Diesel Engine Tips Page 6

Diesel Diagnostic Tips - Diesel Engine Tips page 7

“Loss of Power” the most common causes are ;

Bent , pinched or damaged Fuel Lines or fuel leaks can cause power loss and other driveability problems (stalling hesitation , poor fuel mileage etc) . Starting problems could also result .

Restricted or plugged Exhaust system or bent or damaged exhaust is often a cause of power loss . A tail pipe that has hit something when the vehicle was backed up , is one example of this .

Sticking Brakes are often overlooked as a cause when a power loss is noticed in a vehicle . Sticking brakes create higher resistance to move the vehicle which will cause more power and more fuel to be use to move the vehicle .

Slipping Automatic Transmission is some times mistaken for an engine power loss . Poor fuel mileage is also a result of slipping transmission . If the transmission is slipping , the engine will rev up higher than normal when accelerating .

White Smoke from the tail pipe , while driving (with the engine warm) is a sign that unburned fuel is going out the exhaust , which indicates an engine performance deficiency which would result I a power loss . (white smoke from the tail pipe when starting a cold engine would be a glow plug problem) .

Black Smoke from the tailpipe is caused by over fueling . This is caused by fuel injector (s) or a fuel injector pump (if equipped) fueling too rich . This can effect the engine performance and fuel mileage .

Hard Starting or No Start the most common causes are;

Low battery voltage is often a cause of poor starting or no start problems . If the battery voltage drops below 9 to 10 volt during the time that the engine is being turned over to start it , it may not have enough power to operate the fuel solenoids or the injector pump solenoid (were used) . Keeping battery terminals clean and the batteries an charging system in good condition will help prevent this problem .

High Starter Draw can cause the starting voltage to be low . Keeping the starter terminals clean and secure will help to lower this possibility . If the starter its self test to high a draw , replacement is the best cure .

Summer Fuel will gel in cold weather and will not flow to run the engine . This is rare to occur as the fuel companies are very good to ensure the proper fuel for summer ad specially for the cold winter weather . The most likely way for this problem to occur would be fuel purchased from a station that sold a very small volume of diesel fuel . In such places the fuel sits in their tanks for long periods of time . These small volume stations could still have summer fuel in their tanks when cold weather arrives and winter diesel fuel is needed . In the rare case that this should occur it is likely that the vehicle will need to be parked in a warm area (garage or such) until the fuel returns to a liquid state . Then the anti-jell agent can be added to the fuel to convert it to winter fuel status . Normal fuel additive will not do this job . The additive must contain an anti-jell agent ! Most truck dealers can supply the proper additive as well as many parts stores .