Is it the head gasket?

[Kurlie1]

Hi all.
Firstly ... I have searched the topics for an answer with no luck.

I am relatively handy but not a mechanic.



Engine is Volvo Penta MD2020D year 2008



Symptoms:

Black soot residue coming out in exhaust water.
White smoke in exhaust (also wafts out when oil cap is removed). These increase as more throttle is applied

Loosing coolant.
Also I notice that the oil level increases... Not water as this would not mix?? There is no sign of (milky) water in oil but oil looks thinner. I have changed it out with new filters but still no change.



The motor starts very easily and runs ok at idle.



I have ... 1. disassembled heat exchanger ... No problem there (very clean)
2. Removed exhaust elbow ... This is a s/s refit unit in pristine condition.


I am about to remove the head to check the gasket but before I do I thought I'd risk facing the QQP (question quality police) and ask those more knowledgable than I for advice please.


Thanks

[Chenega]

Not same engine, but with same symptoms I found I was loosing coolant in water heater. Just something to check…

[gonesail]

could you be getting fuel in the crankcase .. from a defective lift pump? I know yanmars can do this but not sure about the Volvo.

[Orion Jim]

Send an oil sample out for analysis. Saves stripping the engine looking for defects or hiring a pro to do the same.

[Hanksy]

You can also test the coolant for exhaust gas. Google exhaust gas coolant tester and you'll see the tool. Looks a bit like a turkey baster. If you've exhaust gas in the coolant then head gasket is gone. Cheap and easy test to start with

[Kurlie1]

Thanks for the tips.
I will follow up on these before cracking the head open

[deblen]

Your Volvo Penta MD 2030 is same basic engine as Perkins M30 and they are both marinized versions of Shibaura 103-10.


Link to repair manual : https://www.dieselmann.no/files/H%C3...%20Manuals.pdf


2 cyl. version

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vfi-a7c6KiA

Cheers/Len

[Kurlie1]

Len... Thanks for the link and the vid.
Extremly helpful

[iancoombe]

Look in your coolant header tank while its running you should see bubbles if your head gasket has blown. If the tank is full it will blow coolant out
I had a leaking raw water pump that put sea water in my oil but I was sure it was fuel
Oil analysis is a good idea.

[Tetepare]

Chances are when you lift the head the gasket will get destroyed. So that won’t tell you anything. And you don’t just slap in a new one. It’s not a job for the uninitiated.

Test the oil, as recommended. Then work on finding the source.

[Siberian Sea]

Ok you are loosing coolant and it’s going one of three places. The bilge, sucked into the combination chamber and out the exhaust or into the crankcase oil and then steamed off through engine heat being forced out crankcase breathing vent and possible past piston rings.
So this is how you determine if it’s the head gasket or something else like a cracked cylinder liner.
Take empt bottle like a Pepsi bottle and fill halfway with clean water. Now secure this bottle to engine in such a way that the overflow tube from the coolant tank hose end can be put in bottle and end is submerged in the clean water. Start and run engine under load. You can do this a the marina just leave dock lines tied and put in forward gear. After some time look at the bottle with the water and hose stuck into it. Take not if the water level increases and if so you know that the coolant is being forced through excess pressure out this hose in into bottle. This means the coolant is going into bilge and you have a blown head gasket. But if the water in you bottle goes down..... well this means your head gasket is ok however you coolant system is under vacuum and your coolant is being most likely sucked into the combustion chamber probably through a cracked cylinder liner and this coolant is burned off and you see the white smoke out the exhaust. This could also crack piston rings and then you get coolant into the oil and next throng you know is oil consumption.
Now another thing you can do real easy is to remove the pressure cap from your coolant tank and look inside as the engine is running. If you see gas’s like the coolant I’d boiling then it’s a very very good chance you have a blown head gasket, warped or cracked head.
Follow this simple steps and you will know. I hope your engine gets back on track soon without to much, I wish you the best.

[Kurlie1]

Thanks. I have just discovered that I have a test lab close by. I will arrange an oil analysis test and post the results. Won't be for a couple of weeks as I am away this week.

[Stewie12]

I think you will find that the seals on the injection pump require to be replaced as they are allowing diesel into the oil. This will be the cause of your other problems. If you have had the injector pump serviced recently they may not have used the correct seals.

[Tetepare]

Originally Posted by Stewie12

I think you will find that the seals on the injection pump require to be replaced as they are allowing diesel into the oil. This will be the cause of your other problems. If you have had the injector pump serviced recently they may not have used the correct seals.

Probably. Let him get it tested. Do NOT pull the head!

[Kurlie1]

Thanks again all. Will get the test done and come back.