3.0 volvo AQ 131d overheating

[Fireman7777]

I have an 89 sunrunner with a volvo penta AQ131d/275. I just bought it a few weeks ago and took it out on the lake today. It starts up and runs great, but within just a few minutes the temperature climbs and it starts overheating. This engine has a heat exchanger on it. The coolant is full. I checked the raw water strainer and it is clean. I'm guessing that the raw water pump is not pumping adequately, but don't know if there is something that I should do before I try replacing this. Thanks!

 

[captmello]

Re: 3.0 volvo AQ 131d overheating

Replacing the raw water impeller is the first thing to do. Cheap and easy.

 

[havasuboatman]

Re: 3.0 volvo AQ 131d overheating

Replacing the raw water impeller is the first thing to do. Cheap and easy.

Make sure you find all the little rubber pieces if it came apart. They will likely be in the oil cooler.

 

[Don S]

Re: 3.0 volvo AQ 131d overheating

Just so you don't get confused when looking up parts, your 131 is not a 3.0L, it is a 4 cylinder but it's a Volvo based engine, the 3.0L engine is a GM engine.

 

[Fireman7777]

Re: 3.0 volvo AQ 131d overheating

Just so you don't get confused when looking up parts, your 131 is not a 3.0L, it is a 4 cylinder but it's a Volvo based engine, the 3.0L engine is a GM engine.

Oh! Thanks. That's important to know.

 

[Fireman7777]

Re: 3.0 volvo AQ 131d overheating

Well, I replaced the raw water pump impeller and changed all the rubber seals on the copper cooling pipes and the thermostat. Put it back together with no leaks and had a fun afternoon of boating this weekend. No overheating! Thanks guys.

 

[Fireman7777]

Re: 3.0 volvo AQ 131d overheating

Well, i'm ashamed to say that I haven't really been on iboats since this summer! I'm happy to say that we were too busy out on the water to be on the computer! After fixing our overheating problem with new seals and a new raw water impeller, the boat ran GREAT. We were out at least 25 days camping, fishing, wakeboarding, and tubing in July-September. I installed dual batteries with a perko switch, installed a good stereo and a 12v power port. This year, I'll need to get a new tilt motor because it keeps blowing fuses and I'd like to get a new prop as well. The current one has a few dings in it and we have a pretty rough wake out behind the boat. I suspect that the prop is part of that.

Thanks for the help!

 

[intrepidvoyager]

Re: 3.0 volvo AQ 131d overheating

see post today about trim pump fuse blowing

 

[captmello]

Re: 3.0 volvo AQ 131d overheating

Well, i'm ashamed to say that I haven't really been on iboats since this summer! I'm happy to say that we were too busy out on the water to be on the computer! After fixing our overheating problem with new seals and a new raw water impeller, the boat ran GREAT. We were out at least 25 days camping, fishing, wakeboarding, and tubing in July-September. I installed dual batteries with a perko switch, installed a good stereo and a 12v power port. This year, I'll need to get a new tilt motor because it keeps blowing fuses and I'd like to get a new prop as well. The current one has a few dings in it and we have a pretty rough wake out behind the boat. I suspect that the prop is part of that.

Thanks for the help!

Glad to hear you've got it going and are getting a lot of use!!!!

Regarding the prop, a dinged prop won't effect the wake. What RPM are you getting at WOT (wide open throttle)? You should be getting close to 5000 RPM.

 

[Fireman7777]

Re: 3.0 volvo AQ 131d overheating

Well, I haven't posted a question about propping my boat yet because I don't have all the info needed to properly inform the pros here about what I've got and what I want... I haven't been able to find any numbers on my prop about what size/pitch it is yet. I've been looking into it and I'm considering possibly getting a 4-blade just to get out of the hole quicker. I need to take my prop off and have someone tell me what I've got. If I remember right, last year at WOT I was running between 4700 and 4800 rpms. I'll have to get it out on the water in a month or so and make sure.

