Loss of Power, 04 3500

[jelag]

My 04 3500 now has almost 150K... . and on the last trip we started to see some loss of power..... upon the return to the shop we could hear air leaking and decided that our loss was from compressed air leaking from the intake system... . it was just a matter of finding the leak... .



A check of the flexible hose coming from the pressure side of the turbo found a sizable crack that was allowing part of the pressure out... . This truck doesn't have a boost gauge. . had we had one I'm sure we'd been looking sooner... ...



This is not a Cummins part and had to come from the dealer... . not in stock BTW..... 2 days out..... and about $120. 00



I'm not sure we'd have found it during a routine inspection as this tube is black and the crack was facing down and towards the engine..... it looks like fatigue from vibration... . but who knows... . anyway the new one will be in place tomorrow and we'll check the rest with full pressure once we get it back together... ...

 

[GFrance]

I'm surpised Jim that you don't have gauges, with all the miles you put on & pulling a trailer. Do any of your trucks have gauges?

 

[jelag]

My 01 had a BD power chip and it has gauges... . the problem is that we have 3 or 4 different guys who drive these trucks most of the time..... I keep the power optioins stock... so that we don't have issues with the HP being turned up... . and doing damage to them... .



I will mount a test gauge in the exhaust brake circuit and check for back pressure when the brake is on... . I've sort of trusted DC to make the controls on the engine so that any guy behind the wheel can't damage it... I sold a 93 with 450 K and now the Ford 550 has close to 350 K.....



Jim

 

[Bob4x4]

My 04 3500 now has almost 150K... . and on the last trip we started to see some loss of power..... upon the return to the shop we could hear air leaking and decided that our loss was from compressed air leaking from the intake system... . it was just a matter of finding the leak... .



A check of the flexible hose coming from the pressure side of the turbo found a sizable crack that was allowing part of the pressure out... . This truck doesn't have a boost gauge. . had we had one I'm sure we'd been looking sooner... ...



This is not a Cummins part and had to come from the dealer... . not in stock BTW..... 2 days out..... and about $120. 00



I'm not sure we'd have found it during a routine inspection as this tube is black and the crack was facing down and towards the engine..... it looks like fatigue from vibration... . but who knows... . anyway the new one will be in place tomorrow and we'll check the rest with full pressure once we get it back together... ...

You might want to make sure you have plenty of clearance between the batt ground cable and the cac hose I have seen a few rub through.



Bob