Chipping a diesel inboard

Colin F · 14 August 2006, 14:34

I have found losts of info for increasing the power of a D5 car engine from 163hp to anywhere from 185 - 200 hp. Does anyone have any experience of chipping the marine version D3.

I have found some companies on the internet but they are all foreign....

Also any problems I am likely to experience....pro's and con's all welcome

Any advice or uk suppliers would be gratefully recieved

codprawn · 14 August 2006, 16:49

One thing to bear in mind - a car engine spends a lot less time at full thottle than a boat engine does.

Marine engines have different duty cycles - for example a commercial spec engine may be rated at 1/2 the power a leisure one would be.

If you increase the power short bursts would be ok but avoid prolonged high speed work.

Try these they MAY be able to help.

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Dragon-Performance-U-K-Limited

Just found these people - look ideal - the power of Google!!!

http://www.dieselbob.co.uk/truckboattuning.shtml

Colin F · 15 August 2006, 21:53

any thoughts on this...

http://www.solware.co.uk/car-perform...php?make=Volvo

codprawn · 15 August 2006, 22:24

Those prices are plain stupid!!!

Colin F · 15 August 2006, 22:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Those prices are plain stupid!!!

i was asking about the product....

Bluestreak · 16 August 2006, 17:15

Just looking at the website and the wording used they look like a right bunch of cowboys!

codprawn · 16 August 2006, 17:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluestreak

Just looking at the website and the wording used they look like a right bunch of cowboys!

Agreed - the Diesel Bob link I posted looked far more sensible and the prices were a lot better as well.

Colin F · 16 August 2006, 18:06

I'm going for the diesel Bob one, i'll report back on how good it is etc

jwalker · 17 August 2006, 10:35

Colin, I'll be interested to read your findings.

Colin F · 17 August 2006, 13:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwalker

Colin, I'll be interested to read your findings.

I'm going to take her on a final test run before fitting, then fit (20 mins apparently) then test straight away, so ambient conditions are as close as possible. I'll do the test run in torbay where tidal flow speeds are relatively small, test runs in 2 directions.

i've always been suspicious about these things, but a 30 day no quibble return seems fair enough to me.

Crouchy · 02 September 2006, 17:28

Quote:

Originally posted by Colin F
I'm going for the diesel Bob one, i'll report back on how good it is etc

Were there any results from this trial, as I also would be interested?

We have the D3-130/SX in an Ocean-Pro 6.3m. Same engine block, same bore, same stroke- same everything in fact as the 160 and 190- I suspect even Volvo just dial in the power setting required!

Richard B · 02 September 2006, 17:43

Same turbo and fuel pump?

Crouchy · 02 September 2006, 20:42

Quote:

Same turbo and fuel pump?

Don't know. It's the same handbook for all three engines. Technical data is all the same including bore, stroke, compression ratio and engine speeds.

They are all the same weight and the only difference I can see in pages of info is that the 190 has a 1.51:1 ratio Sx drive instead of 1.66:1 for the other two.

The warranty book mentions different warranty periods and conditions for engines set to "Power Rating 1" all the way up to "Power Rating 5". "Pleasure Use" engines seem to be below Power Level 1.....

My knowledge of marine diesels is minimal, but the only way you get more power out for the same rpm is to squirt more fuel and air in? So Volvo either program the ECU to give more turbo boost and fuel- or as you say they bolt on a bigger turbo and fuel pump.

I would love to pick the brains of a Volvo Penta dealer/technician to see how they do it- which translated means after a couple of months living with the Ocean-Pro/D3-130 I wish we'd gone for the D3-160!

Colin F · 02 September 2006, 23:25

yes we did get some results......

top speed was increased by 2 knots on the middle jumper setting. Acceleration was noticeabley improved but no figures to prove it. As a guideline, acceleration was the same as torbay harbour patrol boat (same rib, heavier kit on board though)which has a 225 honda and a S/S prop, up to 20 knots, then they pulled away. Mine still on ali prop and still under revving by 300 - 400 rpm.

Ps thanks to 'Bluestreak' for fitting it for me

codprawn · 03 September 2006, 00:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colin F

yes we did get some results......

top speed was increased by 2 knots on the middle jumper setting. Acceleration was noticeabley improved but no figures to prove it. As a guideline, acceleration was the same as torbay harbour patrol boat (same rib, heavier kit on board though)which has a 225 honda and a S/S prop, up to 20 knots, then they pulled away. Mine still on ali prop and still under revving by 300 - 400 rpm.

Ps thanks to 'Bluestreak' for fitting it for me

What about "thanks to Codprawn" for finding it.......

Colin F · 03 September 2006, 10:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

What about "thanks to Codprawn" for finding it.......

Thanks codders

and thanks to google

codprawn · 03 September 2006, 12:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colin F

Thanks codders

and thanks to google

Yup Google is wonderful - if you know how to sort out the "wheat from the chaff"!!!

Crouchy · 03 September 2006, 18:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colin F

yes we did get some results......

top speed was increased by 2 knots on the middle jumper setting. Acceleration was noticeabley improved but no figures to prove it. As a guideline, acceleration was the same as torbay harbour patrol boat (same rib, heavier kit on board though)which has a 225 honda and a S/S prop, up to 20 knots, then they pulled away. Mine still on ali prop and still under revving by 300 - 400 rpm.

Ps thanks to 'Bluestreak' for fitting it for me

Thanks for the info. Ours also under revs by about 400 rpm however loaded, and I am starting to suspect that the electronic management system/throttle linkage is the limitation rather than the load/prop pitch....

I presume to get the extra 2 knots your 160 now revs higher than it did?

Colin F · 03 September 2006, 18:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crouchy

Thanks for the info. Ours also under revs by about 400 rpm however loaded, and I am starting to suspect that the electronic management system/throttle linkage is the limitation rather than the load/prop pitch....

I presume to get the extra 2 knots your 160 now revs higher than it did?

A tiny difference to revs, 0 - 100 different.......

Don't quite understand that to be honest....

Crouchy · 03 September 2006, 19:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colin F

A tiny difference to revs, 0 - 100 different.......

Don't quite understand that to be honest....

Noticeably better acceleration but next to no difference in max rpm? That is strange unless the ECU is indeed capping the rpm...

Because Humber had an identical boat with the 160 engine in the factory, we had the chance with ours to try both a 19" and 21" prop. With the 21" it wouldn't rev past 3500 rpm and acceleration was crap. With the 19" acceleration wasa noticably better but it still only revved to 3600. As the 19" was Volvo's recommendation anyway we opted for it.

We were told that the engine was new and tight and would rev higher once it freed off a bit. Well it has, but only to 3700 (book says 3900-4100).

Thus my interest in the diesel Bob thingy to get more power, revs and speed! I suppose trying a 17" prop would see if it would rev higher- they said boating would not be straight forward.........