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Old 11-01-2025, 19:50   #1
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Air Intake Location on Volvo MD2030

Hello All,

I just this month purchased a 1971 Cal 33. She comes with a Volvo MD2030 diesel, and this is the first diesel engine I have owned. I know what follows is a stupid question, but my hope is that stupid questions will be my path towards competency with diesel motors.

I want to check the air filter to see if it wants replacing, but for the life of me I can not find it. Where is the air intake for the Volvo MD2030? I expected to see a big hose on top of the cylinder head cover with a filter on the end, but did not see any such feature.

If anyone can describe where this would be, I would greatly appreciate it!!

Thanks a bunch!

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...qDU2aF4JTqtDA-

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...4zU_XWxKLtcs3B

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...loWhMjR_n2YjeF
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Old 11-01-2025, 23:52   #2
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Re: Air Intake Location on Volvo MD2030

These image links should work if the previous ones don't:


https://photos.app.goo.gl/kuvPX9bD7q49oYy3A

https://photos.app.goo.gl/r8PBnVdE2DyZSWGn9

https://photos.app.goo.gl/H8rQP8X8XfHQGEWK7
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Old 12-01-2025, 05:30   #3
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Re: Air Intake Location on Volvo MD2030

The manifold immediately to the left of the valve cover is taller than ours and may run to the back of the engine. It may be there is only a screen over.
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Old 12-01-2025, 05:57   #4
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Re: Air Intake Location on Volvo MD2030

Volvo Penta MD20xx (10, 20, 30, & 40):

Owner's Manual ➥ https://najad.co.uk/wp-content/uploa...anual-1997.pdf
Pages 10 & 11 Item #12: Air Cleaner (ACL) - Air Intake

Workshop Manual ➥ https://www.marinedieselbasics.com/w...kshop-2006.pdf
Pages 20 & 21: Item #12: Air Cleaner - Air Intake
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Old 12-01-2025, 11:30   #5
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Re: Air Intake Location on Volvo MD2030

Thanks for your replies!

I have been trying to find those manuals, this will be great and should somewhat staunch the flow of stupid questions.

That manifold is what I suspected, as it seems like that's where the air would want to go. I am going back up to the boat today (she is currently 100mi from my home) and will inspect closer, and hopefully report back a definite location for posterity.

Thanks again for the prompt and helpful replies!!
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Old 12-01-2025, 22:13   #6
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Re: Air Intake Location on Volvo MD2030

OK, so it seems I have located the air intake. I believe it is on the aft side of the aforementioned manifold, adjacent the valve cover:

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Is this greasy metal grate really all that protects the valves from dust and debris? Could it be worth putting a filter on there that is rated for the flow required? Or is it not really necessary to filter the air?

Engine is naturally aspirated.

Thanks everyone for your time and thoughtful replies!
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Old 13-01-2025, 03:08   #7
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Re: Air Intake Location on Volvo MD2030

Yes, an air filtre is advisable.
The disposable OEM foam air filters tend to become powdery, and break-up.
See “air filter for volvo penta md2030"https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...030-20080.html
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Old 13-01-2025, 06:55   #8
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Re: Air Intake Location on Volvo MD2030

Most small marine diesels do not use air filters. The reasoning is that they do not operate in a dusty, dirty environment and the filters are a complexity that is simply not needed.

My 30 yo Volvo with 10,000 hours never had one. My previous boat had a Westerbeke that ran 9000+ hours with no air filters. An Onan generator ran 8000 hours, no filter. My current Whisperpower generator has no air filter. Are you seeing a trend here? In all these the engine did not come with an air filter because the design engineers did not feel it was needed, and apparently they were right. Put the same engine in a farm tractor, and of course an air filter is 100% required.

On issues like this I tend not to second guess the engine builder. Of course people will happily sell you an after market filter. But take what they say about the “need” for it with a grain of salt. They are selling something.
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Old 15-01-2025, 11:40   #9
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Re: Air Intake Location on Volvo MD2030

Thanks all for the advice. I am torn between thinking that filtering the intake is an obviously good thing to do, and thinking that I shouldn't question the wisdom of the Volvo engineers. The last thing I want to do is put a filter on, restrict the intake, and hurt the motor.

I believe one of Murphy's laws is that if you mess with something for long enough, you'll break it.

I'll let this one sit. Maybe down the road I'll fab an adapter to a big a** filter.

Thanks again for all the advice! I really appreciate it.
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Old 15-01-2025, 14:51   #10
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Re: Air Intake Location on Volvo MD2030

A major benefit of an intake air filter is that the intake noise is reduced. Some manufacturers refer to “intake silencers” and even on my canal boat MD2030 ,(a later version of yours with a tube of filtration foam with a spiral spring to stop it collapsing) is remarkably noisier with that filter removed.
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