Volvo Panta D-2 55 (B) - Coolant replacement

[alex49]

Hi Volvo owners,
I need to replace coolant on my engine.
Manual instructs to drain old coolant by opening both: 1, Brass tep that is underneath the heat exchanger. 2, a metal cup on the right side hand of the engine block under the oil filter. Both need to be drained.
I tried to open the square iron cup with no success, only possible tool seem to be a socket, any other tool will allow no space to turn .
I tried a 22 mm socket and a 7\8'' but they both turn loose. 13\16 is too small.
An open 17 mm will fit the square but no place for turning.
Do I need a special tool ? , or am I missing something.
Please help.

[Wotname]

I'm not familiar with your engine model but it sounds like a crowsfoot spanner/wrench might help you.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/snap-on-...r=563404068768

[alex49]

Thanks Wotname, I am still waiting for a Volvo owner with same motor to explain how to do it, it is a usual change and there should be a simple way to do.

[jimbunyard]

The crowfoot Wotname is referring to will be locally available; if you must have a socket, and an open end 17 mm fits your plug, then you need a 17 mm, 8 point socket, readily available online.


For instance...

https://www.toolpan.com/Koken-4109M-...mm_p_1748.html

[DougR]

All of the above are correct, or you can get a 3/4" drive extension about 6 or 8" long and turn it around and put the female end on the square drain plug and use an adjustable wrench on the square male end.

Unfortunately, the way this plug fits into the block it's about impossible to keep all the coolant from spilling into the bilge and making a mess.

On my D2-55 once I had the plug out, I drilled and tapped the head of the square plug and installed a 1/4" pipe thread hose barb fitting and ran a heavy 1/4" hose out to the front of the engine where there is good access and capped the hose there. Then whenever I need to change the coolant I just remove the cap from the hose and drain the coolant into a container. Do the same on the plug below the heat exchanger and you will have good access to both sides.

Same can be done for the salt water drain fitting on the heat exchanger end cap and your gearbox cooler if you have one.

DougR

[MJH]

Hi, its good to meet/help out another D2-55B owner.

I just looked up my records and I did this job in 2009. I used a 11/16" socket and a 1/2" x 15-18L" breaker bar to remove the square plug...it was tough. I contacted the local Volvo Penta dealer and bought a plug replacement "MISC BUSHING" and "949918 COCK DRAIN". Now I can drain it more easily with a connected hose albeit the location still is not ideal for my boat.

Those two parts were ridiculously expensive ($35) from the dealer but I wasn't sure of the sizes and wanted to have them before taking the plug out.

Good Luck.

~ ~ _/) ~ ~ MJH

[alex49]

Thanks for the good advice from DougR and Jimbunyard,
I will consider doing your rec. DoudR , as a volvo owner can you give some hints how to convince this stubborn cap turn, so far although using non effective tooling with no success. I put a lot of WD40 and used a non heavy hummer on the cup. On my boat I have good access to both sides of the engine and would you accept a brass tap installed instead of the original metal plug to allow easy draining.

[alex49]

Thanks MJH, when you say it was tough to turn loose the cup.Using the wright socket would you just use more force by an extended long handle\pipe ?

[MJH]

Yes, leverage was the answer, my using the 15-18" long 1/2" breaker bar did the trick.


In my case the plug had never been off before and the engine was five years old at that point since install by the previous owner. If yours has been on longer (your 2005 boat) that plug may require even more leverage.


Good Luck.


~ ~ _/) ~ ~ MJH

[DougR]

I think a brass petcock of some type could be used as the drain, as long as it's something that won't vibrate open over time. In fact, on the smaller Volvo Penta engines in the same engine family, VP installs a plastic plug with plastic drain fitting. Personally I'm not a fan of that approach.

I agree with MJH.... Leverage was the answer to remove the plug on my engine, and I removed the plug before I put the engine in the boat. Maybe a few days soaking with a good penetrating oil, not WD40, would also help.

DougR

[alex49]

OK guys, enough information to go trying get this staburn cup open and replaced with something more practical.
Thanks again,I will inform results if any.
Alex

[alex49]

Hi guys,
Job done. Took a 3\4'' X 22 mm socket added a double head 22mm steel bolt and with a 10'' handle,leverage was good enough.
Draining, tap under heat exchanger allowed very comfortable bucket draining of about 90% of the coolant.Rest went down to the engine bilge releasing the cup on the other side.
Good result following friends tips.
btw, using the 3\4'' socket was so easy so I reinstalled metal cup back for next time.To my humble opinion,1\4'' hose will not allow a good enough water flash as instructed by Volvo (cup's thread is 3\4'').
Thanks again
Alex

[Tsuki]

Thanks for the posted infos.


Ordered the Koken Socket from Amazon and will give it a try.
https://www.amazon.de/IREGA-koken-St.../dp/B004IKRRL8


I think the thread of the cup is 1" and not 3/4" as alex49 posted.
https://maxmarineoutlet.com/product/...-oem-plug-new/