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wrote:

Hmmm... interesting observation. I don't know what the "automatic
cold-starting device" might be, but whatever it is, it's not working
very well. I'm almost certain it doesn't have glow plugs; I think it
says so in one of the manuals. I'll double-check at the next
opportunity.

We have block heaters for all the car diesels (4) which do have glow
plugs. Some of the heaters are more efficient than others and we have
to have the heater on a timer or the engine gets too hot.

I don't think our boat engine does though because we don't have to
wait for the light to go off like we do in the cars. It might be
enough for the boat just to put a light bulb (turned on) in the engine
room.

I called a local Volvo Penta service shop this morning, and talked with
a mechanic. He said that the only thing he could suggest would be an
external heater -- he suggested a company called Wolverine that makes
such a thing. Or he said I could just point a space heater at it for a
while. Guess I'll have to try that and see if it helps.

Fortunately, electricity is free at my marina...

Larry W4CSC wrote:
wrote in
oups.com:

I would like to install a block heater for my Volvo MD7A diesel, to
aid
with cold starting. Can anyone suggest who might make such a
thing?

http://www.volvo.com/volvopenta/na/e...productionengi
nes/dieselengine/inboard/

I went to this webpage and looked up the MD7A. The specs talk about
an
"automatic cold starting device". Does it have glowplugs? I never
had
one. I wonder if your "automatic cold starting device" is working
properly
or is even hooked up?

Silly me. I connected the Perkins 4-108 intake pre-heater up like
it's
supposed to be and the old farm tractor engine cranks right up at 30F
by
just touching the starter! I'd be afraid to turn it over with a
wrench for
fear it would take off with that preheater working, now!

grandma Rosalie