Hope that you Yanmar folks can help by answering a question regarding my Volvo engine. this engine, model MD22L, with low time (less that 200 hours) produces a great deal of smoke on startup (which is grey, and which I believe to be unburned fuel), but almost no smoke when warm. The fuel is fresh and the tank just cleaned (which inproved the power output but not the smoke. How can I determine how much is normal and whether this is beyond normal? Thanks
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Rich Stidger
I want to hear an answer to this one too
Me too!! Had a 1997 MD22L in my 40.5. IMO smoked badly, Volvo replaced the entire engine in April of 1999 (along with several others around the country in Hunters). New engine still smokes and puts out a light blue smoke at all speeds and loads just like the original. Runs great otherwise, good power, easy starter. The east coast Volvo tech rep says it is normal and that all is well. Says the engine requires 400-500 hours to break in the rings and that the engine may 'clean-up' after that usage. I currently have about 350 hours with no improvement in the smoke output. BTW, I have a Westerbeke 5Kw genset running from the same fuel supply and it burns clean as a whistle. The gray smoke on startup I believe is normal for a cold diesel, nevertheless many diesels do not seem to exhibit this characteristic. Mine also blows gray smoke for about 3-5 minutes. More volume and longer in the early spring and late fall when it is colder. Rich
Me too!! Had a 1997 MD22L in my 40.5. IMO smoked badly, Volvo replaced the entire engine in April of 1999 (along with several others around the country in Hunters). New engine still smokes and puts out a light blue smoke at all speeds and loads just like the original. Runs great otherwise, good power, easy starter. The east coast Volvo tech rep says it is normal and that all is well. Says the engine requires 400-500 hours to break in the rings and that the engine may 'clean-up' after that usage. I currently have about 350 hours with no improvement in the smoke output. BTW, I have a Westerbeke 5Kw genset running from the same fuel supply and it burns clean as a whistle. The gray smoke on startup I believe is normal for a cold diesel, nevertheless many diesels do not seem to exhibit this characteristic. Mine also blows gray smoke for about 3-5 minutes. More volume and longer in the early spring and late fall when it is colder. Rich
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Peter Milne
Its Not A Volvo, Its A Perkins
George We have the same "Volvo" engine as you in our 430. In fact, it is not a Volvo it is a Perkins engine. There is a Perkins label on the back side of the engine. We call our engine "Old Smokey". When you first start the engine, a great cloud of white smoke emerges which disappates after a few minutes. (We have about 400 hours on the engine) Our engine guy (who is a Perkins dealer) has looked at it twice and has talked to Perkins, but to date he has been unable to fix it or explain it. Other than the smoke, the engine is fine, quiet, smooth and always starts easily. Peter Milne S/V Blue Heron
George We have the same "Volvo" engine as you in our 430. In fact, it is not a Volvo it is a Perkins engine. There is a Perkins label on the back side of the engine. We call our engine "Old Smokey". When you first start the engine, a great cloud of white smoke emerges which disappates after a few minutes. (We have about 400 hours on the engine) Our engine guy (who is a Perkins dealer) has looked at it twice and has talked to Perkins, but to date he has been unable to fix it or explain it. Other than the smoke, the engine is fine, quiet, smooth and always starts easily. Peter Milne S/V Blue Heron
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George Kornreich
I think I remembered something about that, Peter,
but do you think that Volvo Penta or Perkins actually makes this engine. It was my understanding that Volvo bought the production rights from Perkins, and the manual and warranty is Volvo Penta. Maybe you can shed some light on that. Anyway, looks like we'll just let 'er smoke and enjoy good performance and reliability at the same time. I was wondering, though, if the problems might be in the injectors, possibly dumping too much raw fuel into the manifold, rather that pumping all the excess fuel back to the tank. I understand that much more fuel goes back to the tank than is used, which ain't all that bad, as it effectively is "polishing" the fuel all the time. My engine has a bit over 200 hours on it, and I don't recall getting this much smoke (definately the blue-gray of fuel, and not oil or steam) in the earlier hours. Did yours also do this after a while rather than at first? George
but do you think that Volvo Penta or Perkins actually makes this engine. It was my understanding that Volvo bought the production rights from Perkins, and the manual and warranty is Volvo Penta. Maybe you can shed some light on that. Anyway, looks like we'll just let 'er smoke and enjoy good performance and reliability at the same time. I was wondering, though, if the problems might be in the injectors, possibly dumping too much raw fuel into the manifold, rather that pumping all the excess fuel back to the tank. I understand that much more fuel goes back to the tank than is used, which ain't all that bad, as it effectively is "polishing" the fuel all the time. My engine has a bit over 200 hours on it, and I don't recall getting this much smoke (definately the blue-gray of fuel, and not oil or steam) in the earlier hours. Did yours also do this after a while rather than at first? George
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Peter Milne
It has always Smoked
George, When I purchased the boat two or three years ago, the engine had 200 hours on it, and like yours, it smoked. My engine guy, noted the smoke in his engine survey when I purchased the boat. Part of the deal was that the tank would be cleaned along with the fuel and the injectors. The result was no change. The great cloud of smoke is a bit embarassing, but we live with it for a minute or two. Peter
George, When I purchased the boat two or three years ago, the engine had 200 hours on it, and like yours, it smoked. My engine guy, noted the smoke in his engine survey when I purchased the boat. Part of the deal was that the tank would be cleaned along with the fuel and the injectors. The result was no change. The great cloud of smoke is a bit embarassing, but we live with it for a minute or two. Peter
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Ben Day
Smoking Volvo
To the respondent who wrote about the Volvo which smokes upon starting, then ceases to smoke after warmup, I reply with the following information. I have operated larger Volvos (6 cylinder TMD40's) and this is a normal occurance. My 15 year old model looked like the mosquito control truck until it warmed up, or at least it did til it swallowed a valve last fall. I do not believe the smoke problem was associated witht he broken valve, because in talking with others who operate Volvo's it appears that it is is an inherant "problem" for them to smoke on startup. My engine did get worse before it died however.
To the respondent who wrote about the Volvo which smokes upon starting, then ceases to smoke after warmup, I reply with the following information. I have operated larger Volvos (6 cylinder TMD40's) and this is a normal occurance. My 15 year old model looked like the mosquito control truck until it warmed up, or at least it did til it swallowed a valve last fall. I do not believe the smoke problem was associated witht he broken valve, because in talking with others who operate Volvo's it appears that it is is an inherant "problem" for them to smoke on startup. My engine did get worse before it died however.
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