Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Seafoam in intake, runaway engine

[JCurry]

Ok well i read on a few other forums about guys using seafoam in their cummins and powerstroke trucks with good results. Some people dont like it but i know from about 5 other cars i have put it in. . it really helps on a gas engine.

While reading i read where people were saying its bad for the vp44 so its not good to run in the fuel. One guy mentioned that he poured it in slowly while his truck was running and it made a big difference. Well i am a newbie to these diesel truck and i tried that. DUMBASS.



The seafoam works like a fuel and gave me a runaway engine. I could not turn the truck off and it ended up going past redline!! I was just behind the wheel crying while this was happening. Well after a few seconds it run out and truck died. Well started it and took it for a run and it had a miss at idle.

So i talked to a few people and decided i would replace the push rods and adjusted the valves. I did that and it ran great for about 4 days. I went to the mountains this weekend and it ran fine the whole way there. Idled great and ran like a champ up all the hills.

On the way home i went to pass some cars up a hill and noticed it was "in and out" of power with throttle in same position. I have my Quadzilla Adrenaline turned up to 2 but egt were not above 1200 (i always keep it under 1250). Once we got to the light there is a slight miss when it first hits idle then it idles fine. I am wondering what else the problem could be since i just replaced the push rods and the APPS sensor. I like to do all my work myself to save $ and so if something goes wrong i have an idea of what went wrong. I am not sure if its my IP getting weak or if i actually did some damage to the head? The miss is nothing near how it was before replacing the push rods but its an annoyance and i want my truck purring again like it was. What can i check next? No codes at all so im not sure what is next. Thanks! Sucks my first post has to be a problem and that i put seafoam in my intake. I will NEVER do that again and have learned my lesson, but now i need my truck back to perfect again.



Thanks guys!! Any help is much appreciated!



2001 Cummins 4x4 Short Bed Extended cab 5 speed, 53 Block, 238k, 4" down,5" Strait pipe, Holley Black (backup) AirDog 150, BD IC Boots, BHAF, Quadzilla Adrenaline, Weld 18" wheels on 325/65/18s,EGT, Fuel Pressure & Boost Gauges, Boost Elbow, 2" leveling kit

 

[KevinSmith]

any codes?

 

[rkressg]

Just as a little advice, I see you have a Manual. You could always put it 5, and drop the clutch, it should stall the engine (it will be painful, but should kill it).

Check the codes by turning the ignition on-off-on-off-on with out starting. The codes will show up on the Odometer. There will be two sets of codes that come up, each followed by P-DONE then E-DONE.

 

[JCurry]

Thanks! Only code i have is 1693. As far as putting it in 5th, i would have done that but had my water tank on my trailer and it was still hooked to my cistern so i would have ripped the hose off and broke even more. If i was thinking i would have unhooked it before i put the seafoam in.

 

[WILLD420]

If you were pouring it into the turbo, you could have thrown a BIG HEAVY phone book up onto the intake, but it might have just eaten it. Then you would be out a turbo and an engine.

 

[JCurry]

LOL nice! Ok checked valve lash today and exhaust on a few were a little tight but set them all back to specs and still have the same issue with the miss @ idle. Truck runs great until it hits idle and after a half a min or so of missing it stops and idles fine again. Anyone know what else i can try? I got the dreaded 216 code but would the seafoam cause this to happen or is it just luck not on my side?

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Fairly likely some of your valves made contact with the piston and might have tweaked one or two so now it doesn't seat consistently every time. Just guessing.

Here's another thing while on this subject, I tried spraying a bit of carb cleaner down the intake of a 6. 2L GM diesel and it caused it to rev and detonate violently. Putting any sort of petroleum or flammable liquid in the intake of a diesel is asking for trouble.

 

[JCurry]

would replacing the head fix that? and will a head from an 02 work fine in an 01? thanks for the help!

 

[JCurry]

What would it cost to have new valves in the heads if i did most of the work myself? I like to work on my own stuff and hate taking it in. Im not sure if they are bent, will i need machine work or should i since the truck has 238k on it?

 

[AH64ID]

How far past redline are you talking?

 

[JCurry]

it went past where the gauge goes so i have no idea. Truck still runs fine at 1000 rpm + but its at idle where the problem is.

 

[AH64ID]

If you turned the key off the fuel pressure could have dropped to 0 and done some damage to the VP44 as it spun... just a guess. .

 

[JCurry]

Ahh i see. Fuel pressure did drop to 0 when i turned the key because my airdog was then off. Anyone here have a used VP44 that works they want to sell? I need to replace it anyway but hate to buy a brand new one for $1000 and the problem be something wrong in the head. Thanks for the advice im gonna look for a new VP.

 

[surfbeetle]

The injection pump requires diesel to lubricate and cool the pump. If you were running only SeaFoam, then you don't have either as it's a detergent more than a lubricant. My vote is that you injection pump is bad. I had a school bus run away past the redline, they ended up replacing the injection pump.

 

[Alphacowboy]

another tip, if you had the intake off, a piece of plywood over the turbo will also stop a run away (usually)



I am also going to bet on the injection pump, spinning at those RPMs with NO fuel lubricating it had to have been bad!

 

[JCurry]

VP44 Ordered, will see if it fixes issue, and if it doesnt its going to the dealer. Im gonna need one anyway since i get the 216 code and have driven 2500 miles since i got the code. So its due before im stranded somewhere and kicking myself. Worth a try, will post results.
______

 

[Joe Mc]

silly me - what the heck is "seafoam" ? ? ?

 

[rkressg]

Sea Foam Sales - Motor Treatment/Deep Creep/Trans Tune/Bugs-B-Gone - Sea Foam

 

[JCurry]

I got a used pump and its from an 01 and it is a SO pump. I have heard there are 20 different keys for the vp44 pumps. Is there any way of knowing that i have the right pump and key? If it came out of an 01 i would think they would be the same but i have been wrong plenty of times. Is there a puller other than the blue chip that i can use to get the pump off? Maybe someone local? Thanks for the help!

 

[JCurry]

Went out today to start my truck and move it to the front so i could install new fender flares and it wont start! It wont crank at all when i turn the key. So i thought maybe it needed a jump, so i got my buddies dodge and tried to jump it, and wont turn over. My airdog comes on but engine doesnt even try to turn over. Anyone know what it could be?