more clatter questions

[Trophy Truck]

Forgive me for not doing the research here, BUT, I am driving in Florida (from Northern California) and started noticing more clatter noise from my engine. Is this from poor fuel? (06' CTD auto 87K miles). Thanks, Pete 831-638-0194

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

my truck is the same year with the exact same miles, I have also noticed alot of strange noises, it sounds to me like a card is being pressed against some very fast moving bicycle spokes at times mainly when the engine is at 2200 to 3000 rpm it gains in intensity as I really floor the throttle or when I let off it all the way it goes away. it doesn't sound like a good thing to me. I am running the smarty on level with 3 with timing set to 4 max, which could be part of it, but I also hear it too on the stock program. I hope an injector isn't going to explode.

 

[HBarlow]

My '06 always clattered some but a bad Fuel Control Actuator (FCA) will cause it to be worse. If your FCA is bad it should be replaced. Around $135 from Cummins IIRC.

 

[TMax]

May sound crazy but when my truck does that, I mash the throttle up an on-ramp and the clatter goes away (even at the rpm range where it was chattering before). I think if the truck isn't driven moderately hard every once in a while, you get a carbon build up on the injector (or elsewhere in the combustion chamber) and the engine chatters. I also find that running my truck on Low Sulfer #2 instead of the ULTRA Low Sulfer #2 makes a huge difference.

 

[jelag]

What you might be describing is the fan clutch coming on in a hard pull and higher engine temperatures... . I'd suggest you look at your temp gauge when this occurs... if your needle is between the 2 zeros or splits the right zero what the gauge and see if it starts to fall, and if so as the needle gets close to the center of the 2 the sound should either change or quit.....

If this is happening and your pulling a light load to medium load I'd wait until it cools and pop the radiator cap and see if the radiator is full... if not I suggest you top it off... we use distilled water only in our batteries and radiators. .

 

[MVenditti]

Could it be due for early valve adjustment, read that some are out of spec even when new.

 

[JFought]

my o6 has them same noise. just trying to figure it out as well... ... .

 

[Trophy Truck]

more info

Thanks for the comments... Some more info - I started noticeing this in the early part of my trip, thats why I am thinking fuel issue (carbon build up). I have run about 10 tanks through now and no change even after running Power Service fuel additive. I am slightly loaded with a 2500 lb truck camper on the back and running 70 to 75 mph and averaging about 13. 5 MPG with a very light foot. Could be carbon build up as mentioned, (if it were a gas engine I would go to a hotter plug because it sounds like predetonation).

 

[jelag]

I don't know about carbon, these engines run so clean with the 3 injections per stroke I personally can't believe that it might be carbon... . if you suspect carbon I'd assume that the carbon cleaner for the turbo, that runs through the complete engine would do the trick...

You know that Cummins suggests that a radiator screen not be used. .

 

[Trophy Truck]

Jim, I did not know that about the screen in front of radiator, I will remove it and see what happens, thanks... another note - the clatter is throughout the full rpm range...

 

[Regcabguy]

I don't think timing #4 is recommended for towing or in your case carrying a heavy camper. I updated Smarty Sr. to the new Revo program 418. b and set it to default settings which before gave me an awful clatter. It's much quieter on default now and half the smoke.

 

[Trophy Truck]

FYI, I have the smarty Jr. and it is set at level 2 for towing and while driving - I adjusted the Power on Demand from 99 to 40 and it did not make any difference...

 

[Trophy Truck]

update

Well today Todd from T & C Diesel Performance was kind enough to spend some time with me over the phone and discuss the clatter problem. He sent me a loaner Fuel Control Activator and a Pressure sensor to make sure either one of those were the culprite and to my dismay after replacing both there was no change. (Thanks Todd!) So I may have a bad injector (s) causing the rattle... Now keep in mind, this clatter is not really loud, just loud enough to be noticed. Noticed at just off idle under slight load to highway speed and not noticed at WOT. Looks like I will look into replacing the injectors when I get back home... I was wondering if this was covered under the 100K/5 year factory engine waranty???

 

[MQuirin]

Before you spend big money on injectors (that you may not need) check the valve lash. It's free and doesn't take that long. If the lash is out that could solve your problem. If it doesn't, you haven't lost anything and you have properly adjusted valves.

 

[Trophy Truck]

Good point... I was going to adjust the valves, but then decided to call the dealer where I bought the truck from. They said they would do a flow test on the injectors and if there are some injectors bad they will replace them under the 100k engine warranty.