Volvo Penta Still Running Hot

Jax0913 · **Joined:** Sun May 15, 2011 6:33 pm **Posts:** 4

Long time reader first time poster so I know I am breaking a few rules... Like posting pics, Sorry!

I have a Volvo Penta 3.0 in a 2001 Horizon LE. I have had some overheating issues with it. So, this is what I have done. I replaced the impeller. I also fished out impeller chucks from the hoses and in the temperature housing. Ran it out Friday before memorial day. Running cooler but still at higher RPMS running at about 185. Let it idle and cool down. Ran it this Saturday night with the thermostat out, stayed under 120, as expected. I put a new Thermostat in last night and ran it on the driveway with the muffs. At higher RPMs it got up to 175 and stayed about there. The intake hose into the Thermostat housing was cool and so was the elbow coming out on the port side of the engine. The manifold hose (thicker one) was hotter, but not too hot where I couldn't grab and hold onto it. The block itself feels cool, and so do the manifolds. The thermostat housing has two temp senders on it, one of which I believe is the alarm and that was replaced this year. It still seems to be running high to me. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

ric · **Posted:** Tue Jun 12, 2012 1:26 pm

My 3.0 averages 170-174 under any conditions. That's normal.

neutron · **Posted:** Tue Jun 12, 2012 3:09 pm

it will probrably run hotter in the water. forcing water is more efficient than the raw water pump pulling the water.

Paul I. · **Posted:** Tue Jun 12, 2012 3:51 pm

On some of my past boats, I have installed the closed system myself. I was told be the makers of the heat exchanger. That in the water (ocean, lake) it would run cooler. That a hose can not supply the same amount of water as the pump could suck up. If you were to rev the engine up, it is not uncommon for it to collapse due to it pulling more water than the hose can supply. Now this is what I was told, is it true, I think so. For me, the temp did drop about 5deg after installing it and then putting it in the water. Could the ocean be cooler? Could be?

neutron · **Posted:** Tue Jun 12, 2012 3:59 pm

Paul I. wrote:

On some of my past boats, I have installed the closed system myself. I was told be the makers of the heat exchanger. That in the water (ocean, lake) it would run cooler. That a hose can not supply the same amount of water as the pump could suck up. If you were to rev the engine up, it is not uncommon for it to collapse due to it pulling more water than the hose can supply. Now this is what I was told, is it true, I think so. For me, the temp did drop about 5deg after installing it and then putting it in the water. Could the ocean be cooler? Could be?

I have seen that happen where a hose collapsed due to a lack of pressure but I was at my motorcycle shop where the pressure is horrible. I guess it would depend on each of our own water supply pressure. I for one have great pressure at my house where I keep my boat.
I know early in the season when the Bay here in RI is colder it runs very cool but now the surface temp of the Bay is already aproaching 70 degrees.

Paul I. · **Posted:** Tue Jun 12, 2012 11:12 pm

"Bay is already aproaching 70 degrees." Not in Bostons outer harbor. The temp around here is 62 to 64.

neutron · **Posted:** Wed Jun 13, 2012 8:44 am

Paul I. wrote:

"Bay is already aproaching 70 degrees." Not in Bostons outer harbor. The temp around here is 62 to 64.

we dont go to the outer bay here much mostly to the coves on Prudence Island.

Paul I. · **Posted:** Wed Jun 13, 2012 9:00 am

Have you been to the Newport Boat Show. I went for the first time last year. They claim that one was small, but is was the biggest and best one I have ever seen!! It must have been a 1/4 mile on docks with boat after boat. If you wanted it, thought about it, didn't know about it. IT WAS THERE! We spent the whole day there & I don't think we saw half of it!

neutron · **Posted:** Wed Jun 13, 2012 9:14 am

Paul I. wrote:

Have you been to the Newport Boat Show. I went for the first time last year. They claim that one was small, but is was the biggest and best one I have ever seen!! It must have been a 1/4 mile on docks with boat after boat. If you wanted it, thought about it, didn't know about it. IT WAS THERE! We spent the whole day there & I don't think we saw half of it!

Yup me and my wife go every year, we have a good time dreaming. but we always liked the spring boat show but they stopped that one a few years ago. the spring one had more pre owned boats that were more realistic prices.

BTW sorry we jacked this thread.

chrisvs · **Posted:** Wed Jun 13, 2012 1:25 pm

Both my last H180 with the volvo 3.0, and my current one with the Merc 3.0 ran at the same temps as Ric mentioned, 170-175, which I believe is normal operating temps for this engine.

So, is it now running in this range with the impeller changed, and the chuncks picked out? Maybe you have it beat now???

Jax0913 · **Joined:** Sun May 15, 2011 6:33 pm **Posts:** 4

Thanks guys... Yeah this is the temp that it is running now. We shall see, gonna go out and cruise around this afternoon. 85 and sunny here. Happy boating this weekend!

Jax0913 · **Joined:** Sun May 15, 2011 6:33 pm **Posts:** 4

Ok guys. So we went out last night. The temperature ran at about 160 - 175 when we were staying under 20mph. Any time that we went faster the temperature would climb up to about 185 - 190. Someone at the marina thinks that we still might have a blockage somewhere. How do I go about this? Is there a good way to flush something out?

neutron · **Posted:** Sat Jun 16, 2012 9:51 am

Jax0913 wrote:

Ok guys. So we went out last night. The temperature ran at about 160 - 175 when we were staying under 20mph. Any time that we went faster the temperature would climb up to about 185 - 190. Someone at the marina thinks that we still might have a blockage somewhere. How do I go about this? Is there a good way to flush something out?

Sounds like a restriction to me. saw a Bravo drive run hot at higher rpms but would run cool all day at low rpms and on hose. we took the lower half on the leg and foung barnicles or parts of shells in it. cleaned and scraped out the debris and all was fine

Jax0913 · **Joined:** Sun May 15, 2011 6:33 pm **Posts:** 4

Thanks Goldfish... Going to get a gasket kit now so we can pull off the lower unit and check it out. Will let you know how it goes.

LouC · **Posted:** Sat Jun 16, 2012 10:56 am

My boat had the exact same issue last year. The Cobra drive has a screen in the water intake just like a Johnson or Evinrude lower unit, which is basically the same as the Cobra. Even with spraying antifouling paint in the water intakes you get barnacles growing behind that screen. I had to break out the plastic screen and was able to make a tool out of stiff wire to scrape out the barnacles. I was able to do that without splitting the upper and lower gear cases. I had checked the impeller and manifolds but it was really growth in the water intakes.Btw, Mercs and Volvos do not have screens but you can still get growth.....
They have no screens and smaller/more intake holes than the Cobra. They have 6 small holes, the Cobra has 4 large ones. It's not a problem for boats that are trailered or lift kept but for boats left in the water where there is any growth, it's a potential issue.
When I do split the upper and lower gearcases, I am taking out the remainder of the water screen in the lower unit and making a removable screen on the outside of the lower unit, they are used on many outboards like the later Evinrudes, Johnsons, Yamahas, Hondas, Zukis etc. They can be taken off and cleaned out.

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Volvo Penta Still Running Hot

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