KAMD300 - injectors to be changed - Am I being taken for a ride???

[scubaman]

According to the mechanic who checked the injectors of our smoky port side KAMD300 they are all faulty and need to be changed. The engines have done roughly 500 hours.

OK, I was suspecting that there was something wrong with the injectors BUT:

1. he can only check the opening pressure (he doesn't have the gear to the check the spray pattern) and based on his inspection more or less all of them were leaking fuel when opening

2. he suggested that new 'replacement' injectors are ordered from Volvo, the replacement meaning that old ones are sent to Volvo to be destroyed (!?)

My conclusion is that he is making perhaps unjustified extra sales and destroying the evidence.

Can anyone tell me if it sounds plausible that (1) all the injectors are leaking and (2) if such 'replacement' injectors exist that require the old ones to be sent back to Volvo?

 

[ChrisKaye]

I am sure that Volvo offer a recon service on injectors, otherwise any Bosch diesel fuel / truck specialist will have the kit to test spray pattern and recon and at a much cheaper price than VP

 

[rafiki_]

I agree with Chris. As long as they have the right info, any truck specialist should be able to re-set the injectors.

 

[scubaman]

I am sure that Volvo offer a recon service on injectors, otherwise any Bosch diesel fuel / truck specialist will have the kit to test spray pattern and recon and at a much cheaper price than VP

According to the mechanic reconditioning isn't that much cheaper and you don't get the warranty...

Thing is that I'm not close to the boat and the mechanic is pushing to get the order by tomorrow, in which case I don't get the change to have them tested myself (to check out his diagnosis later).

If I wait to get my hands on them, the boat misses it's relaunch as the ice on the lakes is about to melt and I'd rather not miss a day.

I don't mind having them replaced if it's necessary but I do mind being taken for a fool...

 

[msimms]

According to the workshop manual the two stage injectors fitted to the 44/300 must not be reconditioned. It states there is an exchange program in place.

If you PM me an email address I'll send you a copy.

I recently had my injectors (KAD43) cleaned and reset by http://www.peter-strong-diesel-fuel-injection.co.uk/ for a reasonable price. You could give him a call and see if he can do anything with yours.

 

[ChrisKaye]

Hi Scubaman
Reconditioning should only be around £50 each approx !
If you look on volvo penta finland website (I could only see KAD 42/43 injector's) new is 394Euro as opposed to 233Euro re-con. This is the price for one !!!

I know which option I would go for

 

[PCUK]

What about equivalent Volvo truck injectors? Must be vastly cheaper (and identical) whatever VP say!!! YOu can always have them done while afloat if you don't want to miss your launch!

 

[scubaman]

According to the workshop manual the two stage injectors fitted to the 44/300 must not be reconditioned. It states there is an exchange program in place.

PM sent.

 

[scubaman]

Hi Scubaman
Reconditioning should only be around £50 each approx !
If you look on volvo penta finland website (I could only see KAD 42/43 injector's) new is 394Euro as opposed to 233Euro re-con. This is the price for one !!!

I know which option I would go for

I found KAMD300 under KAMD44. That €233 could be the price based on the exchange program msimms mentioned. If that's the case then sending the old injectors back would start to make sense.

 

[strakeryrius]

IIRC 500 hours is the time when Volvo recommend that the injectors are sertviced and/or replaced so you're pretty much on the mark as far as that is concerned.

 

[jparham]

Get the injectors taken to the local truck injector specialist.
My local one will check pressure and pattern for free. Servicing is cheap. Don't go direct to Volvo - rip off service cost and rip off replacement prices.

 

[scottie]

s/x injectors

VP service exchange injectors are new at reduced price

dont think that many trucks actually use kamd300 engines

 

[A_8]

I must say that I find it unlikely that all injectors need replacing, unless of course there has been something that was unique for that engine, a lot of water in one tank maybe?
Unless there was a lot of water so that it would bypass the separator and fine filter I don't think its a factor. Maybe something is wrong with the pump?

I know my KAD 43 injectors are not the same but I am pushing 900 hours and they run smoother then ever, once warm no smoke or vibrations at all, they even smell good these days

 

[volvopaul]

The kad44/300 injector is nothing like the previous kad42/43 unit.

Its a 2 stage injector so its a bit more complicated, it also has 1 unit with a tdc sensor fitted to tell the ecu that no piston has injected.

The engine is purely a marine derived unit, not compatable with any truck or automotive unit.

I am at a loss most of the time as to why people associate volvo as a complete rip off.

Have you compared prices against mercruiser or caterpillar lately?

