Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) egt and power problem

[TXram1]

Hi all,



Truck specs: 97 3500 4wd dually 3. 54 gears bhaf 370 injectors factory turbo



Dilema: Truck has no power when towing light loads, and egt seem high running easily up to 1250 pre turbo on little hills trying to maintain 70 mph. Empty they also run 750- 800 pre turbo on level ground. Had turbo waistgate disabled and could see around 34 lbs of boost. I hooked it back up and could still see 26 lbs of boost, which seems in line with the factory setting, so I think that fuel supply is not my problem in the power department, nor are boost leaks. I have been thinking that my timing had slipped from it's factory setting, for quite along time, but just recently after I start it and let it idle for a few minutes and then tap the throttle I get large quantities of white and blue smoke. Help Please.



Texram

 

[TXram1]

update

Truck starts fine, and the kitty ran away with the muffler, and I haven't seen them since.





Greg

 

[KLockliear]

White smoke can be retarded timing or low fuel pressure. Blue smoke isn't a good sign... valve seals, rings, turbo seals, etc.



370's make about 105hp over stock. What do you have for a cam plate? Where is it set? That could be the EGT problem cause right there.

 

[TXram1]

Truck has a stock plate, uses a little oil, but not always, it will use some oil then stop and start using it again. There is a small amount of smoke coming out of the draft tube, but truck has 130k miles so I would think that to be acceptable. I drove it today, and it seemed by seat of the pants feel to run stronger, and then not as good.



Greg

 

[Hogan]

Originally posted by KLockliear

White smoke can be retarded timing or low fuel pressure. Blue smoke isn't a good sign... valve seals, rings, turbo seals, etc.

Not necessarily. Diesel is, technically, oil. If you get blue smoke when cold and not when hot, specfically when you give it some throttle and the engine stumbles, there's nothing to worry about. That's just unburned diesel. During the winter and being at high altitudes, I will get blue smoke until the engine warms up. Cylinder temps are too cool and there's not enough oxygen. Down towards sea level the smoke is virtually non-existant with cold starts.



If you get blue smoke regardless of engine temp or load then yes, the engine needs to be looked into. First would be the tubing from the turbo to the intake, check it for signs of oil. Second would be injection pump timing. Beyond that, there are other things to check, but the items I listed tend to be the most common that I have found.

 

[TXram1]

Weather has been in the 90's,and I am in central Texas. Will Puff the blue smoke when started cold tapping on the troddle. Truck will stumble , and then puff out white/blue tinted smoke. Once cylinder temps go up it appears to stop. I do notice what appears to be more white smoke while accelerating, it doesn't appear to have blue tint to it. I am really suspecting the timing has slipped, but I will be checking fuel pressure. Anything else I should check???



Greg