Volvo Penta service schedules

[dkm]

I've been contemplating VP service schedules - many boaters average 50- 60 hours per season yet VP service schedules state many items need replacement every 200 hours or once per year. Same for items needing replacing every 5 years or 600 hours. For low hours boaters are they overservicing certain items? I can understand the need to change oil every year regardless but what about for example air filters? Do you need to change them every year if you only do 50 hours ( VP recommend once per year or 200 hours). Same for fuel filters.
Any opinions welcomed

 

[Pendana]

I'm lucky to get 50 to 60 hours in a season - think it was about 20 last year! Tend to change engine oil and filters (oil & air) every year. Outdrive oil is drained every year to check for emulsification and if ok put back and changed the following year. Still think thats a bit over the top - the cars gearbox oil never gets changed.

Eddie

 

[spannerman]

Air filters can go the full 200 hrs unless you have an engine that breathes heavy and vents to the airfilter which will shorten its life.
All oils and related filters I would change anually, most boat engines usually live in a cooler environment than your car so condensation is a factor here, especially on low useage. Fuel filters I consider cheap insurance, there is nothing more scary than engines that stop or playup without warning just when you need them most, due to contaminated filters. Balance the cost of filters against possible repairs to the boat or someone elses if the motor dies when berthing, or more importantly life and limb in bad weather.
Its not for nothing the coastguard stats say that most callouts are fuel related.
Drive oil changes are the only way of monitoring the health of your drive, if it has water in it and you don't discover it at the end of this season it will cost you a lot more after its sat there all winter quietly rusting the gears, bearings, clutches etc.

 

[SpiderDiver]

What's your thinking on coolant changes - think Volvo quote every 2 years?

 

[A_8]

Coolant changes are interesting, if you don't change it the water will get rusty which indicates the block is rusting from the inside. The engine would probably still work for quite some time (decades) but do you really want this?

Its also a great tell on how the engines have been cared for and serviced. Take a look at the colour of the expansion tank, clear green or muddy brown....

I find it interesting, many adverts state immaculate and then a pic of the engines showing the coolant has probably never been changed.

It will start to rust slightly after the 2 year mark, rust in the coolant will be clearly visible after 3 yrs.

 

[Elza_Skip]

I tend to do 50 - 80 hours so do all the annual service items including air and breather filters. Air filters seems suprisingly dirty so probably a good idea. I also do fuel filters, but leave these to spring in case I have any diesel bug build up over the winter.

I have changed the coolant once at 3 years and will do again at the next 3 years. After 2 years it still looks like new, but if any doubt change it.

Valve clearances I checked at 200 total hours and belts at 200 hours