Engine Noise

[Sandflea]

I had the injectors replaced and valve lash set at 115K miles. Ever since, I've noticed the engine is much louder... sounds a little like a 12 valve. I also just noticed I'm starting to get some soot buildup on the bumper by the exhaust tip. I took it to the dealer, but they didn't find anything. I used to have to listen hard to hear the engine inside the truck, but now I can even hear it at highway speeds. Any suggestions would be appreciated. It's now got 125K on it,but I miss the relative quiet I used to have.

 

[HBarlow]

Injectors replaced by what and by whom? Valve lash rarely ever needs adjustment. That's mostly a dealer adjustment of your wallet unless the truck has 200k or 300k miles on it.

 

[Wingate]

Need to have a contribution test ran. What injectors did they install? Bosch new? Reman? Aftermarket?

 

[cerberusiam]

Injector tips are likely not optmized for injection event. A lot depends on what you used for injectors.

 

[TCDiesel]

If it was quite out the gate with the Replacements!!!!!!!!!! Now its loud and with some smoke? sounds like a 12v That loud? I wouldn't be driving it.

 

[Sandflea]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm on the road right now, so I don't have my receipts. The injectors were replaced by the dealership, and they also adjusted the valve lash at the same time. It was noisier with the new injectors, but it's much louder now. It's not quite as loud as a 12 valve, but it's the same type of clattering. If it was a gas engine, I'd say it sounded like very noisy lifters.

I took it back to the dealership, but they said the injectors all tested within specs. Is there some other engine component that could contribute to the increased engine noise and black soot on the bumper by the tailpipe tip? Would a dealer normally use new or reman injectors? Thanks!

 

[cerberusiam]

If it was a Dodge dealer you got the wonderful remans from south of the border, in other words junk. They may test ok but that don't mean they are or will be for long.

 

[Prairie Dog]

FCA can make it noisy.

 

[JHumphries]

Is it possible that the dealer got the valves too tight?
If I remember right the spec changed for some weird reason.

 

[Sandflea]

Not happy if the remans are sub-par, but there isn't a diesel place in the area that I know of with a decent reputation that is willing to work on non-commercial vehicles.

I hadn't considered the FCA. I'll also check the current specs for valve lash. At least I have a couple of things I can start looking at now. Much obliged!

 

[Keith graybeal]

sounds to me like you might have a stuck lifter, on the older doges we used some trans fluid in the diesel tank and it usually would quiet down but i wouldent suggest that you do it to the new engines. I would get some engine oil additive and run it with it in it. Also make sure that the motor mounts and trans mounts look good. If they are worn you will hear a lot of cab noise.

 

[HBarlow]

A stuck lifter would create a very loud noise at a frequency that would make it clear it was a one-valve related problem not to mention it would cause a severe engine miss and shake. I've never heard of a stuck Cummins valve lifter.

 

[NIsaacs]

sounds to me like you might have a stuck lifter,

With a mechanical valve train?



Nick

 

[HBarlow]

Nick,

Duhhhh! You're right. Our Cummins engines use mechanical lifters! No wonder I've never heard of a stuck lifter.

 

[Bob4x4]

Injectors replaced by what and by whom? Valve lash rarely ever needs adjustment. That's mostly a dealer adjustment of your wallet unless the truck has 200k or 300k miles on it.

That is interesting about your call on valve adjustment... ..... Every crd I have looked at has quite a bit of variance from one cylinder to another. Cummins has gone to a very wide acceptable range. I don't care for there spec-same as in alignments where there is a preferred spec and fhen an acceptable range-Horseshoes and grenades

 

[Bob4x4]

The injectors that the dealers use are remans-in a bosch box

 

[HBarlow]

Bob,

I'm always the first to say, "I am not a mechanic. "

What I posted was my own experience with two high mileage Cummins engines. My owner's manual called for adjustment at 150k miles. My mechanic friend who was a Dodge dealership mechanic for several years working mostly on Cummins engines now on Volvo heavy equipment tried repeatedly to talk me out of my insistence on checking/adjusting valve lash. He kept telling me it was never needed on the ones he had checked or adjusted. Finally, at my insistence he did an adjustment on my '01 at over 150k miles. Don't remember what actual mileage was. He made only minute adjustments and said, "I told you so. "

Later, at something over 200k miles that engine had a seeping spot on the front of the head gasket. He changed the gasket and adjusted the valves again when he buttoned it all up. Once again he showed me very little adjustment was required.

I talked him into checking the '06 sometime in it's life history when it idled rough and found no adjustment needed. We replaced the FCA and cured the occasional rough idle.

I don't question some slight variance in engine assembly and after 100k or more miles of service but I've always been told by real mechanics that significant adjustment was rarely required.

They're low rpm work engines not finely tuned high performance, high rpm race engines.

 

[Bob4x4]

It is the little things that add up that are the reasons some trucks run better than others. A good example is my 05 having better mileage and lower Egts than other trucks like mine when we caravan together

 

[RVTRKN]

I recently have noticed that my truck when cold, sounds like I've got marbles in the cylinders until warmed up, only because I always warm her up using the high idle feature before I drive her. Its only been recent, but I don't hear it after a few miles, I did say cold engine, I assumed that was due to being cold, as in start and go after 1 min of running. I'm easy on the throttle until it goes away. Do I have to worry about it Bob?

 

[Keith graybeal]

Not a stuck lifted Sticky lifters yes they are mechanical lifters if you use cheap oil it dose make the lifters noisier than normal.