Propulsion engines
Volvo Penta marine service from a factory certified technician
I spent six years at a Volvo Penta dealer and hold Volvo certification, and I began performing marine diesel engine surveys during that time. Volvo Penta propulsion and drive systems are the engines I know most thoroughly, from the electronics through to the drives.
Volvo Penta on this coast
Volvo Penta is one of the most common propulsion packages on the sportfish and cruising boats along this stretch of the Gulf coast, particularly IPS and sterndrive installations where the drive system needs as much attention as the engine.
What I see most on these engines
Electronic control and helm faults
Volvo electronic controls and the EVC system generate faults that frequently trace to harness corrosion rather than a failed component. Testing the circuit first avoids replacing good parts.
Drive system service
Sterndrive and IPS installations need bellows, seals, anodes and drive oil kept on schedule. Drive oil that has turned milky means water intrusion and it needs addressing immediately.
Aftercooler and cooling circuit
Salt scale in the aftercooler and heat exchanger restricts flow and causes the gradual temperature climb owners tend to accept as normal. It is not normal.
Jon Diesel Marine is Volvo Penta certified, with six years working at a Volvo Penta dealer where marine diesel engine surveys were performed on Volvo propulsion and drive systems.
Services for Volvo Penta owners
Mechanical Marine Surveys
A documented condition report on your propulsion engines and generator, from visual inspection through sea trial.
Diesel Repair
Engine, transmission and generator service on marine diesels, from routine maintenance through a complete repower.
Engine Diagnostics
Find the actual cause before parts get bought, using engine management data, live readings and a borescope.
Other propulsion makes
Caterpillar
Caterpillar marine diesels power a large share of the sportfish and motor yacht fleet on this coast, and they ...
Cummins
Cummins marine diesels are widespread in this region across sportfish, trawler and cruiser installations. I se...
Yanmar
Yanmar powers a great many sailboat auxiliaries and smaller propulsion installations along this coast. They ar...
Volvo Penta: common questions
Are you actually Volvo Penta certified?
Yes. I worked for a Volvo Penta dealer for six years and was certified by Volvo during that time. It is the brand I know in the most depth, and it is where I started performing engine surveys.
Can you diagnose Volvo electronic control faults?
Yes. Fault codes get read along with live data, and the circuit gets tested before any sensor is replaced, because in a salt air engine room a large share of these faults are wiring rather than components.
Do you service Volvo Penta drives as well as the engines?
Yes. Drive oil, bellows, seals and anodes are part of keeping a sterndrive or IPS installation healthy, and milky drive oil is treated as urgent because it means water is getting in.
Tell me what the engine is doing
Describe the symptom on the phone and most of the time the problem is narrowed before I arrive. Surveys are booked around your sea trial date.