 

[intrepidvoyager]

Re: 3.0 volvo AQ 131d overheating

I think you are pushing the envelope at 4800 ...... I have a couple of friends with these 3 litre 4 bangers and they don't run them over 4K ..... also check the torque curve ...I doubt you'll get much more top end out of boat if you got the right prop to WOT at 4K ........ also that prop will have more pitch which will get you out of the whole faster , however all this depends on weight of boat etc. Try and find out what prop the boat had when it came from the factory ......that should be the right set up.

 

[captmello]

Re: 3.0 volvo AQ 131d overheating

I think you are pushing the envelope at 4800 ...... I have a couple of friends with these 3 litre 4 bangers and they don't run them over 4K ..... also check the torque curve ...I doubt you'll get much more top end out of boat if you got the right prop to WOT at 4K ........ also that prop will have more pitch which will get you out of the whole faster , however all this depends on weight of boat etc. Try and find out what prop the boat had when it came from the factory ......that should be the right set up.

This would be correct if it was a 3.0 GM four cylinder, but it is not. It is a 2.3 ltr volvo engine with a max RPM of 4800. It sounds like he's got the correct prop if he's hitting 4800. I would encourage him to check his tach against a shop tach to confirm its correct. If it is a Volvo Prop, they are usually marked on the hub somewhere. You need to remove the prop to see it. If not, bring it to a prop shop to be measured.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 3.0 volvo AQ 131d overheating

Those Volvo 4cyl. Need a Volvo prop.You can use some aftermarket props.
I had a friend ask me to look at his boat.Said it wasn't performing right.Went from 35 to 22mph.
I checked EVERYTHING, found NOTHING.Then as I was packing up I noticed a new aftermarket Michigan wheel. I asked how long it had been on and what pitch it was.Same pitch but had just bought it the last week.
Changed it back and it was running the way it was before.J

 

[Fireman7777]

Re: 3.0 volvo AQ 131d overheating

Thanks for clearing that up...when I originally posted this topic, I had just gotten the boat and thought it was a 3.0 liter engine. I've had the prop off the boat and I just can't find any markings on it. I'll take it in to a prop shop and have them evaluate it...see if it's something they can refinish, and how much it will cost to get a 2nd prop so that I have a backup handy on the boat for...well... you know!

From the little bit that I've read, I'd be interested in going to a 4-blade prop. I wouldn't mind loosing a couple miles per hour top speed to have more push in turns (for wild tube rides) and getting out of the hole quicker for wakeboarding and water skiing.

Again...after I get the boat out and check the WOT and get the specs on my current prop, I'll post a question about propping in the prop forum

Thank you all for your input. This page has been a wealth of information to a first-time boat owner.

 

[robjen1019]

Re: 3.0 volvo AQ 131d overheating

I am a big fan of the solas 4 blade props sold here at iboats. There about 100 apiece and I found them to work very well. On my 19.5 foot sunrunner. I only lost 1mph with the change from 3 to 4 blades. But I gained alot of control, especially backing up. The boat planed out a good 3 to 5 mph lower. I have 3 small children, so my boat spends alot of time pulling tubes and skiers. I have since converted to duoprop and a v8(which is a whole other story) But with my old 151c, I really like the solas 4 blade props.

 

[Fireman7777]

Re: 3.0 volvo AQ 131d overheating

Thanks! That's great to hear from some first-hand experience! Thanks for posting. I'll post updates when I get the boat out of storage and figure out what prop I've got on there now.

 

[Don S]

Re: 3.0 volvo AQ 131d overheating

One other thing you might consider looking at BEFORE you put it in the water. The hose connector on the outdrive where the hose that goes from the drive to the transom sheild attaches have a bad habit of corroding away where the hose attaches. You usually can't see it, but it's there. Then, when you are on plane, the raw water pump sucks air, not water and you then get an overheat. Slow down and it cools down because that connection is underwater again.