Morning all. We have a '91 Beneteau with the VP 2003 engine. It runs very reliably but I'd noticed that my coolant reservior was rising slightly after several hours running; seems the only thing that could be is a leak in the h/e into the coolant side.
I took my exchanger to a local outfit, they put it in an acid bath and seem to have dissolved much of it and it was REALLY pooched after that.
Volvo parts are notoriously costly and hard to find, it seems, but after much searching I found a warrantied reconditioned one in Holland and had it shipped out (props for Ship Outlet Store - good service and real time communication when ordering)
However when I went to install the 'new' exchanger the Y pipe that connects the FW pump to the heat exchanger and expansion tank appeared to be 1/4" short. As it happens, my original exchanger had a clamp-on mounting bracket, the replacement had a fixed/welded bracket. I also happen to have an almost complete spare engine - that heat exchanger was also not serviceable but it was the fixed bracket version. I had that Y pipe in the shop and it was indeed that little bit longer so in the end everything fit together.
So if you're in the same boat
pay attention to the exchanger mounting bracket and try to match it. If you go from 'fixed' to 'clamped you might cram it in but I doubt it. If we hadn't had the spare we'd be ordering another part at yet more expense and, like poor John, losing more 'in season' sailing.
Now to get all the air out of the coolant system.......
I took my exchanger to a local outfit, they put it in an acid bath and seem to have dissolved much of it and it was REALLY pooched after that.
Volvo parts are notoriously costly and hard to find, it seems, but after much searching I found a warrantied reconditioned one in Holland and had it shipped out (props for Ship Outlet Store - good service and real time communication when ordering)
However when I went to install the 'new' exchanger the Y pipe that connects the FW pump to the heat exchanger and expansion tank appeared to be 1/4" short. As it happens, my original exchanger had a clamp-on mounting bracket, the replacement had a fixed/welded bracket. I also happen to have an almost complete spare engine - that heat exchanger was also not serviceable but it was the fixed bracket version. I had that Y pipe in the shop and it was indeed that little bit longer so in the end everything fit together.
So if you're in the same boat
pay attention to the exchanger mounting bracket and try to match it. If you go from 'fixed' to 'clamped you might cram it in but I doubt it. If we hadn't had the spare we'd be ordering another part at yet more expense and, like poor John, losing more 'in season' sailing.Now to get all the air out of the coolant system.......
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