Volvo Penta 2030C Heat Exchanger

[WalshamUK]

I have a Beneteau 361 Oceanis with a Volvo Penta 2030C diesel engine (engine dates from 2001). I have removed the heat exchanger (after much struggle with the rubber boots at either end) to clean it - many of the tubes were blocked with silt/dirt. When replacing the heat exchanger, the Volvo workshop manual says that I should ...

"Fit the insert in the heat exchanger. NOTE! Make sure that the insert is positioned correctly. Make
sure that the hole in the insert casing comes opposite the hole in the housing and that the vent hole
comes upwards. The insert is marked with "UP".

Mine doesn't have a hole in the insert casing or a vent hole, and after much looking I can't see anything marked 'UP'. Has the design changed? My heat exchanger seems to be perfectly symmetrical, it's just a bundle of 34 copper tubes. Does any of this matter?

Should I replace the heat exchanger back as it was (I marked it carefully) and hope that the previous owner of the boat knew what he was doing, or am I missing something.

All thoughts gratefully received.

Keith J.

 

[VicS]

I have a Beneteau 361 Oceanis with a Volvo Penta 2030C diesel engine (engine dates from 2001). I have removed the heat exchanger (after much struggle with the rubber boots at either end) to clean it - many of the tubes were blocked with silt/dirt. When replacing the heat exchanger, the Volvo workshop manual says that I should ...

"Fit the insert in the heat exchanger. NOTE! Make sure that the insert is positioned correctly. Make
sure that the hole in the insert casing comes opposite the hole in the housing and that the vent hole
comes upwards. The insert is marked with "UP".

Mine doesn't have a hole in the insert casing or a vent hole, and after much looking I can't see anything marked 'UP'. Has the design changed? My heat exchanger seems to be perfectly symmetrical, it's just a bundle of 34 copper tubes. Does any of this matter?

Should I replace the heat exchanger back as it was (I marked it carefully) and hope that the previous owner of the boat knew what he was doing, or am I missing something.

All thoughts gratefully received.

Keith J.

First reaction is to say that you've missed something........ but part numbers are different for C&D series compared with A & B series. ( the whole heat exchanger is slightly different) Water (engine coolant) must be able to flow around the outside of the tubes within the bundle and without trapping air. Thats why the holes were there. Is the new type a more open construction?

 

[duncan99210]

Looking at the exploded diagrams of the heat exchanger on the marine parts Europe site, the core looks as if it lives inside a sleeve with only about 20 or so tubes. Perhaps the OP has either a pattern part or similar which does not match the original part?

 

[WalshamUK]

Looking at the exploded diagrams of the heat exchanger on the marine parts Europe site, the core looks as if it lives inside a sleeve with only about 20 or so tubes. Perhaps the OP has either a pattern part or similar which does not match the original part?

Well mine certainly has 20 tubes in the outside layer, and 14 tubes in the inside layer. How do I tell if it's an original part? There are no markings on it whatsoever.

Keith J.

 

[mickbond]

Hi

I had the same query when I cleaned my 2030 (2005) heat exchanger. The Volvo instructions refer to the earlier type of core in which the tubes were enclosed within a sleeve. The small hole needed to be at the top to make sure that all the air was expelled. Later original heat exchangers do not have this sleeve so have no "top" and can be fitted anyway up.

 

[wiggy]

Hi

I had the same query when I cleaned my 2030 (2005) heat exchanger. The Volvo instructions refer to the earlier type of core in which the tubes were enclosed within a sleeve. The small hole needed to be at the top to make sure that all the air was expelled. Later original heat exchangers do not have this sleeve so have no "top" and can be fitted anyway up.

That's how mine is on a 2020d, core goes n any way round, be really careful that the boots sit properly. The previous owner, or mechanic, had fitted mine incorrectly,. The thermostat failed due to corrosion by salt water, resulting in a seized engine and a £2200 rebuild.

 

[Allergy]

I have a Beneteau 361 Oceanis with a Volvo Penta 2030C diesel engine (engine dates from 2001). I have removed the heat exchanger (after much struggle with the rubber boots at either end) to clean it - many of the tubes were blocked with silt/dirt.

I had the tubes blocking up on my 2020 so fitted a raw water strainer(Vetus in this case) & haven't had any further problems. The muck stops in the strainer & is easy to keep clean. Hope this helps
"

 

[WalshamUK]

Hi

I had the same query when I cleaned my 2030 (2005) heat exchanger. The Volvo instructions refer to the earlier type of core in which the tubes were enclosed within a sleeve. The small hole needed to be at the top to make sure that all the air was expelled. Later original heat exchangers do not have this sleeve so have no "top" and can be fitted anyway up.

Many thanks for that. So Volvo have indeed changed the design, I'm not missing anything. I'm very reassured by your msg.

Keith

 

[WalshamUK]

I have a Beneteau 361 Oceanis with a Volvo Penta 2030C diesel engine (engine dates from 2001). I have removed the heat exchanger (after much struggle with the rubber boots at either end) to clean it - many of the tubes were blocked with silt/dirt.

I had the tubes blocking up on my 2020 so fitted a raw water strainer(Vetus in this case) & haven't had any further problems. The muck stops in the strainer & is easy to keep clean. Hope this helps
"

I have a Vetus raw water strainer fitted, but silt still gets through (big bits don't), and the muck eventually accumulates in the heat exchanger pipes. Mind you the boat is 14 years old now, and I doubt that the heat exchanger pipes have been cleaned in the last decade or so.

Keith

 

[WalshamUK]

That's how mine is on a 2020d, core goes n any way round, be really careful that the boots sit properly. The previous owner, or mechanic, had fitted mine incorrectly,. The thermostat failed due to corrosion by salt water, resulting in a seized engine and a £2200 rebuild.

Eek I will be very careful. I have purchased 2 new rubber boots which I intend to to ensure a good seal, and I will monitor the level of freshwater coolant very closely for the first few hours of running.

The previous person who fitted the exhaust elbow on my engine didn't take any care, as the exhaust elbow was fitted without a gasket. Which explains why seawater was leaking out. Some people ...

Keith

 

[WalshamUK]

Many many thanks to all who contributed to this thread. You have all helped enormously. I now understand why the Volvo manual's instructions for refitting the heat exchanger are incorrect, plus I have found the source of my leaking seawater - no gasket between the exhaust elbow and the heat exchanger body.

Here's hoping that the rebuild goes smoothly.

Keith