Oil in coolant tank
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Hi Guys, didn’t get far on my trip before the first issue popped up, checking the engines before leaving Sydney, found oil in the coolant not the other way around, this is the Volvopenta D3. Had a mechanic on board to check, pressurized the coolant tank to 10PSI and no pressure loss after 20 mins. Any suggestions or helpful information would be appreciated.
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Bill Kinney
Bob,
That’s unfortunate… and I agree with you I’d be very reluctant to drop the cost of a new engine because the mechanic “thinks” it’s a cracked block. Without taking the head off, I don’t know how to separate the potential causes, but this kind of problem is a bit above my paygrade. Definitely worth a second opinion from another mechanic. I do question the assumption that a head gasket failure can never be a one way leak. Seems a bit weak to condemn the engine on. My understanding is that oil in coolant, but NO coolant in oil is more likely to be a head gasket or head. Do you know that what you see in the coolant is lubricating oil and not diesel fuel? If it is diesel fuel, that would again make it more likely to be the top end of the engine. If you can be reasonably sure the engine has not be over heated, that makes a cracked block rather rare. Good luck! Bill Kinney SM160, Harmonie Le Marin, Martinique
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Bill, definitely engine oil, the head on the D3 is cast iron and the Block is alloy with inserts, It has had a shutdown or two due to intake blocks but with the auto shutdown at 98 deg wouldn’t have expected damage though. The cast iron head is probably less prone to failure than the block. Im hoping it’s a gasket but can’t see the normal gasket symptoms.
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Vladan SV PAME
Bob,
I just had mechanic on my boat and ask about your issue. He said that he is almost sure that problem is oil cooler. He said that is common problem on Volvo D3.
Hope this helps.
Best Regards,
Vladan
SV PAME
A54 #157
From: main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io <main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io> on behalf of Bob Grey via groups.io <renaissanceiii@...>
Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2022 2:35:58 PM To: main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io <main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io> Subject: Re: [AmelYachtOwners] Oil in coolant tank Bill, definitely engine oil, the head on the D3 is cast iron and the Block is alloy with inserts, It has had a shutdown or two due to intake blocks but with the auto shutdown at 98 deg wouldn’t have expected damage though. The cast iron head is probably less prone to failure than the block. Im hoping it’s a gasket but can’t see the normal gasket symptoms. -- Vladan A54 #157 SV PAME
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When you run engine with lid off coolant bottle do you get bubbles?
If you have bubbles then you know you have a fistula that involves exhaust gas as well, can help narrow it down. -- Paul Harries Prospective Amel Buyer
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Danny and Yvonne SIMMS
Hi Vladan, I like your mechanic. Bob should follow that lead first
DANNY
SM 299
Ocean Pearl
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Hi Guys, thanks for the ideas, it’s a not oil cooler as it is a surface contact unit with no oil pressure running through it and no bubbles, still looking like a block.
Bob Grey Renaissance 3 A55 #25
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Vladan SV PAME
Bob,
My mechanic saying that he see oil cooler issue with same symptoms as you described at least 3 time each year. Thing is that those oil coolers (that are cooled with fresh water i.e. coolant liquid ) inside ribs where coolant liquid circulating are made from very thin aluminium ( somewhere 0.3 mm thickness ) and they are very prone to rust especially if not good quality coolant liquid is used or coolant liquid not changed regularly. Rust will make pinhole but enough for oil to leak in coolant liquid. He recommend to change oil cooler every 3-4 years to avoid problems. Here in Europe original Volvo Penta oil cooler for D3 cost about EUR 350, to change it is quite easy, and with new coolant liquid I estimate total cost to about EUR 600. I think worth trying before replacing engine. Further on I will disagree that there is no oil pressure in oil cooler. When engine works there is oil pressure otherwise oil will not flow through oil cooler. Best Regards, -- Vladan A54 #157 SV PAME
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Mark & Debbie Mueller
Would a compression test be valid to identify a problem with a specific cylinder, associated head gasket, or the head? It could give you a place to start looking or indicate the problem is elsewhere. --Mark Mueller Former Brass Ring A54
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Danny and Yvonne SIMMS
Hi Bob. I agree with Vladan as I said in a previous post. The oil cooler seems most likely and easy to check. Blown head gasket? Highly unlikely. Wrong symptoms. Cracked block. ? Unlikely too but I couldn't rule it out as I have with the blown headgasket. So do look at the oil cooler first.
Kind Regards
Danny
SM 299
Ocean Pearl
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