshop manual is online and I've got it as a PDF if you need it. (It was scanned from my original one anyway!)

 

[jbweston]

I had one in my old boat and have a newer Yanmar in my new boat. These comments are as user and owner, not as engineer.

The 2030 had done 1900 hours by the time I sold her. No big problems just usual maintenance and routine replacements (like throttle cable, corroded cooling water pipe, impellers etc).

I kept a fuel log and it used between 1.4 and 1.9 litres an hour in my Sadler 34, depending on how much welly I gave it and sea conditions.

It was in production a long time (maybe still is for all I know). At the risk of over-generalising, I guess it's not too much different from other diesels of its generation. Smoother and quieter than older designs, and not as smooth and quiet as newer ones - but good or bad mounting and insulation masks most of that difference. More simple than those new ones with common rail injection. I'm not sure there's much to choose between major makes. If you're buying a secondhand boat, how the engine has been installed and treated is ten times more important than the make (as long as you aren't buying a long-obsolete engine or one of the few well publicised dog models which the 2030 isn't).

Yes it's a rebadged Perkins. I seem to recall Perkins got it from Kubota, so the basic engine powers land machinery. You can get filters etc that are branded but non-Volvo and cheaper, if you can be bothered. There are a lot of Volvo dealers around and just being able to wander up the marina and get spares may be worth paying a bit more than taking the trouble to find a plant hire spares supplier.

People have preferences for makes. A bit like Ford/Vauxhall/Toyota brand loyalty, but in truth they all make decent cars nowadays.

So if buying secondhand, I'd check out the service log/invoices, does the engine look well-maintained (or recently painted to cover the rust), does the owner look shifty when questioned about it. If in doubt get a diesel guy to look at it, check compression etc. But no different from buying a Yanmar or Beta. If it's in a new boat, I'd choose the boat on other criteria than make of diesel.

Hope that helps.

 

[tillergirl]

I have a 2030B (1995) and I like it very much. Smooth and quiet. In that time apart from normal services I have had a small pin prick hole in the water pipe where it enters to Gearbox (easy to repair and not expensive) and one new exhaust elbow (these do clog and/or corrode), simple to replace and not that dear from Keypart. Oh and the light display on the instrument panel went. That was quite dear as I recall. One replacement set of glow plugs as well and front engine mounts. That's it in 17 years. I would have another.

 

[Tranona]

Excellent engine. Smooth and quiet, especially when used with a Saildrive. As said a Perkins engine built in Japan in a partnership with Shibaura (not Kubota) and also used on construction equipment and other industrial uses. Went out of production around 2005 after over 20 years. No specific issues except perhaps the water pump which is a bit of a pig to get off to change seals and bearings. Mine has done over 3500 hours and runs as well as it did when new.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

So if buying secondhand, I'd check out the service log/invoices, does the engine look well-maintained (or recently painted to cover the rust), does the owner look shifty when questioned about it. If in doubt get a diesel guy to look at it, check compression etc. But no different from buying a Yanmar or Beta. If it's in a new boat, I'd choose the boat on other criteria than make of diesel.

Hope that helps.

Does anyone keep an engine service log? After all, do many people actually pay someone else to do the simple filter and oil changes that is all a small yacht auxiliary actually needs?

The 2030 is a decnt enough engine of jap design and manufacture ( not kubota but i cant remember the name) assembled and marinised over here. Mine is now approaching 20 years old with no significant problems. There are minor issues - the tacho hours meter fails, there is often a small lube oil weap near the diesel injector pump and it does need decent antifreeze since some of the engine parts are ally and you can get corrosion.

 

[Allergy]

I have a 2030B (1995) and I like it very much. Smooth and quiet. In that time apart from normal services I have had a small pin prick hole in the water pipe where it enters to Gearbox (easy to repair and not expensive) and one new exhaust elbow (these do clog and/or corrode), simple to replace and not that dear from Keypart. Oh and the light display on the instrument panel went. That was quite dear as I recall. One replacement set of glow plugs as well and front engine mounts. That's it in 17 years. I would have another.

+1 with the new exhaust elbow & mine's that vintage too.

 

[jbweston]

Does anyone keep an engine service log? After all, do many people actually pay someone else to do the simple filter and oil changes that is all a small yacht auxiliary actually needs?

. . .

