Truck Quit Running

[CDenton]

Hello.
I need y’all’s help please. I was pulling my rv across I-90 around Deer Lodge when my truck lost power and went to rolling smoke. It was the color of a truck when you start it on a very cold morning. I got it off to the side of the road and it acted like it was running on five cylinders. I shut it off immediately. Check all my fluids, coolant, engine oil and automatic transmission fluid and all were good. No leaks anywhere. I called for a tow truck and they towed me to a small diesel shop here in Deer Lodge. I just serviced the truck with all new filters. It didn’t pull up any codes that I know of. Could this possibly be a fuel injector problem? Any help or ideas is greatly appreciated.

 

[AH64ID]

Year?

Sounds like an injector or ring issue, but not a lot to go on.

 

[petersonj]

Signature says 2010.

- John

 

[AH64ID]

Signature says 2010.

- John

dang phone mode got me again.

I would suspect injectors, but that’s just a vague guess with the info.

 

[CDenton]

Just came from the diesel shop. #6 injector washed down so far. Hopefully that will fix my problems. Thank y’all I will keep you posted.

 

[CDenton]

Well that was one problem but it still doesn’t fix the truck….

 

[CDenton]

Now, what the shop has done is swapped the #4 injector with the #6 and that is not my problem. So now the shop thinks it’s something electronic to do with it. Do y’all have any clue as to what it could be?

 

[Ozymandias]

Could be injector harness, they are known to fail sometimes.
But that's just a wild guess, we aren't in the work shop at all.

 

[BigPapa]

Now, what the shop has done is swapped the #4 injector with the #6 and that is not my problem.

Is the truck all stock? No mods?

Injectors 1-3 are on the same harness and 4-6 are on the same harness.

 

[CDenton]

The shop was going to run a compression test on #6. Hope I know something tomorrow.

 

[CDenton]

No compression on number 6 cylinder, but no diesel in oil pan. Had a new head put on last summer. He is going to try and perform a leak down test, does that sound right?

 

[Ozymandias]

Yes, and not good at all.

 

[cerberusiam]

If you have no compression leak down test is useless. Time to pull the head. Either it burnt a valve or holed the piston. Pray for a valve problem, lot easier to fix.

 

[Tuesdak]

A borescope would inspect a piston and cylinder pretty quick. Then you may want to decide where you want the work or head warranty work done. 3 days to figure out no compression and the RRRR,RRRR,ZING,RRRR,RRRR,RRRR on the starter flying past the dead hole didn't give it away on hour number one there?!

 

[jghflys]

If you have no compression leak down test is useless.

Actually a leakdown test with low compression will show where the problem is. Air out the crankcase vent ring or piston problem. Air out the intake, intake valve problem. Air out the exhaust, exhaust valve problem. Air bubbling in coolant, crack. Air not leaking anywhere, compression test or valve train problem. It is a less than 10 minute test and should have been done immediately after the compression test failed. I have done the test on dozens of engines and it is a helpful diagnostic procedure. I agree that the head will have to come off unless it is a valve train problem

 

[BigPapa]

Actually a leakdown test with low compression will show where the problem is.

You’re correct if he has low compression, but he said NO compression. Leak down would be a fraction of a second...

 

[sag2]

A leak down test supplies a constant flow of air into the engine. So it should identify where the problem is.

 

[jghflys]

Leak down would be a fraction of a second...

By your response you do not know how a leak down test is performed. Take 5 minutes and educate yourself.

 

[BigPapa]

A leak down test supplies a constant flow of air into the engine. So it should identify where the problem is.

By your response you do not know how a leak down test is performed.

Thanks for the education but I stand by the statement that it's worthless at this point. The head has to come off either way and then you'll absolutely know what the problem is.

 

[jghflys]

I stand by the statement that it's worthless at this point

Additional diagnostic steps are not worthless. We agree to disagree. In fact the last compression test I did on a dodge truck gas engine that failed showed very little leakage in the leakdown check. I pulled the valve cover and found the rocker arm had fallen off and would not open the intake valve. No compression on his engine is also suspect unless there is a hole in the piston. So far the shop has changed an injector, swapped injectors, thought it was electronic, and got no compression on compression test and the truck still is not running. A 10 minute test will validate or invalidate what they "think" it is now. Based on the results of the test he can also decide if he wants the truck repaired where it is or taken to another location.