Re: Volvo Penta 5.7OSi/XDP Problems?
Hi,
We are looking into purchase a 05 FW with VP 5.7OSI and the XPD drive. Googling the XDP VP drive lots of threads come up outlining the problems with the drive.
Should we stay away from the XPD drive or are these exaggerated and can be managed?
Thanks
Pass it up.
I own two XDP drives, and have learned to take care of them....the hard way, and with no support form Volvo.
If you don't know what you are getting into, don't do it.
Even though it looks like the V.3 bellows are holding up, I do not advise anyone to buy them, unless they get a really, really good price, or some support for service (which does not exist for a discontinued drive)
There are other issues with the composite technology....look at the end of this thread for the picture of a fractured composite gimbal ring....this will cost a bundle to replace...
http://www.rinkerboatowners.com/forum/index.php/topic,6749.0.html
On the bright side, the drives are really quiet, shift smoothly, and ride very comfortably, even for my 34 foot boat. It has to do with the internals, which are (presumably) volvo duoprop stock.
So, my advice is to go for a regular volvo drive, time tested, and with plenty of parts and support available. I cannot comment on the new Ocean-X drives, which presumably have the old-fashioned design, with new metal-anticorrosion-technology, and added perks for monitoring gear lube and bellows integrity. It's just too new to tell if they will hold up as the old DPS duoprops...
-Good luck.