Volvo Penta D4 Diagnostics.

[NickNoBananas]

Oh, I know I'm going to be weeping at the replies....!
I have a Beneteau Antares 9.8 with two VP D4 225s, which I've had no problems with over 3 years and 150 hrs.
Went out as normal after checking all coolant and oil levels. After 4 hrs cruising, had an alarm on BOTH engines within 2 minutes of each other. There was no overheating, dials were otherwise normal, so returned at slow speed.
Back in the Marina, the EVC diagnostics were giving 3.2.4, which doesn't match anything in the handbook. The sump dipsticks are dry of oil.
Does anyone have any idea what may have happened before I remortgage the house and call out the VP engineer?
Thank you.

 

[volvopaul]

Do you mean the dipsticks have no oil level showing when you push them back in?

There may be a low oil level sensor in the sump as per the d6 d9 and d12.

THere is also a wiring loom that goes to the sensor, if the water level in the bilge touches the sensor wires, assuming no sensor is fitted it will short across the terminals and give a signal to the evc saying low oil.

Id fill them up to max level incase its a low oil problem.

Of course you should investigate where the oil has gone, again assumimg the service engineer has done a proper job and filled the sump up to max level.

Another issue to do with the breathger filters have they been changed at the correct time, if blocked oil mayl be burnt into the air intake.

 

[aquatom]

Could the engines have frozen over the winter? (cracked oil coolers)

Was this the first trip this year?

Is there any oil under the engines?

 

[NickNoBananas]

Thanks for the helpful replies, which didn't mention engine rebuilds!. I've cancelled my call to the Samaritans for the moment.... It was indeed the first trip of the year, but the boat had been in the water all winterr, which hadn't previously been an issue. There was absolutely no oil showing at all on either dipstick. I couldn't understand why the diagnostic message (3.2.4 on each engine) was not in the handbook, and I can't find any website that would tell me what that might mean. My local VP engineer must be the most expensive in Europe and I'd prefer to have an inkling what's wrong before calling him out!
Your help is much appreciated, thank you.

 

[aquatom]

Mmmm.

The oil must have gone some where. Either burnt off (lots of smoke), in the coolant or out of the exhaust. I would try putting enough oil in the engines to register on the stick and then running one at a time just longenough for the oil preshure to build up, then stopping and checking on the surface of the water behind the boat for any oil.

Hope not too much damage done.

Tom

 

[[2068]]

The oil level can drop during the first run as the oil filters aren't filled until you run the engine.

I wouldn't expect that to cause the level to drop off the bottom of the dipstick, unless there wasn't enough oil in the sump in the first place.

 

[DavidJ]

The oil level can drop during the first run as the oil filters aren't filled until you run the engine.

I wouldn't expect that to cause the level to drop off the bottom of the dipstick, unless there wasn't enough oil in the sump in the first place.

Another vote for this suggestion. The fact that you made it back without the engines overheating and seizing (or making clanking noises) implies that there is some oil in there. Do the obvious and fill back up to max and run the diagnostics again. I'll put money on (just a little) that the fault is clear.

 

[NickNoBananas]

Gentlemen, bless you all!! What a fine resource this forum is...

Now my hands have stopped shaking and my throat's not so dry, I shall do what you say this weekend and keep my fingers crossed.

If the problem clears, I shall drop a cheque into the RNLI in gratitude to you all.

Thanks

 

[DavidJ]

It would be interesting to measure how much oil you have to put in to bring it up to max. If it's the same for both engines then it's down (I think) to poor practice by your maintenence guy.