Volvo Problem

[KevB]

Hi All,

Any one know anything about KAD43's? I have one which don't work too well.

I have two of the things in my sparkly new boat, they have done less then 10 hrs and now the port engine is playing up.

Peters are having a look at it today and so far have been very efficient, of course it's under warranty but just interested if anyone has an idea as to what the problem is.

The symptoms.

Both engines start first time, oil pressures and water temperatures are fine. Both engines pull away fine with their revs building together but when the port engine reaches 2500 black smoke/soot starts coming from the exhaust and the revs start to die. up to this point everything seems fine.

I can cruise at 2400 revs with no problem but as soon as 2500 is reached by the port engine down it goes.

I have had a look round and all bits are where they are supposed to be, what I have noticed is the supercharger cuts in at 1500revs and cuts out at ***2500*** revs. To me this points towards the turbo as it's not taking over when the supercharger stops.

Any thoughts anyone?

 

[boatone]

Having just got back from my diesel course on Saturday I can tell you with 'complete authority' that one cause of black smoke is 'Turbocharger failure'. Alll the other causes of black smoke we were given would probably be in evidence at lower revs as well. Any chance your ropes round prop problems may be associated?

TonyR
boatone@boatsontheweb.com
www.boatsonthethames.co.uk

 

[DepSol]

I have a single KAD 43 but have not experienced any probs, as you say sounds to me like Turdbos. Have you tried revving it very quickly then throttling back to see reaction or do you just rev it gradualy up to 2500?

Dom

 

[KevB]

Hope not, Cant see how? Turned out to be a bit of fishing net around the rear prop, not very much tho.
The turbo is not directly connected to anything to do with the legs/props and is just an expensive blower.

 

[KevB]

both engines work fine out of gear but if turbos on boats are similar to cars then they dont supply any boost when the engine isn't under pressure?

Everything is fine until the supercharger cuts off.

I have tried running each engine in turn. the good un will pull to the boat along and max out on about 3300 but the poorly engine can only manage about 2300. I Guess this is because at this point the boost of the turbo should be becoming equal to that of the supercharger, ready to take over, but it aint.

 

[paulineb]

Turdbos ??

Is this like the island of Lesbos only shitty ?

Pxx

 

[boatone]

Ok, just wondered as they also told us prop damage can cause black smoke cos overloading engine.
If the turbocharger isnt working then as I understand it excess fuel is not being burnt properly hence black smoke?

TonyR
boatone@boatsontheweb.com
www.boatsonthethames.co.uk

 

[KevB]

Peters have said they will give me a call this afternoon so hopefully should know by then. It has taken the buzz out of having a new boat tho :¬(

 

[KevB]

Re: Turdbos ??

Pauline,

Turdbos may be a shitty island - not realy sure. I have heard it's often visited by uphill gardners tho.

Could be another name for Gibraltar cause that's a $hit hole.

 

[DavidJ]

Interesting also that your good engine max's out at 3300. According to the KAD43 spec max power is at 3900. My new Sealine S37 with KAD43's max's at 3800 and 3900 from day 1(I'm told that the difference is more likely to be rev counter error) but 3300 shows (I think) wrong proping or an engine problem.
The spec in on the Volvo website as well as in your books I guess

Dom (Depsol) what does yours max at?

David

 

[KevB]

The engine maxing out @ 3300 is when it's running on it's own, when both together the good one can rev to it's limit.

 

[DepSol]

Mine max out 3700 usually.sometimes 3900 but 3300 is very low, I cruise at 3300-3500.

Dom

 

[KevB]

Yes yes yes, my good engine can rev to 3900 but, when only using that engine on a 35" boat it only pulls to 3300 which considering the load, is what I would expect.

The boat is designed to be run with 2 engines so when only using one (for test purposes comparing the engines, good against bad) the good one is obviously struggling to lift a boat designed for 2 engines hence only 3300 revs.
The bad engine when used on it's own only pulls to about 2300.

When run together the good one will reach 3900 and the bad one starts to fail at 2500, coincidentally (I don't think so) exactly the same time the supercharger cuts off and the turbo is supposed to take over.

I have just had a call from Peters in Chichester who implied they also think it's the turbo or turbo related.

At this point I would like to say how efficient and prompt Peters have been so far. If, as some have said they have a problem with their aftersales service on their boats it certainly hasn't rubbed off on their engineering department.

 

[toobaz]

From everything you are saying, it does sound like turbo's...........not being able to maintain load, black smoke, lack of power and POSSIBLE overload on engine with net entanglement the other day.
Baz

 

[KevB]

How would net in the prop effect the turbo, The Turbo is not in any way connected to the props and is just a fan driven by the exhaust gases. No excess stress on the turbo what so ever -gear box, crank shaft, pistons, valves, drive chains, cylinder head maybe but not on the turbo.
Prior to the failure the engines had only been revved to 3000 so no excess stress on anything.
The net around the props did not impair their movement, they turned as free as the other pair, I tried it. No marks on the props, they are all still covered in the black plastic stuff they coat them with and no marks on the legs.
The amount of net was very minimal, I had my doubts as to whether that was the cause from the start.

 

[toobaz]

It is coincidental that your engine only started to play up after the net entanglement last week? I don't believe in coincidence and would suggest that this may have helped an already week turbo seal to weaken further.
But what ever, it does sound like turbo failure.
Baz

 

[KevB]

Yes you're right it does seem a bit of a coincidence I just can't see how they are related? I suppose it will all come out in the wash.
As long as Volvo do the repair under warranty I am not too worried.
As I said there seemed very little net and none was caught within the props themselves just around the leg.

 

[hlb]

Revs will be low on the good engine cos the other is not helping. Could well just be mucky filters or water in filters. Anyway if youve got the experts working on it, why the hell are you asking us daft lot.

Haydn

 

[lanason]

Re: Turdbos ??

Too much information
Touche aye !!!!
(or however you spell it.)

Adrian )

 

[kimhollamby]

If you have a bad engine it will lug the good one down. So 3300rpm on the good one unlikely to be the problem. Give it a good partner and it will pull better revs. Haven't had a chance to read the other posts yet but a bad turbo sounds likely to me.

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