Just recently I ordered a full engine overhaul kit from my dealer, at the point of order the kits were out of stock with a lead time of 10 working days due to 1 item not on the shelf to make up the full kit.

A word in the right ear a volvo uk parts operation and 3 days later a kit had been picked and was on its way to me via the dealer.

Compare this to a recent post about a 26month old mercruiser that mercruiser didnt even want to know about after it had blown its brains out, offering little in the way of help for the owner and no short blocks available.

These particular tamd41s are 20 years old now and parts still off the shelf.

Thats good service to me.

 

[Greg2]

The kad44/300 injector is nothing like the previous kad42/43 unit.

Its a 2 stage injector so its a bit more complicated, it also has 1 unit with a tdc sensor fitted to tell the ecu that no piston has injected.

The engine is purely a marine derived unit, not compatable with any truck or automotive unit.

I am at a loss most of the time as to why people associate volvo as a complete rip off.

Have you compared prices against mercruiser or caterpillar lately?

Just recently I ordered a full engine overhaul kit from my dealer, at the point of order the kits were out of stock with a lead time of 10 working days due to 1 item not on the shelf to make up the full kit.

A word in the right ear a volvo uk parts operation and 3 days later a kit had been picked and was on its way to me via the dealer.

Compare this to a recent post about a 26month old mercruiser that mercruiser didnt even want to know about after it had blown its brains out, offering little in the way of help for the owner and no short blocks available.

These particular tamd41s are 20 years old now and parts still off the shelf.

Thats good service to me.

I tend to agree with you. Like most I don't like some of Volvo's pricing structure, which can lead to paying exorbitant sums for some parts (e.g. £60 for a bearing I managed to get for less than a tenner once we had identified what it was), but the reality is that spares are readily available virtually anywhere and that is what we pay the premium for.

 

[ajay]

on my kad32's they are due at 500hours, I had them exchanged (bodies rebuilt where needed, new nozzles etc) at about £46 ea, from the bosch injection specialist MB fuels in southampton

http://www.mbfuel.co.uk/

on the 300 you have more complex injector and you have more of them so it will prob be >800

ask the bosch ppl first.

 

[CX54WEK]

on my kad32's they are due at 500hours, I had them exchanged (bodies rebuilt where needed, new nozzles etc) at about £46 ea, from the bosch injection specialist MB fuels in southampton

http://www.mbfuel.co.uk/

on the 300 you have more complex injector and you have more of them so it will prob be >800

ask the bosch ppl first.

The injectors on our KAD32 have done 600 hours now and show no obvious signs of wear or tear. There is no undue smoke other than a little at fire up and the engine runs smooth and never misses a beat.Maybe its just luck of the draw.

 

[Peanuts]

on my kad32's they are due at 500hours, I had them exchanged (bodies rebuilt where needed, new nozzles etc) at about £46 ea, from the bosch injection specialist MB fuels in southampton

http://www.mbfuel.co.uk/

on the 300 you have more complex injector and you have more of them so it will prob be >800

ask the bosch ppl first.

That is a very interesting statement, may I ask where you got that from about being due at 500 hrs, there is no mention of this in the VP owners manual, well the one I have that is.

My engines in my S28 (2002) are just about to reach 1200hrs and as far as I am concerned are running sweet as a nut.

I look forward to your reply.

 

[ajay]

500hrs comes from the main volvo dealer (but I didnt get them to do it, they were £100 each ie more than double)

Even mine didnt miss a beat or smoke but I did them as per schedule. After that the boat ran fantastic, it was like a new boat. But then you get used to the improvement and it becomes ordinary.

Kad32 injectors will still fire even at 1200 hours or more, the point is the spray pattern wont be as good as when they were new, deposits will build up, nozzles will clog / affect spray.

At £100 per inj I wouldnt have had them done but at ~£40 each was ok.

 

[CX54WEK]

500hrs comes from the main volvo dealer (but I didnt get them to do it, they were £100 each ie more than double)

Even mine didnt miss a beat or smoke but I did them as per schedule. After that the boat ran fantastic, it was like a new boat. But then you get used to the improvement and it becomes ordinary.

Kad32 injectors will still fire even at 1200 hours or more, the point is the spray pattern wont be as good as when they were new, deposits will build up, nozzles will clog / affect spray.

At £100 per inj I wouldnt have had them done but at ~£40 each was ok.

If the injectors where knackered you would surely see some considerable drop in performance and other tell tale symptoms. 500 hours really isnt a lot. At that rate we would be reconning ours every 18 months!!!