Diesel fuel systems issues.

[Island Time 1,230]

I hav a friend currently in NZ during a circumnavigation. He has a problem with a fuel system issue. I thought that some might be interested. The engine is a 75hp Volvo Penta.

My friend called me as he had issues starting the engine. He had found air in the fuel line, and could see it in the racor filters.

I went down, and switched to the 2nd filter. Air still there. Removed the racor unit and pressure tested it. No leaks. Ran a temp clear hose to the fuel tank directly, no problem, bubbles gone.

Put the clear hose on the fuel outlet, bubbles back. Removed the tank spear. A bit of an unusual configuration, where the return and supply are right beside each other in the tank (actually welded together for mutual support). Long story short, it turns out that the diesel injector pump was letting in air, which was returning to the tank and being sucked back up the pickup.

So, Kevin (my friend) had Ovlov remove the pump and it was taken to NZ diesel services for repair. The report came back - unrepairable due to water damage. Kevin has many miles in this boat (circumnavigation) and never seen water in the fuel. So, he had another pump in his spares but 2nd hand, condition unknown. This was given to NZ Diesel Services. Same result, they recommended a new pump. $9500! A whole new engine is 22-25k...

Kevin called me to discuss options, and I suggested getting both pumps back, and taking to another diesel specialist.

This was done, and pumps were taken to Simms Diesel. They checked them, and said yep, some water damage, no issue to fix, $1500. Their price was also $600 for injector service, as opposed to $1800 from NZ Diesel Services.

Not a great look for NZ business:-(

[chariot 242]

Was that deisel services Ltd in Penrose. 

[wheels 543]

Is that per injector IT? It should be around $120 to $180 per injector to rebuild. OK so it's been awhile, but I can't see it jumping in price that much. Unless it is complete new injectors. The tips should be able to be replaced.
A water damaged pump with Racors fitted also seems a tad strange.
If water did get through, the Injectors can be damaged by water, but the pumps can handle water provided the water is not sitting in the pump for a long period. The spare pump I could imagine, may have sat with nothing protecting it from moisture. But that should be surface rust. Not physical damage.

[Island Time 1,230]

Was that deisel services Ltd in Penrose.

 

Yep.

[Island Time 1,230]

Is that per injector IT? It should be around $120 to $180 per injector to rebuild. OK so it's been awhile, but I can't see it jumping in price that much. Unless it is complete new injectors. The tips should be able to be replaced.

A water damaged pump with Racors fitted also seems a tad strange.

If water did get through, the Injectors can be damaged by water, but the pumps can handle water provided the water is not sitting in the pump for a long period. The spare pump I could imagine, may have sat with nothing protecting it from moisture. But that should be surface rust. Not physical damage.

For all injectors, not 1....

[chariot 242]

Had them rebuild a V drive unit on my cav 32 some years ago. Dropped it off as a V drive and when I went to pick it up it was a straight drive. Told them I expected to still have a V drive unit. At that time they were the agents for the brand of unit that they where repairing. Long story short it ended up in court, they where trying to recover their costs. They lost but I still had a stuffed V drive unit and a boat I couldn't use for quiite some time. Totally incompetant and a bunch of aholes.

[Myjane 40]

I have a mate who had the same issue and he was allmost suisidel with worry , ,his engine was brand new , could not reach full rpm pumps sent away , blamed the engine suppliers ,and any body standing ,it was his fuel lines were old , clogged. And two small ,, but the cost was open cheque book to the helpers , the suppliers of the engine did a,, they could as it was x factory owner fit ,but they helped were ever they could , sorry for your mate

[wheels 543]

Don't go feeling special guys. I have a mate that has two big Fords that had to be rebuilt. Huge money each and nothing but trouble. The engine recon guy made mistake after mistake and the engines had to come out three times with serious internal damage each time. On one such removal, an engine was dropped, damn near going through the Hull and there was serious damage to it. So the boat then had to come out and have that repaired. Finally after all the heartache, he now has the Boat running sweet and two engines that look brand new because damn near every single part has been replaced on them.

[Island Time 1,230]

Yep, it’s sh*t like this that made me do almost everything myself. There are some things though I haven’t done, or that require special tools or facilities I don’t have. Injector pumps is one of them. An engine rebuilder is machining my cylinder head right now, that’s another.

Some things have been slower, and a learning curve, but it’s been worth it in the end. At the very least now I usually know enough to tell if a “specialist “ is being straight up or not.

[wheels 543]

Yep I am the same IT. I know enough to be dangerous......... to those that think I am just another customer.