Volvo D4 300 HP first oil change

T

trailertrawlerkismet

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 23, 2011
Messages
2,520
Fluid Motion Model
C-24 C
Vessel Name
(2022) Kismet
In preparations for learning about ongoing maintenance I was reviewing oil change intervals for our D4/300HP. I may have overlooked it but I can not seem to find anything about an oil change at the 50 hour area, what I would typically do. The Owners Manual simple states 200 hours or 12 months as intervals, whichever comes first. Volvo Penta's Service Protocol (on there own website) states 200 hours or 24 months.....which seems like a long time to me and contradicts the manual that came with the boat. Anyone have a D4/300 HP that has found any other information?

Jim F
 
Jim,
On page 61
FSI
First Service Inspection, after 50–100 running hours (1)
1) Or within 180 days of the date of delivery, or the end of the first season, whichever comes first.
Engine Oil and Oil Filters / By-pass filter (1)(2) Replace
Then it is every 200hrs or every 12 months
Oil change and filter
Transmission oil and filter
 
Jim, I just came from the Seattle Boat Show where I asked Tim, the factory Volvo specialist, about this. He said the newer Volvo engines (I forget the year he told me they switched over) no longer require service at the 50 to 100 hour mark. You are good to go till 200 hours or one year. This is consistent with p. 86 of the service manual.

John B
 
I'm not questioning your information I'm sure it is accurate. Getting the information from a Volvo factory specialist, that is as good as it gets. I do question why they would recommend to go 200 hrs or 12 months without changing break-in oil (engine and reverse gear). Its their product line's reputation and warranty so they would not advise doing that if it was not right.

I changed the engine oil/filter, reverse gear oil/ filter at 55 hrs along with other requirements that the owners manual required (2016 manual also D3 not D4). I sampled the 55hr thru Blackstone Labs, the report came back with higher then normal Metal particulate, Aluminum,iron,copper and magnesium. Blackstone recognized that this was break-in oil and said this extra particulate in the oil is normal for a new engine during break-in. I Changed the oil again at 130 hrs( yearly oil change ) the sample still showed higher then normal metal particulate but better then the first sample. The report said "it is entirely possible that the higher then normal metal particulates is due to lingering break-in oil that hasn't washed out yet." I changed the oil again end of season ( 2nd year ) 229 hrs Oil sampling came back good except elevated iron particulate. Report said possible causes, restricted air filter , induction air temperature elevated, lack of induction air. ( I replaced the air filter which was clean and installed a better engine compartment ventilation system) hopefully that will help.

Reverse gear sampling showed higher then normal copper particulate almost 4 times over normal at 55 hr break-in , slightly elevated at 130 hrs and the 229 hr sample came back all normal.

With these results I question how much metal particulate would be in the oil that is lubricating my engine and reverse gear if waited to change the oil at 200hrs or at the once a year interval 130 hrs and how long it would take to get the residual out. I'm old school when it comes to maintenance. Most likely over kill. Volvo has engineers that are a lot smarter then me.
 
Brian, I appreciate your thoughts. You can’t go wrong erring on the side of caution. And no one ever ruined an engine by changing the oil too soon or too often. I don’t know why the recommendation has changed. Is the factory running the engines through a break-in process before they go out the door? Are they doing a better job of matching the rings to the cylinder walls? Did research show there was no measurable advantage to the earlier oil change? Don’t know, but I’ll probably do my first oil change a little on the early side after this discussion.
John B
 
Wee Venture said:
Brian, I appreciate your thoughts. You can’t go wrong erring on the side of caution. And no one ever ruined an engine by changing the oil too soon or too often. I don’t know why the recommendation has changed. Is the factory running the engines through a break-in process before they go out the door? Are they doing a better job of matching the rings to the cylinder walls? Did research show there was no measurable advantage to the earlier oil change? Don’t know, but I’ll probably do my first oil change a little on the early side after this discussion.
John B
Click to expand...
Me too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

  • Tugnuts.com is the community hub for Ranger Tug, Cutwater, and Solara owners. Since its inception in 2008, the Tugnuts forum has grown into an active and thriving community of more than 9,000 members. It serves as both a meeting place for the best boating community online, and an invaluable archive of information.

  • User menu
Back
Top