Volvo Md2040 engine

[chrisgee]

I am looking a a boat with one of the above engines fitted. I was getting quite keen until Iseem to be finding what seems to be a lot of problems with this engine.
It appears
to be fitted to a lot of 11-12m boats and I wondered what other forumites may have found the reliability actually like?

 

[johnalison]

Is it going to be any different to the other 20X0 engines which are used in large numbers? On my 2030 the only thing that people grumble about commonly is the exhaust elbow. We've done about 3500 hrs with only the elbow and normal replacements.

 

[seadog30]

Hi

Our 30ft ketch was fitted with a Perkins 9107 (36hp) it was noisy, rough, dirty and so big that it was almost imposssible to reach for maintenance. We replaced it with a reconditioned MD2040A. What a difference, although expensive in that we also had to change the gearbox, shaft, seals prop etc, etc It transformed the boat being smaller, lighter more powerfull but quiet and with the bonus that the bilge remained free of oil.

The cost of service spares is no more than the Perkins.

I would totally recomend the MD2040

 

[Kinsale373]

Ive a MD2040 on my Bene 373. 37 feet. I've had it for 3 seasons and have done a bit of research on them. Im delighted with the engine.
You have to watch the Exhaust Elbow as mentioned earlier. Replace every 4/5 seasons is what Im being told. I had mine replaced when I purchased. Actually ,Id insist on this prior to purchase. Mine needed replacing ok.
Its the original engine in a 2004 boat,
I did de scale my heat exchanger and the complete fresh water cooling system as pm job , well worth doing I think.
I stripped the heat exchanger afterwards to verify its condition and was happy with what I saw. The rubber end caps make this an easy enough operation, Check these for deterioration.
She pushes the Bene along at 6 Kn in most conditions at 2200revs . Nice and Quiet and economical enough.
all Ive had to do is standard servicing. Its actually a Perkins Block so service parts are readily available. I use Baldwin filters as they are much more economial that Volvo.
Parts seem to be readily available generally.
Do buy a fuel Squeezy Bubble Pump for priming after Dielel Filter change as the primer pump on the engine is useless!

Generally delighted with the 2040

Kinsale 373

 

[SV Kittiwake]

The cost of service spares is no more than the Perkins.

You can use Perkins service spares for most things on the Volvo as it's a green painted Perkins. Parts4engines has the Perkins equivalent bits and sell a decent stainless exhaust elbow.

 

[Kinsale373]

Thats interesting Kittiwake, Ill take a look at the SS elbow.
Thanks Kinsale 373

 

[Pavalijo]

The MD 2040B fitted to our 1997 launched Moody S38 has never let us down (wood touched as I type) in the 6 years and 500 hours or so that we have owned the boat. We changed the exhaust elbow 2 years ago at around 2,000 engine hours. It was a bit blocked but not showing any symptoms and we changed as a precaution as the elbow was at least 10 years old (as far back as our records go) and appeared to be original fit possibly. If you need to change every 4 years as suggested then I would suggest that you need to open the throttle up a bit as these engines like to work!
We have cleaned out the heat exchanger once (due again this spring) and had an engineer adjust valve clearances twice (again another job for this year).
My original engineer (a Yanmar man) had a high opinion of this engine. I asked him if I should replace it before setting off on our 10-15 year cruise rather than see it deteriorate as it passed 20 years old and give us problems, but he said that the engine could outlive me!
We use no more than 2.5litres an hour at 2300/2400 rpm - although our propeller is underpitched so that may change when we replace it this year.
I have no experience of other engines (except servicing my Beetle many years ago) but am happy I have this one. That said another 10hp for our heavy ish boat plus cruising stuff might be preferable!

 

[Kinsale373]

I meant to say that I descaled the Salt water side of the cooling loop on my MD2040 and not the Fresh water side! Nobody's reading my posts anymore! Normally Id have been corrected for such a slip!
Kinsale 373

 

[chrisgee]

Is it going to be any different to the other 20X0 engines which are used in large numbers? On my 2030 the only thing that people grumble about commonly is the exhaust elbow. We've done about 3500 hrs with only the elbow and normal replacements.

Thanks for all responders --- put my mind at rest.