B30- Spare parts for Volvo Penta AQ165 AQ170
The B30 block is a robust, straight-six petrol engine that was developed by Volvo in the late 1960, in order to use it as an automotive engine, as well as in the sectors of marine, industrial, and agricultural. It is a simple and straightforward engine, without electronics, featuring a gear timing; thus making it ideal for the marine industry.
The engine’s displacement is 2979cc (181 cu. in.), and is fed with three carburetors, achieving 165 HP - 170 HP. With a bore of 88.90 mm, and a stroke of 80 mm, the engine is oversquare, a fact that makes it really efficient even on low RPMs.
The marine division is featuring two different models; the 165 HP, and the 170 HP. The main difference is mostly on the carburetors. Here are the models offered, along with their launch years:
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Volvo Penta AQ165A: 1968-1969, 165 HP, Sterndrive.
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Volvo Penta BB165A: 1968-1969, 165 HP, Inboard.
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Volvo Penta AQ170A: 1969-1972, 170 HP, Sterndrive.
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Volvo Penta BB170A: 1969-1972, 170 HP, Inboard.
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Volvo Penta AQ170B: 1972-1973, 170 HP, Sterndrive.
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Volvo Penta BB170B: 1972-1973, 170 HP, Inboard.
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Volvo Penta AQ170C: 1973-1978, 160 HP, Sterndrive.
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Volvo Penta BB170C: 1973-1978, 141 HP, Inboard.
The straight-six cylinder engine of Volvo Penta is a very reliable and sturdy powerplant, and the only reason someone would consider to replace it would be the difficulty to source parts for it. It is a fact it is already a 60-years old engine, yet its simplicity, its reliability, and its formidable power make the repower a hard choice. PoseidonMarine offers an extensive range of spare parts, and we are committed to help these engines run for more years to follow. Here are some popular parts that keep your B30s moving:
- Poseidon Marine® Fuel pump Volvo Penta 831092 AQ115 AQ130 AQ165 AQ170
- Poseidon Marine® Water pump cross piece Volvo Penta AQ115 125 130 131 140 170 831009 806256
- PoseidonMarine® Water pump shaft kit Volvo Penta AQ165 AQ170 MD21 875383 875575
- Poseidon Marine® Oil cooler seal kit Volvo Penta AQ120 AQ130 AQ140 AQ145 AQ151 AQ171
- Recmar® Service kit Volvo Penta AQ165 AQ170 3517857 3581078 875791 875575 966694
- Poseidon Marine® Impeller kit Volvo Penta AQ165 AQ125 AQ131 AQ145 875575 pump 855578 831178
We keep in our warehouse all of the necessary consummative parts, like fuel filters, oil filters, fuel-water separators, impellers, water pump repair kits, complete sea-water pumps, and even more specialized parts, such as: head gasket sets, engine valves and guides, circulation pump components and more. Besides these, PoseidonMarine is always trying to fill the market gaps and supply whatever is not available. A good example, that has been installed on more than 150 engines, is the following circulation pump repair kit:
PoseidonMarine® Circulation pump repair kit Volvo Penta AQ165 AQ170 831742 831720
Our endeavor for 2026 is to offer a complete circulation pump assembly, as well as a new exhaust manifold and elbow kit. While most of the aforementioned parts can be sourced, the manifold 856095 is no longer produced, and rarely can be found a decent used one. The PoseidonMarine team has undertaken the task to produce an improved version of the 856095 manifold, and hopefully offer it to you.
Our soft spot is the classic engines, being ourselves owners of classic cars and boats. We really feel the struggle to gather all those parts, literally unicorns, and we are determined to become a hub for such parts.
Workshop manual for Volvo Penta AQ165 and AQ170. For further technical details, you may download this workshop manual:
Frequently Asked Questions About:
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What is the difference between the Volvo Penta AQ165 and AQ170?
The earlier Volvo Penta AQ165 is equipped with three horizontal Zenith carburetors, while the Volvo Penta AQ170 uses three down-draft Solex 44PA carburetors.
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How much is the oil capacity of Volvo Penta AQ165 and AQ170?
The oil capacity of the Volvo Penta AQ165 and AQ170 is 5.7 liters, with the oil filter included.
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What is the tightening torque of the cylinder head bolts for Volvo Penta AQ165 and AQ170?
The cylinder head bolts (reference 191523) should be replaced when needed, and tightening must be carried out in two stages. The bolts must be re-torqued after the engine has been warmed up.
Tightening torque settings:
Stage 1: 24.5–29.5 Nm (18–22 lbf-ft)
Stage 2: 88 Nm (64 lbf-ft), engine warmed
Cylinder head bolts should be replaced if signs of elongation are present or if elongation cannot be verified by checking the waist of the bolt. As a general rule, cylinder head bolts on these Aquamatic series engines should not be reused more than five times. PoseidonMarine offers Crom® cylinder head bolts equivalent to Volvo Penta reference 191523. -
Is it difficult to repair the circulation pump of the Volvo Penta AQ165 and AQ170 with reference 831742?
Detailed instructions for repairing the circulation pump with reference 831742 can be found on page 35 of the workshop manual. When following the manual, repairing the circulation pump is straightforward. PoseidonMarine offers repair components for circulation pump reference 831742, making refurbishment a practical alternative to replacement.
