Volvo Penta engine info

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DavidMcMullan

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Having sold my yacht with a 37hp engine, I am considering a move to a powerboat but have little familiarity with the larger engines.
Currently on the radar are a couple of Rodmans. Can anyone comment on any problems I should be aware of with the following engines:
a) a KAD260, 260 HP from 2001 with 450 hours
b) a KAD300, 285HP from 2003
c) a D4, 260HP from 2007 with 520 hours
Is the newer D4 a 'better' engine than the KAD?
 
KAD44 EDC / KAD300 are fundamentally the same engine. Potential big ticket issues at this age are Turbos, Superchargers and Oil Coolers. A decent engineer will be able to tell if all three are operating as they should (boat should pull close to max speed, shouldn't overheat and shouldn't have any oil leaks).

If any of these parts have been recently replaced then that's a bonus. Also look out for good service history, in particular the valve clearance should have been checked and adjusted every 2 years / 200 hours.

Other things to look out for are cracked fuel pipes and you may also wish to get the injectors tested and adjusted.

Engines should be good for a few thousand hours between re-builds.

Sorry, I don't know anything about D4's.
 
D4 - main thing to check out is the cooling system, no leaks from intercooler, heat exchanger, seawater strainer etc.
Also that temperatures are stable flat out.

Has the advantage of not requiring valve clearances to be adjusted, fuel consumption is good for the power output.
Downside is that there are more electronics, although mine have been reliable so far.
 
Is it worth mentioning the KAD series engines were designed from the off as marine engines and not marinised engines?
 
I'm sure VolvoPaul will be here shortly but here's what I've found over the years.

KAD44/300. The 300 has an electronic injector on cylinder No.1, the 44 is all mechanical. Check for oil sealing of the rocker cover, can be a sod to seal correctly.

Both need the oil cooler pulled and checked, not only do the coolers fur-up but the mounting base can corrode. Aftercoolers need to be checked, not a cheap item to replace. Heat exchangers should be checked for any blockage/build-up.

Sea water pump seals WILL weep after a while, see if they have been rebuilt at any point. Pretty simple to do.

The supercharger is pretty bullet proof with regular oil changes but the electric clutch can go.

Turbos are turbos, so do wear out. Do they smoke? An aftermarket one is about £850. Don't bother with a rebuild. The exhaust elbow does corrode too.

The drives. The 44 is on a DPE, a chuffin' great drive. The 300 is on a DPG and should be running 75W 140 oil rather than normal VP drive oil for the 290 DPE. Both could have naff gear selector and bottom-end seals that wear. Have the gear oil checked for milkiness.

Other than that, both great packages if looked after.

The newer D4 on a DPH drive is a whole new story with plenty of coverage on this forum.
 
simonfraser said:
same with KAD44's
they can be 'fun' the fix as the end caps tend to be tight
Click to expand...

Incorrect. The trim Rams may leak on DPEs, but can usually be avoided by leaving the leg trimmed fully down. Actually quite cheap and easy to fix if you know how.

petem said:
Simon, correct me if I'm wrong but I think the DPE suffers from leaking trim rams (an infrequent issue but a pain to fix) whereas the DPG sufferers from leaking steering rams (a frequent issue (every few years) but relatively easy to fix)?
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Correct. The DPH design means that one or both Rams are fully or partially exposed to fouling at all times. A stupid a design as I can imagine. Easy to fix they may be, but not cheap, unless someone has come up with a kit of parts. Replacement of the whole ram is the only remedy, as far as I know.
 
BruceK said:
So no way related to the Volvo D4 engines found in their cars? OK, my bad. I made that assumption.
Click to expand...

I know the Penta D3 is the same engine as the automotive D5. I would have thought there may have been other crossover in the range, but the D4 is a heavy old lump. Anyone know the answer for sure.
 
CLB said:
I know the Penta D3 is the same engine as the automotive D5. I would have thought there may have been other crossover in the range, but the D4 is a heavy old lump. Anyone know the answer for sure.
Click to expand...

D4/D6 are not found in any cars or trucks.
Engineered by Volvo Penta for marine use, with input from Deutz.
 
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BruceK said:
Is it worth mentioning the KAD series engines were designed from the off as marine engines and not marinised engines?
Click to expand...

Thanks. Every day is a school day on this forum. You have saved me from embarrassing myself in some future conversation. Thanks :encouragement:
 
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