D16 reliability

Vomac in Evansville, in. Is my go volvo dealer.
the 2 most comon parts to put high pressure air in the coolant system in this order
#1 injector cups... known problem with d13 & d16
#2 air compressor

 

Combustion Leak Detector

Get something like this and test for yourself if there are exhaust gases in the coolant. If it changes color, I'd look at the engine for problems. If it doesn't, then look at the air compressor or the pressure caps and expansion tank. I think there's a way you can bypass the air compressor or something to test if that's the problem, but I've never had to do it, so I don't recall the details. There should be a thread or so about it on the forums here.

If it were mine, I would get a new expansion tank with new caps on it if it's old and discolored. I'd also look into checking or getting a new hose for the pressure relief, in case insects have clogged it up. Then I would test for exhaust gases, and go from there depending on the outcome.

 

The exhaust gas test would rule out pressure coming from the compressor for sure. Good idea.

 

the exhaust test will rule out the injector cups not the air compressor...

 

It should rule out head gasket and EGR cooler, too. Air compressor bypass I think you hook shop air up to one of the lines so it won't cycle on, then idle the truck for a while and see if it still builds too much pressure.

 

Volvo parts guy at the Indy dealer told me they had crates of them out back. Said they were swapping them out seemed like every day. Said they wouldn't even find the problem they had orders from Volvo to just swap them out.

Kevin Rutherford said it is the worst diesel engine ever produced and that's including Navistar MaxForce. It's odd since the have run them for years in Europe and still produce them for the Euro Volvos.

 

The d16 (in the US) was so bad you can't even order one for a new truck