Volvo v Perkins

[JamesS]

Just in the process of looking for a new boat. All my previous boats have been fitted with Volvo engines but now I'm looking at a couple fitted with Perkins Parama.

I've heard that Perkins tend to be noisier and 'agricultural' but does anyone have any experience of both?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[MoodySabre]

I was reading elsewhere that the Volvo 2040 is made by Perkins and that some Perkins are Mitsubishi engines.

I'm not sure that has much relevance to your question but I thought that I'd mention it.

 

[branko]

My Volvo D2-55 is Perkins!

 

[Jock89]

Hi,
About 12 mths ago when I was doing my research for a new engine, as I was replacing a 36yr old Perkins they were the 1.st people I called.
They told me that the 'marinised' version of their engines-although manufactured by Perkins-are made for, then badged as Volvo, i.e...Volvo Pentas'.
So, as far as I can tell, Perkins make them, then Volvo marinise them.
I could have bought a replacement Perkins 40.HP for around £4.K from a dealer, but it wouldn't have been a 'marinised' version, which, once it's been transported over to Volvo, becomes the Volvo D2-40.HP that I paid £6.K for.! So essentially, quality-wise, they're one & the same engine, but one's marinised, the other's not.
Jeff

 

[Jonny_H]

The Perama is a marinised engine by Perkins - think it is basically the same as one of the ones Volvo rebrand and marinise though.

We have a Perama - doesn't run noisily or seem agricultural

Jonny

 

[nedmin]

Perkins is now owned by Caterpillar!!! but most smaller engines from Volvo are Perkins.

 

[col_shaun]

[ QUOTE ]
Hi,
About 12 mths ago when I was doing my research for a new engine, as I was replacing a 36yr old Perkins they were the 1.st people I called.
They told me that the 'marinised' version of their engines-although manufactured by Perkins-are made for, then badged as Volvo, i.e...Volvo Pentas'.
So, as far as I can tell, Perkins make them, then Volvo marinise them.
I could have bought a replacement Perkins 40.HP for around £4.K from a dealer, but it wouldn't have been a 'marinised' version, which, once it's been transported over to Volvo, becomes the Volvo D2-40.HP that I paid £6.K for.! So essentially, quality-wise, they're one & the same engine, but one's marinised, the other's not.
Jeff

[/ QUOTE ]

ok iv had volvos and perkins , get this'
i was looking for parts for the volvo holy whotsit it came to a very larg sum of money, so i sold it as parts, that told me volvo is to prisy for whot they are in my eyes, now iv had perkins, parts are very afordable and even if you do not go brand new on them you will find second handers cheep cos you will find them in- fork lifts tractors mixers crains the list is long, how many poksy penters have you seen in tractors. dont get me wrong as i wish not to afend the volvo lovers but my self im staying away from boats with them in,
the old 4.108 is not that bad, in fact there is two up for sale in the sales section of the forum.

 

[Clyde_Wanderer]

I have a perkins perama in mine, allbeit only a 10306 20hp 3cyl, it is a quit runner and a well made neat easy engine to work about, not that I have had to do anything with it, it was new in 1998 and still brand new looking and sounding.
some of the bigger volvo engines are actually perkins.

 

[Heckler]

the vp2030 is definitely a perkins cause mine has got perkins japan cast on it!!
stu

 

[col_shaun]

ok so volvos are perkins, but how come the volvos cost so much to repire when they go wrong.

 

[Guest]

Aprt from old Volvo's - many now are re-badged Perkins ...

Don't worry - Perkins have been around many years and seem to keep on going !!

 

[Trundlebug]

[ QUOTE ]
ok so volvos are perkins, but how come the volvos cost so much to repire when they go wrong.

[/ QUOTE ]

...For the same reason that BMW's cost so much to repair when they go wrong. You're paying for the name, reputation and badge, not just the repair work!

If your car goes wrong you can take it to a main dealer and pay through the nose, or take it to a local garage and get the same work done for much less.

Branded "Volvo" parts, e.g. filters will always cost more than proprietary filters like "Fram", but the're all made in the same factory!
So in summary you don't have to pay a fortune to repair a Volvo Penta - you could use Perkins parts or any others that will fit. Many items are interchangeable.

I would say that since Perkins and VP are one and the same for all intents and purposes, buy whichever is the cheapest or the most readily available. Both are excellent engines.

 

[Guest]

When I sent my Perkins Engine # to a service centre - I received the reply that my engine was an Industrial engine and wasn't a marine job. Now that engine is probably 40 yrs old and still going strong.
It's raw water cooled etc.

(Perkins 4-107)

Makes you think !!

 

[chrishelen]

my volvo 2001 i a perkins apparently,is was talking to an old fella who used to work in a place that built them in the UK,and i thought they were swedish.

 

[Guest]

In fact you can go further than that ... take the type number of the filter ... bearing ... o-ring ... whatever you need ... go to a Motor factors and they will have a list of "generic" equivalents ...

eg : Fuel Filter for my Perk 4-107 out here via Perkins Riga is about 7 quid. A local Fram equivalent is about 4 quid ... a generic identical filter is just over 2 quid. It has same paperwork and seals etc. in the box - but box is plain white with only type number on.

Years ago I sold my Vire 6 engine - knackered crank seals so it needed to be flooded to start and keep running. I sold it to a guy in Newhaven ... after I was told the repair costs were high and not worth it.
This guy I met later and he spent about 40 quid on generic seals and bearings ... rebuilt the engine and as far as I know is still pottering about today ...

A liitle bit of searching out numbers etc. pays dividends !