Volvo: Pirates of the Sea?

[Rich Stidger]

After 18 years of service and just over 2400 hours of operation, I feel that it would be a good idea to remove the core of the Volvo heat exchanger and have it cleaned and pressure tested by my local Volvo dealer. I have noticed a slight creep up in temperature over the last 5-8 years. I will do this job in the Spring and will change my freshwater antifreeze at the same time.

So looking at the parts list, I find that I will need four O-rings, two on each end to sandwich a plate with the end caps. So I look online and have a Volvo part number of 3580818 for the O-ring, and a price of $24.68...... EACH!

What? OK, I know that manufacturers like to charge big prices, but seriously? This price seems quite excessive even for Volvo.

So my question is- Does anyone know the size of the O-ring? It is probably a metric size since everything else on the engine is metric.

 

[Rick D]

$26.50 is S&H... ;-)

 

[Mark Maulden]

Is it actually an O-ring or a flat rubber gasket? My volvo has flat rubber gaskets on the end plates and they are pretty thin so they dont compress much. In fact, tomorrow, I'm going to pull it as it weeps salt water and is rusting my high pressure fuel lines. These gaskets are third party so im going to see what the Volvo ones look like. Im always having weeping issues so im thinking of moving it off engine. I think mine are about half your price....(MD 17C).

 

[Rich Stidger]

Is it actually an O-ring or a flat rubber gasket? My volvo has flat rubber gaskets on the end plates and they are pretty thin so they dont compress much. In fact, tomorrow, I'm going to pull it as it weeps salt water and is rusting my high pressure fuel lines. These gaskets are third party so im going to see what the Volvo ones look like. Im always having weeping issues so im thinking of moving it off engine. I think mine are about half your price....(MD 17C).

The PL lists it as a "O-ring". I am going to send my local Volvo dealer an email and ask for a quote on them. Maybe the website I was looking at (Marine Parts Express) has bad price info. And your engine is different from mine so it could have completely different gaskets.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Rich, I have had great success sourcing O rings, both metric and "normal" at a well stocked hardware store. Sorry, they ain't Volvo green.

 

[Rich Stidger]

I want to know that the O-ring is some standard size that I can obtain for a reasonable price and not some "special" that Volvo spec'ed to force people to buy only their part. I have seen this tactic with Westerbeke so I know some companies practice this.

 

[Mark Maulden]

I doubt that you can be told its a specific size. You could mic it. You could match it at the local hardware store. Then there's the question of the specific rubber properties and types and durometer etc etc. If this was a galley faucet, I'd say go match it. Personally, I'd hate it if I was sailing days away from help and my HX started squirting coolant because I didn't want to spend a few bucks for a part that would have been genuine.. $50 is cheap compared to hundreds to have it flown in wherever you might be. I'm in this position now but fortunately at dock..part of the joys of having Volvo.
PS. I replaced my o-rings for engine instruments in the cockpit and they lasted a year. I matched them at Ace so I got what I paid for...I need to find the right ones.

 

[jibes138]

Measure the groove that the seal fits in. Then go to an o-seal supplier and look at their technical information to get the seal size. I am assuming this is a face seal so a set of vernier or dial calipers can get you the dimensions. This is a low pressure application so not that much squeeze is needed but if you use a seal too big for the groove there is nowhere for the material to go when you compress it. The seal needs to be the right cross section for the width of the groove. Use a little Vaseline to hold it in place as you install it so the seal doesn't pop out of the groove and get cut when you tighten up the plate. Here's a paper to study up on seal design that will help. No need to get robbed in this case, the test is this Friday so study hard. http://www.qualityseals.com/pdfs/groovedesignandoringinstallation.pdf

 

[Beach Bum]

I would go to a hardware store or plumbing store. I am pretty sure, you´ll find it from local store.
I checked the price here in Europe and the price is $14.20.

 

[Kings Gambit]

I would go to a hardware store or plumbing store. I am pretty sure, you´ll find it from local store.
I checked the price here in Europe and the price is $14.20.

I think that may be either Euros or GBP that you're quoting, BB. In any event, I think it will prove non-productive to try to hunt down a "facsimile" or use one even if you find a "match." (Voice of experience here as I have a foreign-built metric boat and a foreign-built metric engine. I'm an expert on the subject!) It's probably a custom part; not something selected from among the thousands of o-rings out there just to put into the Volvo diesel. RS, you're not paying for an o-ring per se; you're paying what it costs to keep your engine running smoothly for another 18 yr. It's either the ca. $100 to do it right now, or alternatively, risk a $50 headache that aspirin won't relieve, and then pay the $100 later, IMHO!

 

[Beach Bum]

Actually, the mentioned price is in USD. Price in euro is 13.30.

 

[Kings Gambit]

Actually, the mentioned price is in USD. Price in euro is 13.30.

OK, plse forgive. I'd forgotten how low the Euro has fallen against the USD!

 

[Rich Stidger]

Thanks to all for the advice. What I had really hoped for was to have someone who has already R&Red his HX and could tell me the O-ring size BEFORE I start this job. I have emailed my local Volvo dealer and asked for a quote. Maybe the price is wrong. I understand the need to install proper parts that will do the job, but I absolutely hate getting ripped off (or lied to). If you want to become persona non grata with me all you need to do is to cheat me or lie to me. Dismounting soapbox.

 

[Mark Maulden]

Rich, check out Seakamp Engineering in Bellingham WA. In my quest for my HX issues, I was told they make a lot of them as OEM and probably made mine. Their website shows a lot of OEM stuff. I was also told if i need a new HX to just have them build a new one to my specs for about $500. I was thinking of making some mods to mine Including some brazing but it would possibly be cheaper just have one built..Volvo cost is ~$1500.00..Might be worth a try!

 

[Rich Stidger]

Thanks Mark.

 

[pipedream]

I'm a longtime Volvo 2000 series owner. The most common overheating area and easiest to check is the mixing elbow, starting where the water outlet enters the elbow. If that areas is clogged you will need to remove the elbow to be sure all passages are clear.

I've never had great success using any o rings other than those supplied by Volvo. When your ready to replace the water tubes, clean the pipe and receptacle with a battery terminal brush and lube the o ring with Vaseline for a leak free connection.

Good luck

 

[Kings Gambit]

I'm a longtime Volvo 2000 series owner. The most common overheating area and easiest to check is the mixing elbow, starting where the water outlet enters the elbow. If that areas is clogged you will need to remove the elbow to be sure all passages are clear.

I've never had great success using any o rings other than those supplied by Volvo. When your ready to replace the water tubes, clean the pipe and receptacle with a battery terminal brush and lube the o ring with Vaseline for a leak free connection.

Good luck

Is Vaseline really the proper thing to use to lubricate o-rings that see seawater? I'd have thought it should be silicon grease.

 

[jibes138]

The o-seal guys will tell you petrolatum which is the generic name for Vaseline. You can also use STP oil treatment.

 

[pipedream]

Thanks Jibes

The cleaning and Vaseline is to ensure the ring is inserted back into the socket without deforming or damaging, not as sealant.

 

[jibes138]

The Vaseline serves two purposes. It holds the seal in the groove for a face seal and it prevents the seal from twisting in a shaft /bore installation. It has nothing to do with sealing, it is a lubricant. Sealing is done by squeeze on the seal and the pressure trying to extrude the seal into the space between mating parts. For a face seal there isn't any space to extrude.