Volvo Penta Diesel Timing Belt failure

[bstronger@hotmail.com]

You should know that the 1500 engine hour Volvo Penta timing belt replacement cannot be
trusted. My port side D3 200 failed at 1350 hours. The cause was a failed timing belt tensioner which allowed the cogged belt to slip. If you do not know the difference between a timing belt and chain or an interference and non interference engine
you may want to read up. The 5 cylinder DOHC D3 is a n interference engine with a timing belt not chain - a recipe for a very expensive failure. I suggest avoiding these engines and if you have one change the belt with the kit well before the recommended 1500 hours. FYI SOHC engine are generally not interference designs I.e. the piston will never hit the valves even when the timing belt fails - making for a simple inexpensive repair. I you need DOHC at least look for an engine with a timing CHAIN. Shame on Volvo.

 

[GA_Boater]

How old are these D3s?

 

[bstronger@hotmail.com]

5 years / 1350 hours

 

[QBhoy]

I only know this because I’m going to change the belts on my friends sealine with twin D3 190’s...but there are a couple of opinions on when they should be changed, depending where you look.
the most of them and the original service manual states 1400 hours max or 8 years. Whichever comes first.

these are generally amazing engines and have been tried and tested as bomb proof in the XC90 since 2002 to present day. We all know that road engines don’t always do well in a boat, but these do. I don’t like the idea of belts in the marine engine though.
The same engine in the jeep states a lesser time period, it must be said.
you seem to have been really unlucky.

 

[RMY72]

Had a friend's D3-110, destroy the head at ~1500hrs. Zero clearance motors suck!

 

[Mc Tool]

Interference and cam belted motors are good engines .....but ,like any other engine you cant just drive em till they drop .........and then blame the engine .
There is a bit of hysteria/paranoia re cam belts where peeps just loose their minds . I have had Ducatisti telling peep to change cam belts at 5000kms which is just stupid .
And it was the tensioner that failed ( ah, so thats what that funny noise was ) not the belt . Tensioners usually have a sealed bearing that wont last for ever and at 1350 hrs I would have checked the belt and tensioners ....probly twice by now .
I dunno just how to convert boat hrs to car km's but I figure my car average speed is about 70km/h , times that by your 1350 hrs is 945000kms . I would reasonably expect your motor to get there without drama .......but thats about it for me .
I have just bought a new belt and tensioner for my Honda outboard . I personally have only done 8.5 hrs on this motor ( over 5 years ) but the belt and tensioner are dead easy to get at and change .
Dude ,you have had a bit of bad luck but dont be lookin sideways at your Volvo , they are a good motor