volvo penta 170 overheating

[tomcatdsl]

Re: volvo penta 170 overheating

Peter,<br /><br />Thanks for the advice. I think I will give it a try. I just bought a new (to me) 2003 pick up truck, and after the initial break in period, I had the oil changed from regular to synthetic 'cuz I read somewhere that the wear with Mobil 1 and equivs was so much less than with regular motor oil.<br /><br />Your caution about the older engines gives me a LITTLE cause for concern, because I'm thinking that anybody who would over look putting both seals in a water pump might not have changed the oil as often as he should have. There could be more sludge in there than the average engine, but I guess I'm thinking the less wear and tear and the cleaner the better. At least now I know I have to lay down cross ways in the engine compartment to put in the oil filter on the starboard engine, rather than leaning over the top of the engine, so I can clearly see that there's only ONE rubber seal in place! <br /><br />One of our local yokels here suggested a pint of ATF in the mix for a short period of time to help clean things up too. Ever tried that? Do you think it would be wise in an engine that's had water contamination for an unknown period of time? When I took off the oil filler cap and looked down into the valve lifter space there, I did see some some evidence of rust. Just don't know how extensive it is throughout the rest of the engine. I just don't know if I trust these local guys working behind the counter at the local auto supply store, you know?<br /><br />Anyway, you can bet I'll be watching out closely for the double seal trick from here on! <br /><br />Again, Thanks for all your help. I'm sure I'll be getting back to you with still more questions!<br /><br />Tom

 

[Peter J Fraser]

Re: volvo penta 170 overheating

I wouldnt go so far as to put ATF in the mix at all.<br />What I would do at this point tho would be to lift the rocker cover off and clean off all the gunge that you can get at from there as this will at least remove it totally and not drop the rubbish into the oil pan. You will always see some minor corrosion in the top of an engine if it is not run reguarly. Marine engines fit in that category esp on recreational use but its not really a problem. Clean off all that you are able to and put the rocker cover back on.<br />There are a lot of engine flush additives available that can be added to the oil to help dislodge the gunge. Most of them are just a solvent base with some other aromatics added to disguise the kerosene or turpentine smell.<br />If you choose to go that way then first read up the instructions on the products before you make your choice.<br />To clean your bilge you prob only need large qty's of warm water with some liquid dish detergent added. Scrub with a brush and let it drain out the drain plugs into another container to dispose of safely.<br />Have fun doin it.<br /><br />Peter

 

[tomcatdsl]

Re: volvo penta 170 overheating

Peter,<br /><br />OK, sounds like good advice. Thanks again. I'll be sure to pull the rocker cover and clean off as much as I can. That also sounds like excellent advice. May as well spare the filter as much as possible.<br /><br />As far as letting the soapy water drain out the plugs and catching it, I'd need my scuba gear, since the old girl is in the water! I didn't buy the trailer from the previous owner, cause he wanted and extra 3 thousand for it. I was able to buy the boat for only 2,500 in the first place, so I hated to spend 3k on the trailer. We live close to the water anyway, so it's nice to just have her in the slip and ready to go.<br /><br />I discovered why the gas gauge quit working all of a sudden. The electrical connection to the fuel sensor on top of the gas tank had been previosly broken, and had just been electrical taped down into contact with the sensor. In my banging around in the engine compartment, I must have put pressure on the wire or something, and disturbed the electrical contact. I wondered why there was so much electrical tape on top of that thing! So I untaped it, and saw the broken connector and will try to figure a better way to get a good, more durable contact. The guy who had this boat before me was something else. Electrical tape to hold a contact in place? That's so Mickey Mouse! Somebody once said "If you don't have time to do it right the first time, where will you find time to do it over again?".....<br /><br />Once again, thanks for your help! I'll probably keep pestering you with still more questions as time goes along, hope you don't mind!<br /><br />Tom

 

[Peter J Fraser]

Re: volvo penta 170 overheating

Forget the scuba gear. You probably can clean out most of the mess with a large sponge and qty's of warm soapsuds still. Slosh the suds about and mop it out with the sponge.<br />You'll get there. <br /><br />As for the fuel gauge, well one can only the question "what was the dude smoking"<br />Fortunately minor stuff but it all slows you down along the way.<br />Keep in touch you have my email as well if you need<br /><br />Regards<br /><br />Peter

 

[tomcatdsl]

