New engine issue

A

amarosa

New Member
Joined
27 Apr 2014
Messages
18
Visit site
Hi there. I had a brand new Volvo Penta D3-170 installed this year in January and in Easter it died while 55 miles offshore but luckily got a tow back. Anyway after mechanics tested it found it had water that had gone through one of the injectors. They of course put in the whole new fuel system and fuel tanks but the issue now is that it has been over 3 months and I still have a boat going nowhere. So it looks like the injector they pulled out is rusted - the other 3 appear fine. It is currently with insurance but I have got to the point of saying if just injectors I will buy some and get another mechanic to do it and I will pay for it. Is it likely I will need more than 1 injector and is there likely to be more damage to the engine than just the injectors or is it likely just that? In terms of how water got into the engine etc I am guessing there is a hole they put in the line or something but that is an easy fix.
 
Was it fitted by Volvo? I would let them carry on with the job , by experience Volvo will find any reason not except a claim if you get someone else who's not a Volvo dealer .
 
Yes I know the feeling , when I brought a new Dufour in 2009 Volvo commissioned the engine , 50 later on first service I found an oil leak coming from the Bandjo on the sump , almost impossible to get to , Volvo insis it wasn't an warranty job and try will try and tighten it but if it still leak the engine had to be lifted out to get to it and I had to pay , only once they got a summons they did the job .
 
Strange that water has rusted only the one injector of the four, since they share a common fuel supply.
Are you sure that the problem isn't water getting into th affected cylinder by some other route than the fuel?
 
I hadn't thought of that earlybird. I had just figured the only way water could get into a new engine was the fuel supply
 
A common water route into a cylinder is via the exhaust. If the rearmost, (lowest), cylinder is the affected one, that could be a clue.
Other possibilities include a faulty cylinder head gasket.
 
My experience is that Volvo blame everything else excepting those aspects Volvo are responsible for.

On charter boats I have needed new wines after 500 hrs and gearboxes and clutches and propellor.

Current boat Yanmar and no problems in 3800hrs.

Hope you get it sorted but doubt it will be via Volvo more your chequebook.
 
Sailfree said:
Hope you get it sorted but doubt it will be via Volvo more your chequebook.
Click to expand...

Not a nice situation. Initial thoughts would of course be Water in the fuel - your problem; Poor exhaust installation - installer's problem; Faulty engine would be unusual - obviously Volvo problem but hard to prove until first two ruled out and engine partly stripped. I would just stick a new injector in and see what happens or you may be stuck all summer.
 
Graham376 said:
Not a nice situation. Initial thoughts would of course be Water in the fuel - your problem; Poor exhaust installation - installer's problem; Faulty engine would be unusual - obviously Volvo problem but hard to prove until first two ruled out and engine partly stripped. I would just stick a new injector in and see what happens or you may be stuck all summer.
Click to expand...

Installer was Volvo according to OP. One option would be to reject the engine as not fit for purpose, the issue being that it broke and they failed to fix it in a reasonable time. That would concentrate a few minds and perhaps make them actually deal with it rather than delay.
 
You need to sort out why there was water in one or more cylinders. Until you confirm this you have an unreliable engine, whether it Volvo's fault or not. If it was water in the fuel you should have picked that up in the CAV filter and water will probably still be in the tank. If its syphoned back through the exhaust and this is not being addressed - it will happen again - and damage may be more than a slightly rusty injector.

I thought Volvo signed off on every installation - so they should have checked the exhaust installation??

I'd be leaning more heavily on Volvo. The fact they have not found something that allows them to excuse themselves (and they would have told you if they had found someone else to blame) suggests they are obfuscating.

Jonathan
 
Graham376 said:
It's usually done by a Volvo agent.
Click to expand...

I suspect that's what he meant. Regardless, whether the engine or its installation was at fault, his issue is with the seller/installer, assuming the two are the same (and assuming the transaction took place in the UK/EU).

Like others, my suspicions were raised by the water damage to a single injector. It would indeed be useful to know on which cylinder. If there has been back-filling from the exhaust, then that should be checked promptly and remedial action taken. Whether such a fault is the agent's responsibility would lie in the precise arrangement made between the contractor and the OP. Impossible to know on the information given so far.
 
The OP does say that it died, suggesting that it stopped running, and that his engineer says that water had 'gone through the injector' so surely water in the fuel sounds like the culprit rather than exhaust backfilling? A small amount of the latter in one cyclinder would likely allow the engine to be started (were it stopped) anyway rather than being towed 55 miles.
 
amarosa said:
Hi there. I had a brand new Volvo Penta D3-170 installed this year in January and in Easter it died while 55 miles offshore but luckily got a tow back. Anyway after mechanics tested it found it had water that had gone through one of the injectors. They of course put in the whole new fuel system and fuel tanks but the issue now is that it has been over 3 months and I still have a boat going nowhere. So it looks like the injector they pulled out is rusted - the other 3 appear fine. It is currently with insurance but I have got to the point of saying if just injectors I will buy some and get another mechanic to do it and I will pay for it. Is it likely I will need more than 1 injector and is there likely to be more damage to the engine than just the injectors or is it likely just that? In terms of how water got into the engine etc I am guessing there is a hole they put in the line or something but that is an easy fix.
Click to expand...

For water to go through an injector and damage it, it must first go through the injection pump. It's a common rail engine, all injectors fed by the same pump.
If the injector was just damaged, would the engine stop? Or would it run rough, misfiring on one of its 5 cylinders?
I don't know if the electronics would shut down the engine in this case.
I would fear that the HP pump and the rest of the injectors are damaged to some extent.
IMHO these common rail engines need a final stage of fuel filter with a water detector and alarm circuit.

If the water got in through the exhaust, I suspect the turbo might have issues.
If you paid by credit card in the Uk, talk to the card company.
 
Thanks guys. Am in New Zealand so unfortunately summer has well and truly passed with the boat going nowhere most of summer. Still however used to going out weekly even in winter. There was no alarm that came up before stopping which they reckoned I deleted - I am not a fool and would have stopped if an alarm came up, was a fine day. I am happy to fit a new injector as that is not too bad priced but wondering if that will actually solve the problem?
 
I think its time for a firm but quiet talk with the MD of the firm who fitted it.

I am aware that NZ consumer Protection is not the same as here, but the goods, if supplied and installed by a Volvo agent are clearly defective, either by an insallation problem or an engine fault.

If water found its way in through the fuel system all injectors and the pump would have been affected and evidence would be in the water separating fuel filters.

If no progress is made with a quiet talk with the top man- and remember an ounce of sugar works better than a ton of vinegar-it might be worth spending
a few dollars taking advice from a lawer with experience of consumer issues.

Also, dont be afraid to mention that you are well known in the NZ sailing scene and have a high profile on a major sailing forum.

Good news travels slowly, bad news travels fast-if they have a reputation to protect they may not wish to lose it and may come to a mutualy satifactory solution.

Worth a try, IMHO.
 
amarosa said:
Hi there. I had a brand new Volvo Penta D3-170 installed this year in January and in Easter it died while 55 miles offshore but luckily got a tow back. Anyway after mechanics tested it found it had water that had gone through one of the injectors. They of course put in the whole new fuel system and fuel tanks but the issue now is that it has been over 3 months and I still have a boat going nowhere. So it looks like the injector they pulled out is rusted - the other 3 appear fine.
Click to expand...

Should be 5 in total!?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top