My Bilge Was Full of Oil

[tackdriver]

Routine bilge check this am, not good - full of engine oil. Lucky I didn't seize the donk pulling into City Is last night. Spent the day doing engine bay gymnastics and getting really filthy. I now have a dead oil cooler - cracked casing - in a bucket. I've been referred to All Island Marine as the local Volvo gurus - its a 2003T. I see others have this motor and I chased down some of those links, but can't see the part. Its a pretty substantial thing, so I hope one is available.
All the things I didn't want to know about my engine are slowly forcing themselves on me.
Any pointers to Volvo guys in the NY area would be appreciated.
cheers
James

[Boracay]

Oil coolers might be available off the shelf as a generic (i.e. not Volvo) item.

Your local mechanic should advise.

If you are curious the internet is a great place to entertain yourself. This site popped up when I searched for "marine oil cooler". They might even have your size.

[tackdriver]

If the housing was available its $1,300 and the insert is $600. Bargain! And that's if they had stock, which of course no one does. I think after market is going to be the way forward.

I do have a question - the oil cooler housing was totally corroded at one end. Its made of alloy. What's going on here - doesn't the engine zinc protect alloy components?.

Looks like we are staying here for a while.

James

[stevensc]

Many coolers have a fitting to screw in a zinc into, looks like a plug, is there one on yours?
Steve

[sded]

Try Marine Parts Express Volvo Penta, Mercruiser and more - Marine Parts Express - engines, outdrives, propellers . They will at least give you a 10% discount and free delivery if they can find one. The 2003T doesn't have a zinc for some reason, although there are drawings showing one that are incorrect. I had the oil cooler refurbished 3 years ago before we went to Mexico for the season; not cheap.

[tackdriver]

Hi, just returned from a 13hour round trip to upstate NY to get a Volvo cooler from French Creek Marina. The $1300 was a price for the complete unit, so at least that's some good news. My old one after a clean up looked like a dog had chewed it. The body had been composed of corrosion products stuck together with paint and cooked by the oil. Must be quite strong stuff! Once I attacked it with a screw driver it looked pretty sad. Also lots of sea creatures in the inlet side. Better check the raw water screen.
cheers
JMB