Volvo MD22 or Ford XLD1800? opinions please

[contessaman]

Considering one of the above to replace a MD21b.

Like the idea of both as they are both automotive based engines which makes for cheap and plentiful spares.

application is yacht auxiliary.

Anyone have any good or bad experiences with either engines?

My old escort van had the 1800 xld in it and that went on forever. I don't have any experience of the lancing marine kit.

I hate the MD21. But the 22 is a perkins base so must be better.

anyway, over to the floor. what have you got to say about it?

 

[Tranona]

The MD 22 is in fact a BL engine base, converted to diesel by Perkins. Originally used in countless Maestros, Montegos, Taxis and LDV vans. Marinised by Volvo at varying states of tune from 50-75hp. Good choice, but it has been out of production for several years, so will be second hand. Ford XLD, although good in its day (25 years ago) is way obsolete and perhaps not a good long term choice.

Good secondhand engines of this type are not easy to find - why would anybody replace a perfectly good engine?, and although the Ford can be marinised with aftermarket parts, you need a Volvo complete engine as there are some vital differences in the layout of the marine version. Fitting an old engine in place of an even older, different type of engine is not always as easy as it looks.

If the boat is a long term investment then a new engine is worth consideration. Not only are the new engines better, but you will need to do similar work fitting it to a secondhand engine. Having an engine based on a popular automotive engine does not really give too much of an advantage with spares, as rarely do boat engines require anything serious done to the base engine, it is the marinised bits that require replacements - and most of those such as impellers, belts, filters etc are widely available from non original sources. Most new engines are based on high volume industrial engines and again base engine spares if required are freely available.

 

[Robin]

Considering one of the above to replace a MD21b.

Like the idea of both as they are both automotive based engines which makes for cheap and plentiful spares.

application is yacht auxiliary.

Anyone have any good or bad experiences with either engines?

My old escort van had the 1800 xld in it and that went on forever. I don't have any experience of the lancing marine kit.

I hate the MD21. But the 22 is a perkins base so must be better.

anyway, over to the floor. what have you got to say about it?

We replaced a Mercedes OM636 42hp with a MD22L 50hp on our then Westerly 33 and it was excellent. We chose the green painted Volvo version over the blue painted Perkins Prima version (same engine) because at that time Volvo gave a 5 year warranty and their gearbox could be configured to run either way, meaning we could retain the same stern prop-kick to port in reverse that we had gotten so used to. The MD22L fitted into our W33 engine space better than the original Mercedes had done, allowing more space to get at the service bits. Catch was Volvo's warranty insisted on it being serviced by Volvo dealers.

 

[spockdb]

md21b

Can I have you old md21b. for spares

 

[DownWest]

As for 1.8 XLDs Common as dirt in Fords. When I needed one for my pick up, the local scrappy had a selection, all at milages that would last for many years in boats. Three month warranty too.

But Tranona makes a lot of sense.

 

[Heckler]

Can I have you old md21b. for spares

Ludd, of this parish, had one sitting alongside his boat in Faro a month ago.
S

 

[Heckler]

Considering one of the above to replace a MD21b.

Like the idea of both as they are both automotive based engines which makes for cheap and plentiful spares.

application is yacht auxiliary.

Anyone have any good or bad experiences with either engines?

My old escort van had the 1800 xld in it and that went on forever. I don't have any experience of the lancing marine kit.

I hate the MD21. But the 22 is a perkins base so must be better.

anyway, over to the floor. what have you got to say about it?

The MD22 in my boat is 16 years old, still going strong but being a pragmatist! I have sourced automotive water pumps, fuel pumps etc cheaply but even they are getting thin on the ground! When was the last time you saw a Maestro or Montego? I saw a second hand engine going for £3.5k, they must be having a laugh! You can buy a brand new chinese one off a forumite for that!
S

 

[jerrytug]

I was trying to buy a yacht a few months ago, fitted with an XLD. I looked into situation, as it was a nice boat apart from a worn out motor.
New engines were not available, Lancing marine had a couple of old ones from scrapyards, the spares supply is rapidly drying up.
They used to be common, no longer though. They weren't that great to start with, and now every single one has been thrashed round the clock in delivery vans etc.
Sad to say it but Jap is the logical way to go, cheers Jerry

 

[Bobc]

The base engine for the MD22 (the Perkins Prima) is a good solid workhorse, however the Volvo bits (the heat exchanger etc) can be somewhat troublesome and a bloody expensive to replace.

As an example, for the cost of a new heat exchanger, you could buy a whole new Chinese engine.

As had been said above, both these models are obsolete. Just go and get one of the Marine Power Chinese jobs.