Regret buying a Volvo with Volvo D12 motor

ALL trucks of that era have EGR problems, no matter the motor's name. If you didn't account for maintenance and breakdowns in your business plan, you were very unrealistic. The EGR valves and/or cooler should be considered an annual expense and factored into your cost per mile. Cummins EGR's are more expensive than Volvo's. When us veterans talk about having 10k plus in a maintenance account and setting aside .10 per mile as well, there are reasons for that. No they didn't sell you a lemon, lemons are brand new vehicles that have major problems. Learn from your mistakes and write a better business plan, or sell it and become a company driver again.

 

My D12 has 189k on it. Took off this morning and had to turn around and limp back home injector went out just waiting on a tow now. Company truck but its a POS

 

I have to agree with you. I believe the OP is looking for some reinforcement here but is not considering he bought a USED truck. There is a reason somebody got rid of it in the past. It is that way with any used vehicle. Truck car host doesn't matter there's a reason the previous owner got rid of it. EGR problems are common as well as injectors. Its got 6000k on it. Its not brand new, even if it was brand new its still a Volvo. They have a reputation for fuel economy, they also have a reputation for being unreliable. I didn't have to read the forum to find that out you can walk into any independent shop...hell any shop across the country as long as its not a Volvo dealer and ask what they think. You will hear unreliable come up, also parts are hard to find, and they're a royal ##### to work on. I don't care if they're a problem to work on that's the mechanics problem not mine. The parts and reliability issues are my problem. .10 is pretty standard for most of us, but with a Volvo .20 is probably a better estimate. They are in the shop a lot, no matter what motor. My dad drove a Cummins powered Volvo at SAIA the check engine light on 07448 was on for over a year for a miss fire. After injectors twice, running the overhead and doing everything possible to fix the issue, still was on. We still think it dropped a sleeve but who knows. Neither here nor there Volvo has not been a favorite of O/O's for years. Its pretty bad when an accountant tells you to sell your truck because its eating you alive.

 

Most of the fuel injector problems on Volvo engine is the wiring harness itself not the injector, Most dealers will change out the fuel injector first, You still have the problem, than the dearler will put in the new wiring harness. Wiring harness for the fuel injectors, the gauge of the wire is just too small, It cannot take the vibration of the engine internally, it's starts to breaks down over time.

 

awful arrogant sounding

 

nice to know thanks

 

What v6killer said is true. Mostly wiring issues at the injector. They are cheap fixes after you learn what the real problem is.

 

Well I like my D12. I've had it since 559k and now has 703k. Not without problems but all have been age related, like gaskets etc..and the dreaded egr twins. I purchased a USED truck so things will go wrong and or fail. FYI, new ones no matter the manufacture are just as much of a gamble. I get my repairs done at a Volvo dealer because everything comes with a one year parts and labor warranty, honored nationwide. To me that's worth an extra penny or two. I am polite to the service staff and don't give them attitude, this always results in getting good service and a price deal. They will stick it to the big companies but are much more flexible towards O/O if you play your cards right.

My mpg is good, 7 to 8 and once got 9. It does tank significantly if the load weighs more than 33k, so I take stuff below that.

I have had both Volvo and Cummins in a Volvo. Got towed twice with the cummins and never with the volvo.

you are correct about USX and maintenance. That is why USX no longer has Volvos. Volvo would not allow warranty claims due to lack of preventative maintenance by USX.