Volvo MD2040B oil change

[Pavalijo]

Help!
I am changing the oil and can't get enough old oil out.

I believe the capacity to be 6.4l. The dipstick shows nearly full.

I ran the engine for 15 minutes to warm it up and then attached a suction pump to the scavenger pipe. Out came a little over 3.5 litres of very warm oil, but then lots of gurgling.

I sent the suction pipe down the dipstick tube and after finding the right level another half litre came out before gurgling.

I have tried oushing the tube down the scavenger pipe but it gets stuck at a sharp bend.

Surely I should be able to get more than 60% of the old oil out - any advice??

Many thanks,
Paul

 

[RichardS]

How large is the engine as that's a lot of oil?

It will include the oil filter which may well not drain back but, even so, I would so to get out more than that unless the engine is canted over at a significant angle, which might also mean you had less than 6.4L in there to start with.

Richard

 

[johnalison]

The manual qv gives a capacity of either 6.4 or 5.7 depending on which version, for the 2040. I normally get 3.5 or so from my 2030 by using the oil drainage pipe on the starboard side and have always assumed that this should drain the necessary amount, even though it is harder than using the dipstick hole.

 

[Pavalijo]

I have read online manuals saying as much as 7.3 litres, but my research some months ago suggested the figure posted earlier.
The oil capacity of the 2030 is much lower at 4.3 litres (same source that states 2040 at 7.3 litres).
I went ahead and refilled (having blown down the scavenger pipe by mouth (via a plastic tube) which indicated that the scavenger pipe was now above the oil level (no pressure or bubbling). I used a whisker under 5 litres to fill to the top line on the dipstick.
Whether the capacity is 6.2 or 7.3 litres, that seems to be a lot of oil to leave in the sump!

I may investigate the possibility of pulling the sump drain next time - the engine sits over a bunded area and it might just be easier and more effective to empty into that and pump out of the bund.

There is a reasonable gap under the engine, but I haven't had a feel around yet- would be interesting to hear the experience of any other 2040 owners??

 

[VicS]

How large is the engine as that's a lot of oil?

It will include the oil filter which may well not drain back but, even so, I would so to get out more than that unless the engine is canted over at a significant angle, which might also mean you had less than 6.4L in there to start with.

Richard

See the owners manuals !

The manual qv gives a capacity of either 6.4 or 5.7 depending on which version, for the 2040.

I have read online manuals saying as much as 7.3 litres, but my research some months ago suggested the figure posted earlier.

I am seeing 5.7 litres for the MD2040A and 7.3 litres for the later versions in the manuals on the VP website , but those figures include the oil filter and will almost certainly be for filling a dry engine.


The traditional style of pressed steel (??) sump appears to hold less oil than the later type of flat oil pan

 

[Pavalijo]

Thanks VicS, mine is the 2040B - I think! I will have to re-research that maybe!

 

[RichardS]

See the owners manuals !

I know we have this difference of opinion regularly Vic, but I am not going to start trawling through manuals unless the component/engine/boat is the same as mine and is therefore something I already have the manuals for.

I'm happy to give my opinion based on my experience but, as far as I'm concerned, looking up the details in the manual is the responsibility of the owner.

I don't do Google either .... if I don't know the answer to something based on my personal experience then I don't get involved.

Richard

 

[cmedsailor]

Just to write down my experience:
the manual of my MD2030 engine mentions that the oil capacity including the filter is 3,5 litres. I usually manage to extract only around 2,5 litres from the dipstick plus whatever is in the filter (not 1 litre for sure!). Many years ago after extracting the oil from the oilstick, I removed the plug at the bottom of the engine (not the easiest job to do) as I wanted to check how much oil was left. The result was only a spoonful of oil (around 30-40ml). Nothing to worry in other words. Now, where the remaining one litre of oil is I cannot answer....

 

[VicS]

Thanks VicS, mine is the 2040B - I think! I will have to re-research that maybe!

I think I got things the wrong way round regarding oil capacities and sump types for the earlier and later versions

Its the A and B series that have the flat oil pan ( and greater oil capacity) and C & D series that have the conventional oil sump ( with a smaller oil capacity) .

At least you can see which type you have! Sorry if I have confused the issue but I reckon your figure of 6.4 litres is the capacity without the oil filter

....

 

[tillergirl]

My manual is for the B series. It shows the 2040 at 7.3l.

 

[jac]

I have a 2040 b.

The oil filter does hold a good chunk but I've never measured. Guesstimate would be 1/3 of a litre. I use the dipstick hole and a Pela 6000 which holds 6 litres. Guestimate would be about 5.5 litres in the Pela and when I refill it tends to be just over 6 litres. ( including the filter)

I expect the manual to give a figure for a dry engine and to the middle of the min / max marks. I think the difference is with the missing oil remaining trapped on every surface it has touched in the engine and certainly in my case when about to change the oil ( usually at lift out in December) I will let the oil get down to the minimum mark so has probably got less than the manual says. ( and can't check as manual is on the boat)

 

[Ruffles]

For our MD2030B the user manual is plain wrong verified by drawing the sump plug. And I do empty the filter into the same can.

Suggest empty into an old calibrated oil container and replace with the same volume.

Don't overfill! I did that with mu Mum's Morris Ital. Dreadful mess. Lesson there is if you don't see the level on the dip stick the level may be above the dipstick!

 

[johnalison]

For our MD2030B the user manual is plain wrong verified by drawing the sump plug. And I do empty the filter into the same can.

Suggest empty into an old calibrated oil container and replace with the same volume.

Don't overfill! I did that with mu Mum's Morris Ital. Dreadful mess. Lesson there is if you don't see the level on the dip stick the level may be above the dipstick!

My engineer recommends filling to just above the maximum mark, when the surplus will be taken up by the filter. I haven't had the nerve to try.

 

[Cantata]

My engineer recommends filling to just above the maximum mark, when the surplus will be taken up by the filter. I haven't had the nerve to try.

Fill it to the max line. Start up, run the engine for a half-minute which will fill the filter, shut down, make a brew, drink it, then check the level again and top up.

 

[VicS]

My engineer recommends filling to just above the maximum mark, when the surplus will be taken up by the filter. I haven't had the nerve to try.

He will have done it so many times he will be able to judge the right "extra" amount of put in so that the level ends up on the full mark after the engine has been run.


You only have to measure the amount you have to add to top it up to the mark once and you will be able to do the same

 

[RichardS]

Don't overfill! I did that with mu Mum's Morris Ital. Dreadful mess. Lesson there is if you don't see the level on the dip stick the level may be above the dipstick!

Some dipsticks just don't show the oil level clearly, particularly when the oil is fresh and clear. I have a selection of cars on the drive at the moment and, if I recall correctly the one with the black dipstick is really difficult to read whereas the ones with the silver finish, especially the one with the cross-hatched area between the low and high marks, is much easier to see.

Richard

 

[johnalison]

He will have done it so many times he will be able to judge the right "extra" amount of put in so that the level ends up on the full mark after the engine has been run.


You only have to measure the amount you have to add to top it up to the mark once and you will be able to do the same

That's far too sensible. I could never cope with that.

 

[Pavalijo]

I have now had chance to look at the owner's manual - which says that the capacity is 7.3 litres. I only had my notes available when changing the oil (not sure where I got 6.3 litres from, perhaps that is what the engineer at Kip told me I would get out?)

I eventually got a little under 6litres in - so there is around 1.5litres old oil in there. I will have a look to see if I can draw the sump plug next time as that seems to be a lot of old oil and crud to leave behind!

Thanks for replies
Paul