Can"t Find Water Leak 2014-R31S Volvo Penta

[HarleyQuinn]

I can not find a water leak on a Volvo Penta....... I ran the Tug out in the ocean for long periods of time without locating a leak. So the engine leaks spuratically major amounts of water but still can not find the source of the leak....... very puzzling..... I even had a mechanic who represents Volvo Penta watch for leaks while I was driving the Tug but even he could not locate the source of the leak....... so I am reaching out to the Tug Community to see if anybody has had a similar problem that was solved........ Thank you in advance.
HarleyQuinn/Ron

 

[BradOwens]

Check the connections at your water heater. Those clamps sometimes loosen over time.

 

[daylekuhn]

Is this raw cooling water or the contained engine anti-freeze? One of the hoses on the front my engine that carries heated anti-freeze from the engine to the hot water heater would leak some fluid but only under certain conditions. Once found it was a simple repair. Both raw water and anti-freeze have limited routes they take and can be traced looking for signs of leakage. Good luck!

 

[Cutwater28GG]

also if coolant doesnt the volvo have an expansion tube that if very hot can vent coolant into the bilge?

Also check your engine zincs as they corrode they can become loose.

 

[Pourhouse]

Have you checked your stuffing box? There aren't many places that "water" can leak out of the engine.

 

[Snowbird]

My leak was at the cabin heater connections. Undo the screws and pull it out and tighten the hose clamps

 

[HarleyQuinn]

Have you checked your stuffing box? There aren't many places that "water" can leak out of the engine.

Thank You for suggesting the Stuffing Box 😀 ............. That was a small part of the leakage but it does need new packing. I found the major leakage coming from the exhaust on back bottom left part of the Hull....... The major leakage was coming from the outer part of the Exhaust Mount on the Hull..........

 

[Dale777]

HarleyQuinn,

On my 2014 R31S, I had a seepage of sea water at the D4-300 exhaust port through the hull. I first noticed it due to a streak of rust colored stain coming from the bottom of the exhaust port along the inside of the hull. That stain was always wet, even after I wiped it dry a number of times over several days/weeks.

At the 2017 Ranger Tugs Rendezvous in Florida, the factory technician thought the screws on the flange on the outside of the hull needed to be tightened. That that did not help. Next, where the exhaust hose clamps to the exhaust port, I then replaced the lesser quality SS clamps with high quality T-bolt SS hose clamps - hoping that would stop the seepage. T-bolt hose clamps permit extreme tightening without damaging the hose. No luck!

It appeared that the exhaust port was seeping sea water due to crevice corrosion on the stainless steel exhaust port. There was no bonding wire to this exhaust port even though it is always partially submerged in sea water.

So, while the boat was out of the water for Florida hurricane season storage, I had the entire exhaust port through-hull assembly replaced with a new one. At the same time, I had a bonding wire attached to that port and to the nearby generator exhaust port, with both connected back to the common bonding at the stern.

After over 3-1/2 months in sea water since the repair, there is no sign of any seepage. I suggest that everyone periodically examine that area for any leak or seepage. Also, you might consider bonding that assembly if it is not already done.

 

[HarleyQuinn]

HarleyQuinn,

On my 2014 R31S, I had a seepage of sea water at the D4-300 exhaust port through the hull. I first noticed it due to a streak of rust colored stain coming from the bottom of the exhaust port along the inside of the hull. That stain was always wet, even after I wiped it dry a number of times over several days/weeks.

At the 2017 Ranger Tugs Rendezvous in Florida, the factory technician thought the screws on the flange on the outside of the hull needed to be tightened. That that did not help. Next, where the exhaust hose clamps to the exhaust port, I then replaced the lesser quality SS clamps with high quality T-bolt SS hose clamps - hoping that would stop the seepage. T-bolt hose clamps permit extreme tightening without damaging the hose. No luck!

It appeared that the exhaust port was seeping sea water due to crevice corrosion on the stainless steel exhaust port. There was no bonding wire to this exhaust port even though it is always partially submerged in sea water.

So, while the boat was out of the water for Florida hurricane season storage, I had the entire exhaust port through-hull assembly replaced with a new one. At the same time, I had a bonding wire attached to that port and to the nearby generator exhaust port, with both connected back to the common bonding at the stern.

After over 3-1/2 months in sea water since the repair, there is no sign of any seepage. I suggest that everyone periodically examine that area for any leak or seepage. Also, you might consider bonding that assembly if it is not already done.

Thank You Dale that will be a big help........... 😀