Identifying Volvo Penta Gasoline Engines

Early Period - Up to 1993 - Red Engines

Very early Volvo Penta engines, built until the late 1980’s, were named based on the displacement (early) or horsepower (later) of the engines and were painted red. The name started with AQ (sterndrive engine), BB (inboard) or MB (inboard). Next came the number for the displacement or horsepower. Most of these also included a one letter suffix, for version control. An AQ271A is older (and different) than a AQ271B. Examples are AQ260A, AQ171C, AQ200F, BB260A.

These engine names then changed to a system based on displacement. The names were a three digit number, followed by a letter. The first two digits of the number represented the displacement. The 43 in 434A meant the engine was a 4.3L. The third digit was used for version control. A 430 and a 431 are both 4.3L’s, however the last digit indicates there is difference between the engines. The numbers at the third digit were not always sequential. 430’s were built before 431’s, however 432’s and 434’s were built at the same time.  The letter at the end was also used for version control and was sequential. A 500A was built before a 500B. Examples are 432A, 500B, 251A, 740B. Nothing in the names in either of these systems relates in any way to years of production. Some of these engines were in production for less than a year, others for many years.

These engines went out of production in 1993.

Joint Venture Period - 1993 to 2000 - Charcoal Engines

These engines were built during the joint venture with OMC and were painted a dark charcoal color. They were usually named by long character strings that contain two numbers followed by a series of letters. 

• The two numbers are the displacement.
• Next, one letter indicates who made the base engine; G=GM, F=Ford.
• After that, one or two letters note the fuel system and/or output. L=limited, S=superior, X=exceptional, i or I=fuel injected (no I means carbureted)
• Then, one letter is used to note the steering system.  P=power steering, M=manual steering, X=exact steering, I=inboard.
• The next two letters are the most important for finding parts. These are random letter pairs that indicate the years of production for the engine. All parts information for these engines is based on these letter codes. 
  MD = 1993-1994
  HU = 1994-1995
  NC = 1995-1996
  LK = 1996-1997
  BY = 1997-1998 
  WT = 1998-1999
  EF = 1999-2000
  
• The next letter is also random and is used for version control. An “A” may not be the first version. A “C” may not have been built before an “S”. An “S” in one engine’s name may not mean the same thing as an “S” in another engine’s name, especially if the engines have different displacements or production years. When needed, this code is noted in the parts diagrams and charts. There are instances where it is needed to find the right equipment for an engine.
• Some names have the letters “CE” at the end. This indicates the engine meets certain emission requirements. The only service part affected is the ECU. 

Examples: 

• 4.3GLPBYC = 4.3L, G=GM, L=limited output, carbureted (no i), P=power steering, BY=built 1997-1998, C=service code for version control
• 5.8FSiPNCACE = 5.8L, Ford, Superior output, injected, power steering, NC=built 1995-1996, A service code, certified emissions
• 7.4GLPHUS = 7.4L, GM, limited output, carbureted, power steering, HU=built 1994-1995, S service code
• 3.0GLMMDA = 3.0L, GM, limited output, carbureted, manual steering, MD=built 1993-1994, A service code

These engines went out of production in 2000. 

Current Period - 2000 & Up - Red Engines

Beginning in 2000 the gas engines are painted red again. The naming system was also changed. The first part of the name is the same as the charcoal engines, up to the letters for the fuel system.  The following characters, however, are much different.

• The two numbers are the displacement.
• Next is a letter that indicates who made the base engine. Engines that were produced that use Volvo Penta’s composite Ocean Series sterndrives have an OS for this letter. OTherwise, the letters will be: G=GM, F=Ford
• After that, one or two letters note the fuel system and/or output. L=limited, S=superior, X=exceptional, i or I=fuel injected (no I means carbureted)
• For 3.0L only, there is an M (Manual steering) or P (Power steering) for steering
• For Inboard engines only, there is an I after the lower case i. Then, a dash (-) is followed by a one or two letter suffix. This is the major change from the charcoal engines above. The first letter is the version control, this is present on all current engines. –A is the first  version, -B is the second version, etc. There is no link between the suffix and production years. The second letter, if present, is always an F. It notes that the engine has factory-installed freshwater cooling.
  Examples are 3.0GLM-C, 4.3GXi-DF, 5.0OSi-E, 8.1GXiI-B.
  
  Some engines have the letter F for the first letter of the suffix. These are not freshwater cooled, unless there is also an F at the second letter.
  Examples are 5.7Gi-F is NOT freshwater cooled, 5.7Gi-FF is freshwater cooled.
• Beginning in 2007, new features were added to the gas engines that require additional letters in the model names for model identification. 
  Engines with electronic shift and throttle were introduced as part of the Electronic Vessel Control (EVC-ec) program. The model names for these engines use an E after the i.  
  An example is 5.0GXiE-JF 
  
  Engines with catalytic converters and closed loop control systems were introduced to meet emissions regulations. The model names for these engines use a C after the i.
  An example is 5.0GXiC-JF.
   
  Engines were released that have both features, for these model names the C is before the E.
  An example is 5.0GXiCE-JF. 
  
  There are significant parts and service issues between the C and E engines and similar engines with the same suffix.
• In addition, in 2007 the horsepower ratings were added to the model names of some V8 engines. The horse power number is always before the suffix and is separated by a dash (-).
  An example is 5.7GiCE-300-JF.
• Due to the complexity of the catalyst engines, please contact us for assistance.
• Volvo Penta’s Inboard Propulsion System was added to gas engines in 2007. The engine models designed for this sytem have IPS after the displacement in the model name.
  An example is 8.1IPSE-JF. All IPS engines have the E (electronic shift and throttle), some also have the C (catalyst). All are freshwater cooled (F).

These engines and this naming system are still in use.

Identifying Volvo Penta Diesel Engines

Volvo Penta diesel engines also have product names with a combination of numbers and letters. As a guideline, the following code letters are used to name the diesel engines:

• Before the number 
  D = diesel 
  M = marine 
  A = aftercooler 
  T = turbocharged 
  H = horizontal 
  K = compressor 
  AQ = engine equipped for a sterndrive
• Earlier diesel engines used multiple letters at the beginning, depending on the features on the engine.
  An example is TAMD41 = turbo, aftercooler, marine diesel.
• Later diesel engines only use a “D” at the beginning, followed by a number.
  An example is D6 = diesel, 6 cylinders.
• The number is used to show displacement, horsepower or number of cylinders.
• The letters after the number are used for version control, to designate useage or tell the type of transmission mated to the engine.
• Before dash (-) These note different use ratings, such as pleasure, leisure, etc. Newer diesel engines use this letter to designate the transmission used with the engine; A = sterndrive, D = IPS, I = Inboard.
• After dash (-) These are sequential, A, B, C, etc.
  An example is D6-435D-C = diesel, 6 cylinder, 435HP, IPS, C version.

As always, if you need assistance identifying a Volvo Penta engine or locating the correct parts & equipment for the engine, just give our ABYC-certified experts a call!