Volvo engines

[Dave Williams]

Am interested in a boat with a Volvo engine. It's a model MD11C. Any input re Volvo in general and this model in particular would be much appreciated. It has 1500 hrs on it. Input across the board so far is that they are good engines but expensive to work on. I have never looked in an engine compartment before that was as clean as this, spotless is the word, which to my mind speaks well to the care of the present owner.

Thanks in advance.
Dave

[farwesthoops]

I dislike sounding negative so perhaps I can sound "realistic" instead. I wrestled for 11 years with an MD3B which was a bit older model. Raw water cooled, pretty cranky to start in cold weather (SE AK) and parts are extremely expensive and sometimes difficult to track down. Be sure you have an owners manual available for yourself. You will be destined to become a diesel authority with an older Volvo in your life. Having said that, when they run well, I sure liked them.

[Paul Fitzgerald]

Around here they are called the Green Death.

I wouldn't touch a boat with a Volvo. Even if it works they gouge you for spares.

[Dave Williams]

Thanks farwest and Paul. Not what I was hoping to hear but good insight none the less.

Dave

[Hwyl]

Transmissions tend to be balky. The MD 11 C is otherwise a fairly simple engine.

[Larks]

Dave, it would be worth the exercise of seeing how hard it is to get a few parts for that particular engine. I'm planning on selling my Volvo engine on my rebuild project as I did have difficulty with Volvos on previous boats and usually in the most inconvenient parts of the world. Mostly I had trouble finding parts over the phone/fax/email to volvo reps', with serial numbers not matching up to parts lists or not existing with the Volvo parts lists. I don't know if this is common with Volvo but it caused me enough grief at the worst times to make me quite anti volvo.
Sorry to sound negative and it may not be the case with your engine and where you are located so give it a go seeing what you can get.
cheers
Greg

[Dave Williams]

Thanks again all you guys. I can always count on getting good feedback around. It does sound a bit discouraging but sometimes the truth hurts. Still open to other opinions pro or con.

To kindness,
Dave