How Good is The B230K Engine

Hello,
I have a 740 gle 86 B230K engine. How long does the engine usually last before they die and what problems do they suffer from, Mine has done 150,000 but still runs great. I have replaced the pierburg 2B5 carburetter with a weber manual choke conversion, Mine runs on unleaded 95. Thanks 740GLE.

turbo will probably need to be replaced every 100k or so (judging by other cars, althought its a lpt so should go on for a bit longer), the rest of the redblock engine is pretty bulletproof - at a guess its probably good for 500k if looked after properly

Hello,
Thanks for your email. My car had a pierburg 2B5 carburetter from factory and has no turbo, producing 114 BHP. I thought the low pressure turbo (lpt) was fitted to 940's. Unless volvo call the B230K engines turbo. Thanks 740GLE

sorry no, the 230ft (i think) is the turbo..

[alex_plovdiv]

Hi! Your carburetter was 2B7 not 2B5 and B230K is the best engine monnted on 740 series because there is no black boxes to worry (expect the EZ116K ignition system) and the carburetter is well proven system working properly during the years. So you've got the best 740. That is my opinion I don't want to engage you!!! Bye.
P.S. The turbo charged engines are B230ET and B23ET and there is no no B230K with turbo...

Hello,
Thanks for your post. I have to say I do like carbed engines as I personaly find them simple and not complicated and reliable. Has started first time every time since purchase which was 20 months ago. I often wondered what the turbo charged engine models were as I would love a 740/940 turbo some day, or a 140 model. 740GLE

The confusion comes from the fact that the B230K is a carb engine and the B230FK is a turbo engine. I have never driven a B230K but have been told by those who have that is it very inferior to the B230A, why I am not sure though.

George

[link:www.ttsservices.co.uk/my%20volvos.htm|http://www.ttsservices.co.uk/Signature.JPG]

'95 Volvo 945 Polar LPT
'87 Volvo 745 GLE Turbo Diesel Intercooler
'86 Jaguar Sovereign 4.2

Hello,
Thanks for your post. At least the confusion has been dealt with as it is very easy to get confused especially with all of the engine numbers and lettering. I find my B230K engine great apart from being a bit slow in accelaration. Is the B230A a carbed engine and was it fitted to the 240/740 series car and does anyone know what the differences are between the two. My Father has a carbed B23 in his 240 that has done over 200,000 miles. Many thanks
740 GLE

[Chesh740R]

The B230K fitted to a 740 used the 631 Cylinder head. Its a flat head and there is no combustion chamber within the head. The combustion is all done within the the cylinder bores. So it is a key maintance item to replace the cambelt within the service intervals, as if it snaps it will cause contace and damage the valves.

The cambelt snapped 2k short of its service interval, heres one of the valves, quite a few had to pressed out of the head.



The B230A uses a convential head set up most probably a 405 head or a 530, not to sure to because never had any of these engines in my possesion. Also the b230k has a head mounted distributor where as b230A's have a convential Dizzy mounted in the block

My father had a 87 740GL with the B230K from new and it was a fine car and the only faults it had were the mechanical Fuel pump packed up, and we changed the pierburg carb to a brand new webber as the pierburg carb seemed to be probelematic with its auto choke, this was around 125k.

Its milege as i recall correctly was around 160k at the time and it was still going strong.

Other than that a great engine in a fine car and if it hadnt been written off in 1998 by some lowlife drunk driver ploughing into it i think my dad would still be driving it to this day or it would have been kept as a runabout in the family.

At least it died saving my dad's life.

RIP D163 EVC a truely fine car.

Hello
Thanks for your very informative post. Maybee that is why some people say that the B230A is a better engine as it would seem you won't bend the valves if the timing belt goes. I had the timing belt replaced about 20 months ago when I bought the car at 135,000miles, but I believe I should of had the tensioner replaced too. It now has done 150,000 miles. I had my carburetter replaced as the car was continually cutting out and took it in to the volvo dealer and they did a diagnostic check and said the carb needed replacing. Their quote was extortionate and so I bought a new Webber manual choke carb and got an independant garage to fit it. It still had the same problem after the new carb was in and turned out to be the fuel pump relay. Very, very poor service from volvo as I more than likely only needed a fuel pump relay and a cheap job turned into an expensive one.

Yes as you say a very good car and engine, I have a D reg estate in silver.
Yes you might be the safest driver but other people around arent, that is one reason why I drive a 740. Thank god your Dad was in a volvo. What speed was the drunk driver doing when he crashed into him? Thanks 740GLE