Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Some issues *turbo/wastegate?*

[cummins82]

I'm having some issues with my truck right now... *UNDERSTATEMENT!*



I was driving around this week and noticed some occasional blue-white smoke around 2000 rpm. Yesterday it got real bad and I noticed that at certain times *especially low RPM in 4th* I had almost no power when I pressed the accelerator down. Once in a great while it will act like it has no power, and then suddenly kick me in the pants and take off. I was thinking the wastegate might be sticking and not allowing boost to build.



The blue-white smoke is pure fuel and there is a LOT if you hold the throttle at about 2000 rpm. As I was checking the wastegate, I noticed fresh oil on the compressor intake side of my turbo, as well as a little play in the compressor wheel itself. Is this normal?



I can't feel any sticking in the wastegate with the turbo off, but then again, I'm not an expert in any sense of the word. Should I be looking at replacing the wastegate, or a whole turbo, or what? I'm flat on my behind as far as money goes *amazing what five weeks of no work will do to your financial situation =P* so I'm hoping and praying that this is not requiring a serious fix...



Any advice and/or help would be GREATLY appreciated!!!

 

[JLandry]

Bluish exhaust could be oil being burned in the engine.



Questions:



Has this been happening on just one tank of fuel? If yes, it could just be bad fuel. Try topping up the tank with another brand for fuel at a different station and see if it gets any better.



When was the last time you changed the fuel filter? Couldn't hurt to do it now.



Ditto for th air filter? Replace it too.



By chance is the engine oil level going down?



How is the fuel pressure at the fuel injection pump?



Have you checked for DTC's (Diagnostic Trouble Codes) in the ECM and PCM?



Best regards,



John L.

 

[darkhorse]

Your turbo is showing signs of wear but that isn't what's causing your major symptoms. Check for codes. I suspect you may have injection pump problems.

 

[cummins82]

Bluish exhaust could be oil being burned in the engine.



Questions:



Has this been happening on just one tank of fuel? If yes, it could just be bad fuel. Try topping up the tank with another brand for fuel at a different station and see if it gets any better.



When was the last time you changed the fuel filter? Couldn't hurt to do it now.



Ditto for th air filter? Replace it too.



By chance is the engine oil level going down?



How is the fuel pressure at the fuel injection pump?



Have you checked for DTC's (Diagnostic Trouble Codes) in the ECM and PCM?



Best regards,



John L.

1) No, it's been on a couple tanks.



2) Fuel filter was changed about 8000 miles ago.



3) aFe air filter was just cleaned and oiled 5000 miles ago.



4) Oil level is fine. It's due for a change but that was my original project this weekend before the issues developed.



5) I don't have a fuel pressure gauge. I'm in the process of buying one from a friend, but that's not finished/installed yet. =(



6) I haven't checked for codes, I'm on my way home to do that now.





darkhorse, the smoke is definitely unburned fuel, not oil. I stopped by my mechanics' shop on the way back home yesterday and we determined that straight off. Our initial diagnosis was that the wastegate is sticking open and not allowing boost to build and match the fueling being delivered, hence the excessive fuel being dumped into the exhaust.



How much play can there be in a compressor? When I was playing with the wastegate I noticed the play in the turbo wheel, and although it seems that a little play would be expected, no one really says how much is too much...



As soon as I get codes *if there are any* I'll post them...

 

[darkhorse]

.

How much play can there be in a compressor? [/QUOTE]

It's too much when the compressor wheel starts nicking the housing. Wiggle it from side to side & see if you can measure your clearance with a feeler gauge. The service manual says to measure minimum & maximum clearance & subtract to get the radial clearance which should fall between . 0128 & . 0195 in.

 

[Sixpack]

Check for codes. I suspect you may have injection pump problems.

When I had issues with my waste gate not closing the smoke was black not white. The white smoke/ low power are both symptoms of possible injection pump problems. Check for codes as mentioned above.

 

[cummins82]

P0216 (M) Fuel Injection Pump Timing Failure High fuel supply restriction, low fuel pressure or possible
wrong or incorrectly installed pump keyway.

P1693 (M) DTC Detected in Companion Module A fault has been generated in the companion engine
control module.

P1693 (M) DTC Detected in PCM/ECM or DTC
Detected in ECM
A 9Companion DTC9 was set in both the ECM and PCM.


*insert favorite EXPLETIVE here*

OK, so from my forum searching, it looks like I might be having some poor fuel/fuel delivery, but that more than likely it's a VP44 for me, huh? This is a reman'd pump, original owner replaced stock pump at around 100k, truck has about 148k on it right now...

I'll try replacing fuel filter again, and give it a good dose of Howe's, but with the white smoke out the pipe, I'm pretty much screwed, huh?

