Gotta quit smokin'...need help...

["Mad Max"]

No not me ... the rig. Smokes too much, especially at low boost and idle. Not sure if it is the POD's, fuel to max, diaphram to max, or what, but it just smokes and hazes too much. Idling in traffic I can see the haze floating alongside the truck, and at night there is a mosquito fog bank behind me. It's annoying and I don't like being the 'old crappy smoking diesel'... and I would not want to be the guy behind me for any length of time. My right rear tire (the one just behind the sidepipe) is always, always black - covered with soot. I DO like the power :-laf but a sooty black tire is not a look I want. I want it cleaner, and I know it is a result of the mods because it was clean as a whistle before... but which ones are causing it?



I either need to dial down the pump or change to different injectors. I am at over 6000 feet altitude. I need y'all thoughts. The power is great as are the egt's - just right, but I think the rig is getting too much fuel across the board, especially at low boost. When the boost is high it still smokes but not a huge cloud, but it is at low speed and idle that it is most noticable. It seems like the truck has too much fuel... more than it needs... across the board. I'm thinking it's mostly in turning the pump down a little, most likely the fuel screw. I'm pretty sure it's not the PDR fuel pin or it's orientation (max'd right now - it's made to be at max).



I want it to idle cleaner and not soot up the wheel (and the load I'm carrying ) but still have the power I have now. If I have too much fuell going in, and it's obviously sooting the exhaust, then I have some fuel I can dial out of the mix without sacrificing power, ja?



I use the truck for daily driving and occasionally hauling around 12,000 lbs of trailer and cargo. Mostly daily driving. My rpms are great (2000 @ 70 mph) and I do not gun over 2000 rpm hardly ever except if I need to really get going or pass someone.



What do y'all think? Pump (fuel screw), injectors, both?



- M2

 

[MEby]

I think I would look into the injectors first along with tuning the aneroid valve.

 

[TWorline]

I would start by backing the smoke screw out till it stops hazing at an idle then back out the full power screw till you get the desired smoke under acceleration. PODs, from what I have heard, do not run the cleanest.

 

[McLaughlin]

I'm had an identical problem and my fuel mileage was terrible (11-12 in town).

Wouldn't pass the emissions test initially. Smoke screw was 1/2 range, AFC and #10 fuel plate full forward. Initially moved the AFC and fuel plate full back but it still smoked a lot. Ended up putting the stock fuel plate back in and it still barely passed the test because it smoked excessively at the low 40mph(?) test. I think some of the problem was I was blowing accumulated soot from the exhaust. Odd thing was that I gained a little HP for the top two tests but lost a good bit at the low end.

I'm thinking I either have an injector, an injector pump, or AFC problem. The injectors only have about 20K on them so they should be OK. I've had some other engine problems which could have damaged the injector pump which is why I suspect it.

 

["Mad Max"]

Thanks for the good advice fellas. I'll try to tune it out and if that doesn't work I'll have to look into a set of sticks somewhere between the stock ones and PODs.

PODs, from what I have heard, do not run the cleanest.

Yeah my last truck had PODs and they hazed just like this one is now. If I can get the power without the haze I'll be much happier.



Tim, I sent a PM your way but I was at work and I'm not sure our firewall let it through.



- Sam

 

[glhs]

Port the exhaust manifold to match the gaskets, DDP #3s, 14 cm housing and back out the aneroid screw as much as possible.

 

[bgilbert]

Best thing to limit the idle haze with POD's is to use the thinnest injector copper sealing washer, the . 020. They will put the drip:-laf/spray closer to the piston bowl.

 

[cerberusiam]

About all you can do is limit the haze with the POD's. The spray angle is wrong for the bowl in our engines so the combustion at idle is not as good as it could be.



I have the same problem and varying results at tuning the haze out and retaining power. I have come to the conclusion a custom set of injector sis about the only to have the power and not the haze.

 

[dpuckett]

I'd say get some different injectors- PDR 190s or DDP3s. Or get your current ones cleaned up and recalibrated to a slightly lower pop pressure. It wont affect the idle haze, but you can tighten up your starwheel and back your "smoke screw" out to its min. I keep mine there anyway. I have a slight lag if I hit it below about 1500 rpm; no lag above that.



WHat is your timing set to? At your altitude, I'd say set it to the 1. 7mm range. Go another tenth if your injectors are popping more than 200psi above stock (stock is 3550).



ALso, is this the auto in your signature? I know you had talked about swapping to a manual and whatnot. If you have a manual, keep the revs up to 1800-2200rpm. WIth the 16cm housing, it will be a little slower to spool at lower RPM. Keep an eye on your EGT as you accelerate from 1500 to 2000, then again as you accelerate from 1800-2300. I'd bet they dont climb as fast in the latter scenario.



Good luck, and keep up posted. I have stock injectors, and can hit 35psi with the setup in my signature.



Daniel