chrisgil
Active Member
I am looking at a boat with these engines and believe there may be issues with reliability and particularly overheating. Does any one have any experience or views?
Volvo tamd 41 engines
- Thread starter chrisgil
- Start date
kashurst
Well-Known Member
An excellent engine - if looked after properly. All boat engines need proper maintenance of the sea water cooling system to avoid problems. If you like the boat get a proper marine engineer to survey the engines. They are getting on a bit now but nothing a proper service shouldn't sort out.
volvopaul
Well-Known Member
A great engine but as with anything that old get it checked over by someone with experience.
alancollins
Well-Known Member
I had an over-heating problem with mine. It turned out to be the Volvo raw water strainer not sealing properly despite having a new gasket. I dumped it and replaced it with a Vetus unit. It is the only problem I have had in eleven years of ownership.
CLB
Well-Known Member
Good reliable engine, as long as well maintained, but some can be very smoky.
Pleinmont
Well-Known Member
Had one for 3.5 years now from 350-675hrs to date - been reliable and reassuring in use.
Annual service is basic (pretty much just oil, filters, impeller and belts).
Doesn't smoke once warm (little bit on start but nothing bad) and doesn't burn oil - rarely needs topping up
Only problems have been a leaky sea water pump (new seal - minor job) and the starter motor needed reconditioning (again fairly minor job)
Had a boat with a smaller TAMD21 before that - same story but had no failures of any parts in 2 years
The 2 engineers who have done the services both said they are fine engines if looked after and should be good for years/x000hrs and there's a level of simplicity without the electronics fitted to later engines.
Bit more agricultural but less things to have hissy fits
chrisgil
Active Member
Thank you all, reassuring. I like the idea of older engines with less electronics! As ever, looks like need to check service history etc.
oldgit
Well-Known Member
Had a boat with the early 40A engines (5000 hours) and now have a boat with 41B.(1000 hours) .
A very simple understressed engine with spares, both VP and after market, easy to find at sensible prices.
Oil and fuel filters cheap as chips.
Anything that goes wrong will be down to age and how any previous owner has looked after boat.
Keep fuel clean and oil/filters changed every year and you should be OK.
No fancy expensive electronic PCBs
Things to watch..the Cooling system, ie. heat exchangers / oil coolers.
Not complicated and can be sorted by the average DIYer but sometimes a bugger to work on, especially if twin set up, where some of the cooling bits are hidden under the deck.
Usually just needs a good flushing with some descaler or other and no dismantling
A very simple understressed engine with spares, both VP and after market, easy to find at sensible prices.
Oil and fuel filters cheap as chips.
Anything that goes wrong will be down to age and how any previous owner has looked after boat.
Keep fuel clean and oil/filters changed every year and you should be OK.
No fancy expensive electronic PCBs
Things to watch..the Cooling system, ie. heat exchangers / oil coolers.
Not complicated and can be sorted by the average DIYer but sometimes a bugger to work on, especially if twin set up, where some of the cooling bits are hidden under the deck.
Usually just needs a good flushing with some descaler or other and no dismantling
