Year from serial number for Volvo-Penta

[serico]

Hi,
I have a Volvo-Penta 4.3 GXi, and don't know what year or series it is. The serial # is 4012095583
It has port fuel injection, which is the problem I have right now...
If anyone can tell me year and whether it's a C, of DF, or what? I'd appreciate it.

 

[Don S]

Re: Year from serial number for Volvo-Penta

It's a DF, What's your problem with the engine?

And Welcome to iboats.

 

[serico]

Re: Year from serial number for Volvo-Penta

Hi Don,
Thanks for the model info.
The engine has about 700 hours on it, installed in a miniature Maine lobsterboat, a Repco 21, with a duoprop drive. Ridiculously overpowered.
But it started to start a little hard, needing some throttle, then began backfiring while starting. The wouldn't start at all. Replaced the cap and rotor and plugs, ok spark.
BUT. Switch on, engine off, the fuel pressure at the injection rail was about 30 Lbs. By switching on and off, I could trick it up to about 35 Lbs, but still no start.
I checked for fuel running down the vacuum line, and also fuel in the return line, but nothing. So, low pump pressure.
I have two fuel tanks, and it doesn't matter which tank.
Once I had the "fuel cell" (marketspeak) off, I noticed the pressure test port on the low pressure pump, but it was too late to test it mounted. I guess I can test it on the bench, but it will be a pain in the neck.
SO,
here are the questions:
1) Does anyone rebuild these gizmos? Or is Carter the only game in town?
2) Are rbuild parts available?
3) Carter shows a two-stage pump, low pressure to high pressure, for the Mercruiser conversion of the 4.3 MPI, so I guess it produces the same pressure, for $179 instead of $700. Anyone ever rigged a conversion?
My neighbors are laughing at me. They run engines with carburetors, and can replace their entire fuel system for that. No "fuel cells" No ECM's at $1,500
Which raises question 4
4) What would be involved in retrofitting to a carburetor?
SEO

 

[Don S]

Re: Year from serial number for Volvo-Penta

Have you checked the engine mounted fuel filter for water contamination? If not, pull the element pour it out into a clear container and see what you have. DO NOT reinstall the old filter after emptying it. That process contaminates both sides of the media.

 

[serico]

Re: Year from serial number for Volvo-Penta

I changed the fuel filter for a new one, added five gallons of new fuel to one tank and switched to that tank. The other tank was quite far down, below 1/8 tank. But It didn't run dry, and wasn't run in real extreme rolling conditions.
From reading the manual it seems that I should run the pump direct from a battery (not through the switch/timer, or through the ecm, and see what kind of pressure I get. Does that make sense?

 

[Don S]

Re: Year from serial number for Volvo-Penta

Just changing the filter doesn't tell you if water was in it before. At which point, water could now be in your EFI system.

From reading the manual it seems that I should run the pump direct from a battery (not through the switch/timer, or through the ecm, and see what kind of pressure I get. Does that make sense?

No, it doesn't make sense. What manual are you reading?

 

[serico]

Re: Year from serial number for Volvo-Penta

The filter's gone now, so no way to check it. I can strip out the bottom of the tanks and see if there's water there, but I'll be surprised if there is.
Would water in the fuel cause the pump pressure to drop?

 

[serico]

Re: Year from serial number for Volvo-Penta

Actually, that wasn't from the manual. I was talking to the tech at a fuel injection shop, and he said that sometimes you got a false "low pressure" reading from a pump because the pump operation is timed when the key is turned to "on". That was why he suggested jumping the pump directly, and seeing when the pressure is after a 20 second run. If it's 60 Lbs, it suggests that the problem is with the timer, not with the pump itself.
I was checking the pump pressure at the test port on the fuel rail on top of the engine, using a pressure gauge. Then once I got the pump off, I noticed a second Schrader valve on what I think is the low pressure pump output side. Is this where you check the low-pressure pump? If so, what should the pressure be?
SEO

 

[muc]

Re: Year from serial number for Volvo-Penta

Hope this helps
Model Low pressure High Pressure
4.3 TBI 8 psi +/- 4psi 29 psi +/- 2psi
5.0 TBI 8 psi +/- 4psi 29 psi +/- 2psi
5.7 TBI 8 psi +/- 4psi 29 psi +/- 2psi
4.3 PFI 8 psi +/- 4psi 50-60 psi
5.0 PFI 8 psi +/- 4psi 50-60 psi
5.7 PFI 8 psi +/- 4psi 50-60 psi
7.4 PFI 8 psi +/- 4psi 36-44 psi
8.1 PFI 8 psi +/- 4psi 36-44 psi

Good Luck Muc

 

[serico]

Re: Year from serial number for Volvo-Penta

Thanks,
I guess I should hook it up and check my low-pressure pump while I'm at it. Mine is the "PFI" type, which I guess stands for "Port Fuel Injected" instead of TBI (Throttle Body Injection).
One other question I've come up with. I found a Carter pump for sale that's from a 5.7 liter GXi. The part number of pump is from my 4.3 GXi is:
Carter P61341S 3861355 03B12A
from the 5.7 pump the number is
Carter P61341S 3861355 02C26A
So they're identical until that last string. Anyone have an opinion on whether it's the same pump?

There's an interesting part shown on this website:
http://bpi.ebasicpower.com/pc/CARP60962/ALL4C

Part Number: CARP60962
Price: $179.95
Weight: 1.64 lbs.

described as being a:
Dual-Stage, High-Pressure Fuel Pump fits many GM Small Block and Big Block V8 applications with Multi Port Injection (MPI).
Fits Indmar, Indmar 556014, Pleasurecraft (RA080023) and some Mercruisers with GM V8 MPI 1994-2001.
(Does not fit 2004 Monsoon)

I wonder if this could be retro-fitted onto the Volvo. The price difference ($179 vs 700) makes it tempting.

 

[serico]

Re: Year from serial number for Volvo-Penta

So...
I was just about to bid on a new/used fuel pump on Ebay when I noticed that there was a consistent note from people trying to sell new/used Volvo fuel pumps: 'I bought (they sold me) the pump, and then it turned out to be something really simple.'
So I started out at the tanks, and couldn't find much, then went and got my outboard motor carry tank, which I find to be very useful when trouble shooting fuel systems, because the squeeze bulb allows me to purge fuel lines and pressurize the system.
And whaddya know? There was a leak on the suction side of the fuel system. Eliminate that, the engine starts up, and gauged fuel pressure at the injection rail goes up to 60psi. Yahoo!!! I'm $700 to the good.
Which teaches the basic lesson: Keep It Simple, Stupid. KISS. If there's a simple explanation to your problem, deal with the simple choice before going to the expensive explanation.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Year from serial number for Volvo-Penta

That's great! Where was the leak located at? Hopefully the air getting in didn't harm the pumps.

 

[serico]

Re: Year from serial number for Volvo-Penta

It was a loose hose joint at the fuel tank selector valves, so it was high enough that fuel didn't drip out of it when it was shut down. I had both fuel tank valves open, and hooked the outboard carry tank to the the system at one of the fuel tanks. When I pumped up pressure I could hear (and smell) it squirting out back at the selector valves.
I don't think it hurt the pump, because it pumped up to 60 psi at the fuel rail, and the engine ran fine.
Just out of curiousity I disconnected the fuel pump while the engine was running. At idle the pressure takes about fifteen seconds to drop to 30 psi, where the engine begins to run rough, and then dies at a little over 20 psi. Don't know what that information is good for, but there it is. I've been told that it won't start unless it has over 50 psi, and that 60 psi is what it's supposed to have.