1993 Volvo Penta 4.3 l reliability

[jkwhite]

Newbe here.

I am about to pull the trigger on a Wellcraft that has a VP 4.3 l outdrive. Original engine , no hour meter- fresh water only. light use I believe. professionally maintained.

A boating buddy that worked at a yard here in Maine says that I/O are the best and worst of both worlds, with the advantages of an outboard , but they are very problematic, because of all the moving connections. and not to buy.

Here, on these posts I see are the things that go wrong, but wonder what the general feelings are about reliability overall. I am somewhat handy so can fix stuff but would rather be on the water than upside down in an engine compartment.

Thanks

 

[achris]

Reliability comes down to a few simple things. Doing the recommended services at the right intervals, using quality parts and materials, using common sense, listening, watching and feeling while doing those services. Too many times I hear stories of services done and major items overlooked because 'they weren't part of the service'. The whole point of a service is to carry out the manufacturers' recommended maintenance AND find small issues before they become big issues!

The Gen II 4.3 litre engine is very reliable and has a very good history. I had one in my boat previously. It's now in a friends' boat and I'm due to service it next week. It has been one of the most reliable engines I have ever come across. It likes clean good quality oil, a new filter every 50 hours, a set of spark plugs every couple of years.

Another area that so many people seem to miss is the initial set up of the engine, drive and propeller. If the engine, any engine, is over-propped, it and the boat will perform like a dog, use way more fuel than it otherwise would and be worn out before it's time....

When you take the boat for a test drive (you should ALWAYS test drive cars and boats before buying, regardless of any other circumstances) make sure it reaches manufacturers recommended revs at Wide Open Throttle. In the case of a 4.3, if it has a 4bbl carb those revs should be 4400 to 4800rpm, and a 2 bbl engine should make 4200 to 4600rpm. My personal preference, backed by many people, is to prop right to the top end, and if you are not likely to be running for extended periods at WOT, then up to a couple of hundred over is not an issue....

HTH,

Chris.......

 

[Maclin]

Your boating buddy was comparing I/O to Outboard or maybe even full Inboard. Really nothing to do with the engine's reliability.

He is right about the moving parts. The I/O has a big hole in the stern that all the components to drive the boat go thru. May things to maintain there, some can sink the boat. They just have to be taken care of regularly.

The VP 4.3l is a GM V6, very good engines. MerCruiser uses the same basic engine. The VP outdrive is pretty sturdy also, but with that 1993 vintage you need to be sure what model drive it is as there was a joint venture VP/OMC drive that can be problematic if parts are needed. If the drive is white in color then that one is very stout and parts are still available. If it is a DuoProp drive then even better regarding stoutness.

 

[jkwhite]

Thanks for the replies. It relieves me to know that they are not inherently problematic. Yes, my buddy was comparing them to straight shaft inboards and outboards. The boat comes with the original prop that Wellcraft uses. Luckily the drive is white in color.!!

 

[achris]

Thanks for the replies. It relieves me to know that they are not inherently problematic. Yes, my buddy was comparing them to straight shaft inboards and outboards. The boat comes with the original prop that Wellcraft uses. Luckily the drive is white in color.!!

Doesn't make it right. Check those WOT revs....

 

[bruceb58]

Luckily the drive is white in color.!!

The joint venture grey drives are very good as well. Parts are pretty easy to get.

 

[jkwhite]

Up to now I have been in a 16' Princecraft open boat with 25 Merc Bigfoot. No Tachometer
So what should WOT revs read approx.

Thanks again for the info.

 

[achris]

...So what should WOT revs read approx....

Last paragraph of my first post here... It's all laid out...

 

[jkwhite]

Sorry, I need to read more carefully. Thanks for all the info everyone!!

 

[Lou C]

Before you buy keep in mind that is (Aquatic Series Drive) the older style all Swedish Volvo, and they are good, but they have been out of production a long time. If you don't have a good Volvo shop nearby, it might be hard to find someone who knows them. The joint venture drives made with OMC are basically the same as a Volvo SX, it is Volvo's adaptation of the OMC Cobra system converted to cone clutch shifting. The parts are available for those and any mechanic who knows a Volvo SX can work on them.