Re: volvo penta 170 overheating

Peter,<br /><br />Can you send me your e-mail address one more time, just to be sure?<br /><br />I JUST got back from another 45 minute test drive on the old girl, and all seemed to be ok. So we shall see. Confined space handling is coming along, the more I practice. Not "There" yet but getting better.<br /><br />What kind of speeds should I expect here? It's the 28 foot cabin cruiser with twin 170s. Seems like when I maintained 2k rpm I was doing about 3-5 kph. When I bumped it up to 3k rpms I got about 6-9 kph. Top end was 4.5 to 5 k rpms today and max speed was about 16 kph. So what should I expect? Is that in the ball park? What is reasonable?<br /><br />As far as "What the dude was smoking" I spoze I should cut him some slack, he's a Viet Nam vet and has Agent Orange Syndrome, so I probably ought not to be too critical. Who knows what's going 'round in the poor guy's head. Flash backs and hallucinations too! :-( Plus all that whacky tabacky they used to puff on back in those days. Tho he seemed well enough adjusted when we were negotiating the deal. Who knows. Just hope he wasn't smoking too close to that fuel tank, or breathing the fumes...... <br /><br />Anyway, if you'll resend your e-mail address, I'd appreciate it, and thanks again!<br /><br />Tom

 

[tommays]

Re: volvo penta 170 overheating

how heavy is this boat it doesent seam like it will crusie much faster about 12 kph<br /><br /> i have been readin you saga getting it run and its good to see it has worked out<br /><br />i would have thought with twin engines at 4500 rpm + you would hae gotten to about 25 kph + easy<br /><br /><br />how long has it been sitting you may have built up a lot of bottom growth over the summer while getting it to run i would take a swim even a heavy coat of slime can cut you speed 25%<br /><br />enjoy now that is runing<br />tommays

 

[tomcatdsl]

Re: volvo penta 170 overheating

Hi Tommays,<br /><br />Thanks for your reply!<br /><br />The literature that came w/ the boat says it displaces 6k lbs.<br /><br />The guy I bought it from told me it would practically fly, so 25 kph sounds more like it to me, but I am sure not getting that kind of performance yet! YOu're right that it has been in the water and I'm sure it hasn't been hauled cleaned and painted since quite a while, so that's something I had thought of too. I bet you are 100% right!<br /><br />I bought the old girl about a month ago, and the guy that had it before me said he had it less than a year, so chances are it hasn't been hauled out in who knows how long!<br /><br />Where we are is right where the Napa River dumps into the northern end of San Francisco Bay so it's mixture of salt and fresh water. So could be scum AND barnacles and who knows what else.<br /><br />Any way thanks for the reply.<br /><br />Where on Long Island are you?<br /><br />Tom

 

[tommays]

Re: volvo penta 170 overheating

were in commack so we get to use the great south bay or the long island sound and if i launch on the peconic bay i get shelter island,greenport and when i there is a long streak of good weather i go as far as block island but the ocean is a littel riskey with a 20 ft cudy cabin<br /><br />tommays<br /><br />your getting the rpm so i have to thing the bottom must be really dirty

 

[Peter J Fraser]

Re: volvo penta 170 overheating

Tom,<br />Here it goes again<br /><br />peter@eaglespares.co.nz<br /><br />Sounds as if your next job might be on a slip and clean the baby's bottom.<br /><br />Sounds as if you are on top of the heat problems now.<br /><br /><br />Regards<br /><br />Peter

 

[Hoserpoppasmurf]

Re: volvo penta 170 overheating

Just saw your saga on getting the gremlins out of the 170. Many yeqrs ago I had one on a 21'. Best drive train I ever had. Mine overheated and I eventually found the problem was a blockage around the oil filter/cooler. Not clear now as the fog has settled in my knoggin. Any way once I got it cleaned out & after doing a lot of what you have done, it ran as bulletproof as any machine I've owned, old or new. I just remember laying beside that sucker in 6' swells and finally cleaning it out around the oil filter area.

 

[tomcatdsl]

Re: volvo penta 170 overheating

Hi Poppasmurf,<br /><br />It's good to hear a good report on the reliability of this package! Once I get all the kinks worked out of this system, I'm looking forward to cruising with less difficulties!<br /><br />Like you, I investigated the openness of the system from the raw water pump through to the oil cooler and out to the water intake on the out drive. I happened to have a plumber's snake on board for another purpose, (feeding electrical wires through some wall spaces) and I was able to gently feed that into the system to see if I could feel any obstructions. Then I ran the garden hose to make sure that the path was cleared and it seemed ok. I was a little nervous cause I didn't want to do any damage by being too aggressive with that snake, but it worked out ok.<br /><br />Now I can move on to solving other issues on the old girl, but it's fun to tinker with her. I may end up tearing down the starboard engine altogether. won't THAT be fun! It seems to be locked up. I can put a wrench on the shaft and rotate it counter clockways a little, but when I try to rotate it clockways, I come to a point where it will go no further. When I try to use the starter, It won't crank over at all. The solonoid doesn't click, it just won't crank. Battery seems ok, So I'm thinking I may have dropped a valve or thrown a rod or something. The fun never ends I guess! What kind of boat are you in now?<br /><br />Tom