I always noted maintenance dates and engine hours in my main log even though I did the routine work myself- but I think I'd keep a separate maintenance log (not just engine maintenance) if I was chartering a boat out as I wouldn't trust the charterers not to drop the main log overboard, if they kept it up at all! Also if the gas exploded or engine caught fire I'd want evidence of maintenance back in the office to show the insurance company or DTI when they came a-calling. So if the OP is buying an ex-charter or school boat, I think he could expect to find there are maintenance logs.

 

[SvenglishTommy]

Very good engines, I have a 2030 on my current boat and a 2010 on my previous.

Never had any major problems on either.

I have a 2030B (1995) and I like it very much. Smooth and quiet. In that time apart from normal services I have had a small pin prick hole in the water pipe where it enters to Gearbox (easy to repair and not expensive) and one new exhaust elbow (these do clog and/or corrode), simple to replace and not that dear from Keypart. Oh and the light display on the instrument panel went. That was quite dear as I recall. One replacement set of glow plugs as well and front engine mounts. That's it in 17 years. I would have another.

Very good points, I carry a spare exhaust elbow and tne glow plugs do need replacing from time to time. I've also had problems with the control panels. Needed to replace the lights on one, and the hour counter was gone on both.

 

[cmedsailor]

How long do you expect the exhaust elbow to last?
I have just ordered one, not because the old one is blocked (well I have never checked it but the engine behaves OK) but since I am planning a big trip this summer I will prefer to have a new one installed. The engine is 11 years old (MD2030D) with around 2300 miles.
I have replaced the glow plugs once.

 

[Tintin]

How long do you expect the exhaust elbow to last?
I have just ordered one, not because the old one is blocked (well I have never checked it but the engine behaves OK) but since I am planning a big trip this summer I will prefer to have a new one installed. The engine is 11 years old (MD2030D) with around 2300 miles.

How much was it?

 

[cmedsailor]

How much was it?

162 pounds from "keypart" (excl. delivery charges). Have a look on their website, it includes prices.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

How long do you expect the exhaust elbow to last?
I have just ordered one, not because the old one is blocked (well I have never checked it but the engine behaves OK) but since I am planning a big trip this summer I will prefer to have a new one installed. The engine is 11 years old (MD2030D) with around 2300 miles.
I have replaced the glow plugs once.

Mine went at 15 years old as it happens. Corroded through.

 

[Tintin]

Thanks all.

So in summary a good reliable engine with relatively minor ongoing maintenance issues. Perfect.

 

[tillergirl]

How long do you expect the exhaust elbow to last?
I have just ordered one, not because the old one is blocked (well I have never checked it but the engine behaves OK) but since I am planning a big trip this summer I will prefer to have a new one installed. The engine is 11 years old (MD2030D) with around 2300 miles.
I have replaced the glow plugs once.

I replaced the elbow during its 15th winter - engine was still running well but was a little sooty; the glow plugs I think went around 12th/13th.

 

[halb]

I had one of these on my old Trident 30, yes a good engine, but DO CHECK the engine mounting brackets, the Volvo ones are prone to fail, mine did and the Trident nearly sank, this fault was written up in PBO some years ago.
Jon

 

[Baggywrinkle]

My MD2030C has done approx. 5300hrs in 14 years (ex-charter boat) and I've just replaced a load of oil seals, gaskets and bits and pieces as it had to come out to replace the saildrive seal (every 7 years). It's running fine, no funny noises or smoke. Very basic, no turbo, no electronics to speak of - nice engine.

 

[Allergy]

How long do you expect the exhaust elbow to last?
I have just ordered one, not because the old one is blocked (well I have never checked it but the engine behaves OK) but since I am planning a big trip this summer I will prefer to have a new one installed. The engine is 11 years old (MD2030D) with around 2300 miles.
I have replaced the glow plugs once.

I replaced mine this year, not bad for 17 years use. Got mine from Keypart if it's helpful.

 

[Slowtack]

Anybody know if the older VP2003 is easily replaced by a 2030 and if the saildrive connections are compatible?

 

[Tranona]

If it is a 120 saildrive it is the same. You will need to check that the front mountings are the same as they are part of the bed moulding. However, the 2030 is long out of production so unless you are lucky enough to find a secondhand one you will need to go to the newer D1-30 which will fit on the same saildrive, but the gear ratio is different as the engine is lower revving. If you are making a change, better to replace the drive as well. The newer drive has a better anode arrangement. You may well find a Volvo dealer will do a good deal on a complete new unit. Worth it if you are keeping the boat.