How do I winterise the Volvo Penta D1-30 engine on a Hallberg-Rassy 342?
I'm preparing to lay up my 2008 Hallberg-Rassy 342 for the winter on the hard in Scotland. It has the original Volvo Penta D1-30. What is the exact sequence I should follow to make sure the engine and saildrive are properly winterised and won't freeze or corrode?
Answer
To winterise the Volvo Penta D1-30 on your Hallberg-Rassy 342, you must change the oil while warm, flush the raw water circuit with a 50/50 antifreeze mix, and service the fuel filters to prevent diesel bug. Always finish by checking the 130S saildrive oil for water ingress and replacing the leg anodes.
Warm Up and Change Oil
Old engine oil contains acidic combustion by-products that pit crankshaft bearings over winter. Start the engine and let it run until it reaches operating temperature (around 85°C), then shut it down. Ventilate the cabin well to prevent carbon monoxide build-up.
Use a vacuum extractor pump attached to the dipstick tube to draw out the old oil. The D1-30 holds 3.5 litres. Unscrew the spin-on oil filter (Volvo Penta part number 3840525). Smear a drop of clean oil on the new rubber gasket and hand-tighten the unit. Refill the engine with 15W-40 mineral oil meeting the Volvo VDS-3 specification. Run the engine for two minutes to circulate the clean oil and check for leaks around the filter.
Flush the Raw Water System
Saltwater left inside the heat exchanger causes galvanic corrosion and scaling. Flush the system with fresh water before filling it with antifreeze. Close the saildrive raw water seacock. Open the top of the raw water strainer located at the front of the engine.
Have a hose or a large bucket of fresh water ready. Start the engine. Continuously pour fresh water into the strainer to keep it full, running the engine for five minutes to flush the salt. Switch to a bucket containing 5 litres of a 50/50 mix of monoethylene glycol antifreeze and water. Pour this into the strainer as the engine runs. Shut the engine down immediately when brightly coloured antifreeze spits out of the exhaust at the transom. Leave this mixture inside the engine to prevent freezing and inhibit corrosion.
Check the Internal Coolant
The D1-30 is freshwater cooled with a sealed internal circuit. Check the coolant level in the plastic expansion tank. Volvo Penta uses standard green or blue coolant or their yellow VCS coolant. Never mix the types because they form a sludge that blocks the heat exchanger.