Volvo Penta of the Americas Addresses Customers Concerns Regarding the Oil Spill in the Gulf
by Volvo Penta of the Americas, Inc.

Since the April 20, 2010, oil rig explosion, millions of gallons of crude oil have spewed into the Gulf of Mexico.

Since the April 20, 2010, oil rig explosion, millions of gallons of crude oil have spewed into the Gulf of Mexico. The oil has reached the shore in Louisiana, and is likely to extend eastward and impact other Gulf States, including Florida.

“This disaster has and will affect an overwhelming number of Americans, their businesses, their recreation, and our natural resources,” said Clint Moore, president of Volvo Penta of the Americas. “We hope that containment and clean up efforts are successful and swift in order to protect our nation’s waterways. And, we encourage Volvo Penta owners to be proactive in protecting their boats during this difficult time.”

Many boaters are concerned about the impact of the oil on their engines while sitting at the dock or during operation in waters where oil may be present. Like many other aspects of this disaster, there is uncertainty regarding the long term effect of mooring or operation of a boat in oil infested waters. Most manufacturers, including Volvo Penta, have not performed formal testing of engines under these unique and extreme conditions. Because of this uncertainty, all boat owners need to exercise special diligence to protect their boat investment.

Volvo Penta’s experience shows that ingestion of even small amounts of oil into the cooling system of the engine may cause damage to the engine and/or many of its subsystems. Sterndrive components or other running gear may also be damaged by submersion in oil contaminated water. In order to avoid expensive repair bills and long term damage, owners are encouraged to contact their Volvo Penta dealer for service recommendations if a boat has been operated or exposed to oil contaminated water. Volvo Penta has issued specific service and repair recommendations for its authorized dealers to address this unique issue.

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