Volvo Penta 2002 fuel consumption

[LORDNELSON]

The guide to my engine states that the engine will use 1 (one) gallon of diesel per hour. This seemed high and so I have been checking; so far my studies show a use of 1 (one) litre per hour. It would be re-assuring if a few other owners of the 2002 engine could state their use figure. Thank you.

 

[Gothik29]

When we used to have a VP 2002 in our Westerly Storm 33 we used between 1.25 and 1.5 litres per hour at around 2,200 to 2,400 rpm. This used to drive us between 4 and 5.5 knots depending on sea/ wind conditions.

No idea what speed you'd need to be driving the engine to use 4.54 litres an hour?

 

[Boomshanka]

My VP1010S (saildrive) 10Hp uses between 0.8 to 1 litre per hour at 2300-2500rpm to get about 4.5 knots.

 

[KenMcCulloch]

Something like 0.15litres/hp/hour is a good guide. Bear in mind that such ready reckoning formula are for actually power used rather than the rating of the engine so a 25 hp engine at 60% might use a couple of litres per hour.....

 

[Tranona]

Specific fuel consumption, that is amount of fuel in relation to power produced varies very little from engine to engine so consumption over time at particular power outputs is fairly constant and 1.25-1.5 litres an hour is the normal range for a nominal 20hp size engine, which is in fact only producing between 10 and 12 hp at cruising revs.

The variables are speed achieved and distance travelled for a given amount of power. These are affected by weight, propeller efficiency, resistance (for example from dirty bottom), wind/weather conditions and sea state. So, for example if you needed to increase power output through higher revs by 30% to maintain way against conditions, consumption per hour would rise by a similar amount.

This subject comes up regularly and many forumites have submitted both detailed graphs and empirical evidence, most of which are consistent with the rule of thumb above.

 

[LORDNELSON]

Thank you. We are using the VP 2002 on a Westerly Merlin which is presumably, more easily driven than a Storm at, usually, around 2300 rpm giving a speed of about 5 knots. I am only measuring the usage by means of a dip stick in the diesel tank so a number of extra observations will be needed to obtain more accuracy. Thanks to everyone for their contribution.