Fuel Injector service (pop testing and adjustment or rebuild)

[BlueCanoe]

I have a 32-200 with a westerbeke 30b three 27hp with 1600 hours I bought it knowing the engine started and ran but needed maintenance. I have a small combustion gas leak coming from around one of the injectors. It becomes obvious by spraying some lubricant around the injector. You can see some slight bubbling. Injectors from westerbeke are over 500 each but from googling I can see that the engine is a Mitsubishi l3e and new Chinese injectors are less than 60 dollars for all 3 but I can’t find actual Mitsubishi injectors anywhere. What I would like to is have the injectors rebuilt if necessary or at least cleaned and pop tested.

I am wondering if anyone can recommend a shop that I can send the injectors to for cleaning and testing and that can sell new washers.

 

[Alan Gomes]

Although he is located by me in San Pedro, you could call Armando's Diesel Injection at 310-200-9056. He has done some work for me before and I was satisfied.

 

[Loren Beach]

One little bit of trivia about the injectors -- back when I had all three out for *testing, a couple times over the years, our mechanic said sometimes people re-use the crush washers. Perhaps because they did not have a new one on hand and were in a hurry.

*The shop, which specialized in diesel truck injector service and is well regarded, replaced the tips.

To be sure of a seal it's always better to use a new crush washer for each injector. He always used a torque wrench to tighten them properly, too.
I just wonder if that's the source of your leak, since the pressure is really really high against the washer. (?)

 

[ConchyDug]

You're on the right track finding out who made the original block. Can you find an illustrated parts catalog?

 

[JSM]

If your only problem is bubbling around the base of the injector I would just install new crush washers. I went thru a similar problem with my Universal M25xp. I finally found a part number on the injector that was covered in paint, Googled the number and discovered that it was manufactured by Denso and I was able to find a set for a quarter of the price that Universal was asking.
Installed the injectors and discovered that my original problem was something else.

 

[BlueCanoe]

I did find an illustrated parts manual. It looks like the Mitsubishi engine that this westerbeke is based on is widely used and still in production. I was even able to find new production complete heads for less than $500. I think the absolute worst case scenario is a cracked head. I bought the boat knowing the cooling system needed repair. The engine had a pretty bad looking thermostat, no worst than what I have seen in old cars. The coolant was green and the cooling system holds but there was a bit of corrosion. I suspect that the previous owner neglected maintenance for a while. All of the glow plugs were bad and it took at least 5 seconds of cranking to start. Having changed the glow plugs and done basic maintenance it now starts instantly and runs smooth.

anyways I pulled the injector out and the copper washer is a totally plain washer. I had to take all the fuel lines out to get the one injector free. At this point pulling the remaining injectors would be quick. The good news is that I don’t see any obvious cracks in the head or other sources of leakage. It could well be that a shop or previous owner took the injector out and re used the copper washers but what I have read is that leaks past the washer are common after overheating.

 

[nquigley]

I researched injectors for my Kubota-based Universal M25 last September. The local Kubota dealership wanted about $120 per injector. I found the identical part number for sale on Amazon in a pack of three, with new crush washers, for ~$80 including tax.
The symptom that caused me to replace my injectors was that I noticed excess white smoke coming in my exhaust at higher revs. I had just replaced my glow plugs so it seemed like a good idea to put new injectors in as well. When they came out, the mechanic noted that two of them were heavily carboned. I did not have any evidence of any leakage around the injectors though. It only took the mechanic two hours of his time to remove my old injectors and install the new ones.
However, fast forward to 2 months later, after I had motored for about 36 hours straight, I noticed a fuel leak at one of the pumps that feeds one of the injectors. The marina where my boat is stored is working on that leak at the moment.

 

[BlueCanoe]

I’ve heard of bad things about the Chinese injectors. Essentially the machining tolerances are poor and the opening pressures are poorly set. This is reflected in most of the Amazon reviews.
I found a shop to test my current injectors. 2 have poor atomization and one is good. All 3 are opening early. They should be opening at 1990 psi but they are opening closer to 1600. This impacts the timing increases heat and reduces power. In any case that shop is going to rebuild them for $120 each or offered to sell me new Japanese made demos injectors for 220 each. I just went with the rebuild.

 

[ConchyDug]

Dang that's expensive for new ones. Checking valve timing while you have all this apart helps with a smoother running engine as well and it'll start faster.

 

[BlueCanoe]

Dang that's expensive for new ones. Checking valve timing while you have all this apart helps with a smoother running engine as well and it'll start faster.

I’m happy not be be buying them for 500 each from westerbeke. As part of the regular maintenance which I am sure has never been done I will torque the head bolts and check the valve timing