 

[cummins82]

I should also note that the truck starts and runs like a dream *with the exception of the smoke around 2000 RPM and the almost-but-not-quite-dead pedal in certain situations*

Is there a chance that it could just be the lift pump, or even bad fuel? I drained the fuel filter, but it didn't have water in it... .

I dunno, maybe I'm just in denial or something...

 

[johncameron]

P0216 (M) Fuel Injection Pump Timing Failure High fuel supply restriction, low fuel pressure or possible

wrong or incorrectly installed pump keyway. I'm pretty much screwed, huh?

yup#@$%!#@$%!#@$%!

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Hardest lesson to get across to diesel owners:



GAUGES GAUGES GAUGES...



The life and performance of a VP-44 diesel injection pump is proper PSI - and you can't just ASSUME yours is correct - you hafta MONITOR it!

 

[JLandry]

Replace your fuel filter and check your fuel pressure under all operating conditions before you do anything else. If you don't have time to install a fuel pressure gauge in your cab right now, at least buy a test gauge from your favorite auto parts store and see what's going on.



Regards,



John L.

 

[fox]

White smoke can be timing. 0216 code is just that.

Vp-44 shot. Dead peddle is the same pump problem.

 

[cummins82]

Hardest lesson to get across to diesel owners:



GAUGES GAUGES GAUGES...



The life and performance of a VP-44 diesel injection pump is proper PSI - and you can't just ASSUME yours is correct - you hafta MONITOR it!

I do realize that, and I have been trying, but things just don't always work to plan. I'm not made of money, and I just finished paying for the clutch that went out in January. If I can finance the costs of the repairs onto my truck again, I'm definitely adding the $300 I need to buy the fuel pressure, EGT, and boost gauges from my friend *as well as the parts I need to fit them to my truck*. Otherwise, it's back to a case of what I absolutely need first and foremost, and right now that's the roof over my head and the food in the fridge more than the truck. That doesn't make me a total idiot, does it?

 

[Sixpack]

I do realize that, and I have been trying, but things just don't always work to plan. I'm not made of money, and I just finished paying for the clutch that went out in January. If I can finance the costs of the repairs onto my truck again, I'm definitely adding the $300 I need to buy the fuel pressure, EGT, and boost gauges from my friend *as well as the parts I need to fit them to my truck*. Otherwise, it's back to a case of what I absolutely need first and foremost, and right now that's the roof over my head and the food in the fridge more than the truck. That doesn't make me a total idiot, does it?

Oh don't mind ol Gary. . He has these lapses every now and then. :-laf Just because you have "perfect" fuel pressure doesn't mean your vp will last a long time either. I had "perfect" fp and mine vp went South at 45k miles. That being said, low fuel pressure may help lead to its demise, no pressure certainly will! Good luck with your project.

 

[Missouri Mule]

No! Priorities first.

 

[darkhorse]

speaking of priorities, it sound like you have them right to me. Of the gauges, FP is the top priority. Perhaps a low pressure "idiot" light would fit the budget. If you have a serious problem, they will actually grab your attention better than a gauge reading low.

 

[JLandry]

Oh don't mind ol Gary. . He has these lapses every now and then. :-laf Just because you have "perfect" fuel pressure doesn't mean your vp will last a long time either. I had "perfect" fp and mine vp went South at 45k miles. That being said, low fuel pressure may help lead to its demise, no pressure certainly will! Good luck with your project.

Hey Sixpack,



I have an unused low fuel pressure warning light kit you can HAVE to install on your truck if you'll just PM me your address.



You shouldn't be driving with out some way of knowing if you have low fuel pressure.



Best regards,



John L.

 

[Sixpack]

Hey Sixpack,



I have an unused low fuel pressure warning light kit you can HAVE to install on your truck if you'll just PM me your address.



You shouldn't be driving with out some way of knowing if you have low fuel pressure.



Best regards,



John L.

Thanks for the offer John. I have a set of gauges in my truck but, Cummins82 could probably use the kit.

 

[JLandry]

Thanks for the offer John. I have a set of gauges in my truck but, Cummins82 could probably use the kit.

Sorry Sixpack... got confused by all the posts.



CUMMINS82,



PM me your address and I'll ship you the low fuel pressure warning kit if you can use it.



Best regards,



John L.

 

[cummins82]

Yeah, I have to apologize. I've been off work for about 5 weeks out of the last 8, none of which was in my control, I have a family vacation to Alaska next month, and I'm trying to find a new job. It's a little stressful without having my daily driver take a crap on me, but that's no excuse to get upset with people offering advice and help. I thank everyone that has offered advice and help, and I do apologize to Gary for getting a little touchy. I find out in about two hours whether the bank will approve the refinancing, so I'm out to search for some pricing on lift/injector pump combos... . yeehaw!