Engine Trouble with Volvo md2001

[Paul Banderet]

If anybody can help me with my problem I'd be most grateful :

my volvo diesel inboard md2001 is giving no end of problems:

compression is a little low but starts with a squirt of starter spray ! no blue fumes or oil residue on exhaust. trouble is that there's water in the oil (without milky smudge) and after 10 minutes running the bilge is full of oil and water. main gasket seems intact. would appreciate a comment from someone having experience with this little engine.

thanks paul

[boden36]

On earlier Volvos, the raw water pump was mounted in such a way that if a seal failed it pumped water into the crankcase. I don't know if yours is like this, but it is worth a check.
Regards,
Richard.

[Paul Banderet]

thanks for your suggestion and I'll gladly check it out. will let you know. cheers paul

[Pete7]

Paul hi and welcome to CF.

If its chucking out that much fluids in 10 minutes can you identify were it's coming from.

We have the 2003 version and yes they are hard to start in the morning because they don't have heater plugs. I find a quick squirt of WD40 gets it going during the winter but once the air temperature rises in the Spring we don't have anymore problems. They do like a good thrashing now and again so don't use it gently.

Sounds like one of the gaskets has gone as Richard suggests, so not the end of the world if you can track the leaks down. We had a top end done a couple of years ago to stop an oil leak because it was much cheaper than ignoring it and having to replace it.

Pete

[Chief Engineer]

Most Volvos have a cold start feature....read your manual.

I marvel(?) at the continued use of ether/WD-40 to start engines.

[Pete7]

Cold start procedure for the 2001, 2002 and 2003 series involves full throttle then pull and release the engine stop cable a couple of times. Result is the FIP rack is opened further than full throttle to allow extra fuel to be injected.

During the summer with warm water and air temperatures no problem. However, Southern England is 50.N so during the depths of winter with water temperatures around 5.c and air temps at 0.c the volvo is sluggish to start. We even group together the engine and house batteries which turns the engine over a little faster. However, we also marvel at how a tiny squirt of oil or ether fires the engine straight up rather than prolonged session on the starter motor trying to raise the cylinder temperatures enough to fire the old beasty up first thing in the morning. Subsequent starts even during winter are not a problem.

Other options, well we have had a head job done so no problems there and repowering at £7k isn't an option at the moment. Since the engine is 23 years old a squirt of WD40 isn't going to harm it.

Pete

[seacap]

I thought they took the ether out of WD40 a couple of years ago.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by seacap

I thought they took the ether out of WD40 a couple of years ago.

They may well have done. I was looking for something slightly less volatile compared to easy start and found a can of WD40 on board. The atomised spray meant the engine fired up so assumed that worked I will do it again. We still carry a can of easy start in the gas locker just in case.

Pete

[Khagan1227]

WD-40 is still extremely flammable, we are not allowed to use it where I work due to the fire risk.