1999 VolvoPenta 7.4GSi with water in heads

[ChrisCraft]

I own a 24' cabincruiser that I recently bought with 200hrs, freshwater use. I've put about 30hrs in the salt since then and was driving along when it shut down on me. I checked the dip stick and it was clean, but when I looked in on the valve cover I had white foam. Realistically, I hold out little hope for less than radical repairs. My biggest problem is that I'm new to the San Diego area and uncomfortable with picking an unknown entity to do anything more than an oil change or tuneup. How do I find someone I can trust and can handle a job this big?

 

[vinney]

Re: 1999 VolvoPenta 7.4GSi with water in heads

Roller cam strikes again. (Water reversition) Check the static line in this boat. usally with in 200hrs of service.

 

[vinney]

Re: 1999 VolvoPenta 7.4GSi with water in heads

I have a customers boat that 28' with twin Volvo Pentas 7.4GSI. This boat is a jackshaft boat. The boat in 400 hrs of service has had 3 sets of engines 6 total. The failure was water in the cylinders. Volvo signed off on the warranty on the last set of engines. This boat has been manufactured for years. The problem is you need to raise the deck to cure the problem. The boat builder has had it back many times,Volvo has told them to redesign the exhaust the problem is there is no room too. This man is stuck with a boat they can fix without refitting the deck. This man will end up selling this boat to another victim. The saga goes on. If the engine is installed with the new guide lines the engine will live. I see this almost every day. I call it the boat has a story. If the heads have been off or new engines have been installed with low hrs on the old ones. Then it starts they blame a bad riser a bad manifold ect. ect. No one gets to the real problem. Over the life of the boat its had the heads off many times and if not caught in time you need to put an engine in it. The old days pre roller cam engines the number one failure was hanging the rods out side of the block because you wore it out 1500 hrs plus. Now the heads have been off in 200 hrs they blame everything but the real problem (reversition).

 

[vinney]

Re: 1999 VolvoPenta 7.4GSi with water in heads

Check the static line

 

[ChrisCraft]

Re: 1999 VolvoPenta 7.4GSi with water in heads

This makes sense, and now I'm really bummed because I think I know what did it. I installed a new head with a storage tank plus a new AC system with large bateries. I think I sank my motor. What do you think?

 

[vinney]

Re: 1999 VolvoPenta 7.4GSi with water in heads

You need to try to put extension in between your exhaust manifolds and risers if you dont you will fight this problem for the life of the boat. I would ask the person who is going to work on your boat if they understand static line if they dont find someone that does. Where I am there is one other guy in town that has a handle on it the rest are doubting thomas's. I do alot with preformance thats why Im up on the top of the curve. I have put cam after cam in engines to see what would happend. You need to get a hold on this or you will sell your boat and find another recreational sport. Gravity is there ever tho you can see it. Static line is the same way. There is a pulse in the exhaust and if water is in that space it will be drawn in the engine. Measure static line and raise up you risers.. Most manufactures will help and boat builds have been known to get involved.

 

[ChrisCraft]

Re: 1999 VolvoPenta 7.4GSi with water in heads

I now know what to talk to the Volvo guys around here about. I wish you were out here. The boat is in storage so I'm going to pull it out right now. Now that I know what it is, I want to see if I can save the engine. I'm going to drain the engine oil and clean out the heads. Then I'll work on the cylinders to get them all lubed up. I know when it happened, and I know that it only ran for a few minutes like this. I'm hopping that the rings held up and the cylinders are ok. I was ready to drop a new motor in this boat, and I like the boat, it's a very nice boat. You've been a huge help. I know you saved me mega mula. Thanks.

 

[vinney]

Re: 1999 VolvoPenta 7.4GSi with water in heads

Volvo will help you if you let them know what your talking about. The key term is Water inversion. They will usally buy one engine and make you sign off on the warranty. Thats ok if you bring the static line up. good luck stand firm on your new knowledge. If they dont help keep on them I never give up if I think Im correct. Vinney

 

[ChrisCraft]

Re: 1999 VolvoPenta 7.4GSi with water in heads

I have had the heads removed and now find out that the engine is trashed along with rusty manifolds. Seems that the motor has been eating itself alive from the very start. Volvo has been no help, as they deny that they are respnsible for the engine, nor that the problem exists. Chris Craft dosen't return my phone calls so I'm stumped. If I just put taller risers on the boat, I'm not sure that I will not eat another engine. Volvo won't tell me what I should do since they are still denying that they made engines in 1999. Does anybody know where I can get a remanufactured motor this late of year? Remanufactured-marine-engine.com only goes up to '97.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: 1999 VolvoPenta 7.4GSi with water in heads

Here's a few links for remanufactured engines that might have what you need... Any GM 7.4 Generation 5 block is compatible with your 99'..<br /><br /> http://www.propowermarine.com/default1.htm <br /><br /> http://www.ebasicpower.com/