CPD
Well-Known Member
Anyone got one and care to comment on the good / bad / ugly. One is fitted in a potential vessel I am looking at (34footer) to a fixed two blade prop via a volvo seal. A sensible set-up ??
Volvo D1-30 engine reports
- Thread starter CPD
- Start date
Ruffles
Well-Known Member
Don't they have the electronic engine control? I'd be wary of that. Volvo Penta have a reputation for buying in cheap electronics and selling replacements at huge prices.
Do VP actually make anything themselves?
Do VP actually make anything themselves?
jackho
Well-Known Member
Have D-30 with 130 saildrive combo on my boat not aware of any problems or issues. It is badged Perkins also but dont have the model no.
Also not aware of electronic eng. controls as they look standard to me and similar to my previous boat with 2030 engine. Hope this helps.
Also not aware of electronic eng. controls as they look standard to me and similar to my previous boat with 2030 engine. Hope this helps.
Wunja
Well-Known Member
I've had a VP seal for half a season and it hasn't leaked a drop and there isn't grease all over the bilge.
I know, not exactly a long term test!
I know, not exactly a long term test!
Ceejay
Well-Known Member
Got one of these set ups. Only 260 hours so far.
No leaks from shaft, but surprised to read recently that the shaft seal should be replaced at 500 hours!
I have a push button switch panel and can't say I'm too impressed. Its too easy to forget to switch off the ignition. Also have just traced an electrical fault, whereby the rev counter and hour meter didn't work, to a dodgy connector on the interface cable which was located inside the pedestal.
No mechanical problems with the engine & gearbox yet, but have had to deal with chafed water hose, fuel pipe and wiring loom rubbing against rear of alternator so its worth checking for this sort of thing early on.
Runs well though and economy is excellent.
CJ
No leaks from shaft, but surprised to read recently that the shaft seal should be replaced at 500 hours!
I have a push button switch panel and can't say I'm too impressed. Its too easy to forget to switch off the ignition. Also have just traced an electrical fault, whereby the rev counter and hour meter didn't work, to a dodgy connector on the interface cable which was located inside the pedestal.
No mechanical problems with the engine & gearbox yet, but have had to deal with chafed water hose, fuel pipe and wiring loom rubbing against rear of alternator so its worth checking for this sort of thing early on.
Runs well though and economy is excellent.
CJ
Last edited:
Ceejay
Well-Known Member
Should have said, my set up has a three bladed prop.
CJ
CJ
rickf
Active Member
not exactly the same but here's my 2 cents worth.
installed a d2 almost 2 years ago. I think the engine
is great - except the electronic "black box" that controls
the start and glow plugs. This has failed. the circuit
board burnt out on passage. I noticed it because all of a
sudden, I was using 60 amps power. yes, the glow plugs
stayed on. so, disconnect. the good news is its easy to start the engine with this.
As for the prop seal, one was on the boat (1985) when I
bought it in 2000. it started leaking in 2003. I didn't even
know who;s it was until we replaced it, and with the replacement found that we should grease it every 200 hours.
its worked fine since. just grease it when you change the gear oil, and don't forget to "burp" it when putting the boat back in the water after haulout. need some water in it.
rickf
installed a d2 almost 2 years ago. I think the engine
is great - except the electronic "black box" that controls
the start and glow plugs. This has failed. the circuit
board burnt out on passage. I noticed it because all of a
sudden, I was using 60 amps power. yes, the glow plugs
stayed on. so, disconnect. the good news is its easy to start the engine with this.
As for the prop seal, one was on the boat (1985) when I
bought it in 2000. it started leaking in 2003. I didn't even
know who;s it was until we replaced it, and with the replacement found that we should grease it every 200 hours.
its worked fine since. just grease it when you change the gear oil, and don't forget to "burp" it when putting the boat back in the water after haulout. need some water in it.
rickf
Ceejay
Well-Known Member
Might be worth mentioning that when I spoke with Volvo agent re my electrical problem he checked that my engine number didn't correspond with a batch that had been fitted with faulty electronic " black boxes".
Mine hadn't and as I previously posted the problem was traced to a bad connection within a connector block on the interface cable.
It would seem however that there was a faulty batch of units at one time and perhaps not all been changed yet.
CJ
Mine hadn't and as I previously posted the problem was traced to a bad connection within a connector block on the interface cable.
It would seem however that there was a faulty batch of units at one time and perhaps not all been changed yet.
CJ
Quandary
Well-Known Member
My similar size boat (Finngulf 33) has a D1-30B but like most Scandanavian boats has a saildrive and Volvo 3 blade folder, the boat and engine have now done 2 seasons with approaching 200 hrs. motoring. There was a Volvo recall last winter but here in W. Scotland the Volvo service and advice from both Macdonalds and Crinan Boats is good (if a little lacking in modern PR skills) This is the quietest set up I have experienced in any boat, (in the cockpit you have to listen for the raw water discharge at low revs. to check if it is running) power is good, as is economy. We run at 1900- 2200 revs. depending on weather or tide and burn 2 litres per hr. at 6.5 kts. In extremis I can get just over 8kts. at over 3000 revs. but it then burns close to 7 litres per hr. Note though that the Finngulf is very easily driven and has a very efficient underwater shape and the 3 blade folder is considerably more powerful than a 2 blade both ahead and astern. The engine has indirect cooling and I have found that it can overheat if running under no load for extended periods. (The boat is berthed in the Crinan Canal so I switch off if held up in the locks) The only thing I can not comment on is long time durability but my previous boat a Sigma 38 with a VP 2003 is still going well after 20 years with the only engine problems related to dirty fuel. I know that VP have a reputation for making most of their profit on parts distribution but if you live in a remote location its a comfort to know that everything you might need is only about 48 hrs. away.