I purchased an older sailboat 2 years ago with a volvo penta (md11c) diesel engine. While up in the Octopus Islands this summer water entered the engine from a failed seal in the water pump and I have replaced the engine with a volva penta 2030. After less than 20 hours on the engine (basically the trip home) we had engine problems which a mechanic has attributed to water in the new engine due to lack of siphon valves. The company that installed the engine has indicated that siphon valves are "optional". The new mechanic says that the engine intake/exhaust is below the water line and that the exhaust "can" is higher, therefore the siphon valves are necessary. Right now I have a $12,000 engine that needs a rebuild and two mechanics argueing about the necessity of sipon valves. I would appreciate any advice from anybody on this topic.
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Wow! Time to call your Attorney!
David, This is just the pits. I wish that I had an easy solution for you. IMHO, The need for the siphon valves should have been obvious to an experienced repower shop. If for no other reason than that the failure of the older engine was obviously caused by the absence of siphon valves. The only other possibility would be a cracked block and that should have been obvious as well. Proving neglegence is another matter. In view of the $s that are involved, I would begin thinking about some sort of litigation or serious arbitration. Jon
David, This is just the pits. I wish that I had an easy solution for you. IMHO, The need for the siphon valves should have been obvious to an experienced repower shop. If for no other reason than that the failure of the older engine was obviously caused by the absence of siphon valves. The only other possibility would be a cracked block and that should have been obvious as well. Proving neglegence is another matter. In view of the $s that are involved, I would begin thinking about some sort of litigation or serious arbitration. Jon
Oh NO more lawyers
It's amazing that someone else's problems become the FIRST choice of someone else to call a bloody attorney. PLEASE STOP!!! Anti siphon loops (or siphon breaks) are required when an engine is below the waterline. The loop is installed on the water injection line from the exhaust water outlet into the exhaust gas outlet (sometimes called the 'nipple') before it enters the muffler. Basic diesel mechanic books describe it very well. Calder's Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual, second edition, pages 258 and 269, even have pictures and photographs. I recommend that David do a little research first, although after the fact. I also recommend that Jon hold off on calling in the lawyers until David has figured out what he needs to do. Dueling mechanics is never very helpful to anyone. And it only begets yet a third mechanic... Sure this doesn't answer David's original question, but, heck, none of us was there and don't really know what happened. In lieu of lawyers, BoatUS, if David was fortunate enough to be insured by them, would most certainly be a good source of information and assistance. Their claims assistants have received rave reviews for their work during and after the Florida and Texas coast hurricanes, and would be sure to be able to offer more good advice. David, contact a BoatUS representative, even if you're not insured by them. They are also, obviously, online, guess the website address.
Your goal should be to work it out, not to try to beat up on someone for starters. There is a great amount of valuable information and help out there. Please make use of it. Stu
It's amazing that someone else's problems become the FIRST choice of someone else to call a bloody attorney. PLEASE STOP!!! Anti siphon loops (or siphon breaks) are required when an engine is below the waterline. The loop is installed on the water injection line from the exhaust water outlet into the exhaust gas outlet (sometimes called the 'nipple') before it enters the muffler. Basic diesel mechanic books describe it very well. Calder's Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual, second edition, pages 258 and 269, even have pictures and photographs. I recommend that David do a little research first, although after the fact. I also recommend that Jon hold off on calling in the lawyers until David has figured out what he needs to do. Dueling mechanics is never very helpful to anyone. And it only begets yet a third mechanic... Sure this doesn't answer David's original question, but, heck, none of us was there and don't really know what happened. In lieu of lawyers, BoatUS, if David was fortunate enough to be insured by them, would most certainly be a good source of information and assistance. Their claims assistants have received rave reviews for their work during and after the Florida and Texas coast hurricanes, and would be sure to be able to offer more good advice. David, contact a BoatUS representative, even if you're not insured by them. They are also, obviously, online, guess the website address.
Your goal should be to work it out, not to try to beat up on someone for starters. There is a great amount of valuable information and help out there. Please make use of it. StuDavid,
David, I normaly won't get involved in a discussion of potential liability. This issue you have posted, on the surface looks cut and dry. Acordding to the A.B.Y.C. Standards section P-1.7.2 Waterlift Exhaust Systems. A siphon break SHALL be installed at a point higher than the maximun heeled water line. I have sumized the standard here. The entire standard is available at the link attached. Pat McCartin Inland Marine Diesel Buford, Ga imd_ga@hotmail.com
David, I normaly won't get involved in a discussion of potential liability. This issue you have posted, on the surface looks cut and dry. Acordding to the A.B.Y.C. Standards section P-1.7.2 Waterlift Exhaust Systems. A siphon break SHALL be installed at a point higher than the maximun heeled water line. I have sumized the standard here. The entire standard is available at the link attached. Pat McCartin Inland Marine Diesel Buford, Ga imd_ga@hotmail.com
Siphon Valves
Not only should your engine have an anti siphon valve on the engine, if the head is below the water line, it should have two vented loops...one on the suction line and one on the discharge line.
Not only should your engine have an anti siphon valve on the engine, if the head is below the water line, it should have two vented loops...one on the suction line and one on the discharge line.
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