Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Sudden Power Loss Engine Died

[MMcCallie]

Last night i filled up on another tank of B100 and had problems on my way home. I'm most suspicious that i got bad fuel. Just put brand new fuel filters on about 2 weeks ago. Coming up I-25 i suddenly lost power. Truck wouldn't go 60 mph up hills. Was so bad i pulled off into a parking lot and inspected.



Found nothing out of the usual, just a leaky top bolt on my front valve cover. I tried power braking and it would get up to about 24 psi and then the engine died. I knew something was very wrong so i got back on the interestate.



Got so bad that i couldn't go 45 mph. Truck was chuggin and shaking horribly as it got into a higher RPMs with more load for the speed. Boost still seemed responsive. I thought i had blown the head gasket but saw no leaks. Oil pressure was stil perfect as was engine coolant temperature. Transmission temperature was around 127. All levels check out. No sign of water or fuel on the oil dipstick.



I had turned off my water injection, thinking i had used too much. EGTs ran higher than usual. Got worse after i turned off my water injection.



Felt like power was being sucked out, very dramatic. Power kept fading until i could not get more RPMs with the throttle pedal and the engine got quiter and slower down to a slight purr and finally quit running. Engine died on the interstate so i coasted across a median and into an empty parking lot.



I called a tow truck and checked things out while waiting. I primmed the lift pump from underneath where i have an additional fuel filter and couldn't tell if the see through filter was full or empty. Strangely, the truck started and seemed perfectly healthy. I had the tow truck follow me down the road but the truck still misbehaved over 40 mph. 5 houurs later and $200 for a 33 mile tow i was home.



What can i check? What is most likely the cause? Smoke was light charcoal when revving in the parking lot but at idle more of a light blue-grey haze-usually more white. Could i have plugged my new fuel filters after a dozen or so tanks of B100? Truck idled like it was healthy for over an hour. Oh, i also tried the water separator valve a couple times. First time without the engine running and it just let out some air. Second time it was so dark i couldn't tell if it was fuel or not but it poured as a thin, steady stream like water would.



Ideas?

Thanks,

Matt

 

[KYOUNG]

I would change fuel filters first... ... ...

 

[MMcCallie]

Yep, solved my own problem. The 3/8" gas inline fuel filter i'd installed was plugged. Boy was i surprised since these filters were brand new as of about 2 weeks ago. It is a clear plastic see through filter. Had turned from bright white to grimy black.

I let the dirty filter sit upside down, the way it normally flows for about 45 minutes and it still had fuel in it. Tried to blow through it and was never able to get all of the fuel out or feel much air on the other side. Also replaced the engine mounted filter.

Test drove and had way more power, 37. 5 psi boost, and EGTs well over 1,500. Still very little smoke. Strong light colored haze at idle and in slow traffic, still light in color when hammering it hard even without the water injection on. Doesn't smoke like it used to, probably needs pump tuning.