Sudden power loss while towing

[MountainSP]

Had the truck for about 2 months. Pulled the job trailer twice about (4500#). First time on slight hill while accelerating I got the engine code for a bad EGR. A couple cycles later it went away. Today was pulling up a slightly steeper hill locked in 4th in tow/haul with exhaust brake on and lost power. Downshifted to 3rd ...Nothing. barely hitting 15mph with foot on the floor. Pulled to a stop, truck started lugging for a couple seconds. Saw a big cloud of smoke out the exhaust,gave it a lil gas and it started running fine. No problems without trailer. Truck is bone stock with 166000 miles.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Knowing what you have for a truck would be really helpful. Also, is it stock.......as in, not deleted? If you got black smoke, you got problems on a non-deleted truck.

 

[MountainSP]

Knowing what you have for a truck would be really helpful. Also, is it stock.......as in, not deleted? If you got black smoke, you got problems on a non-deleted truck.

Sorry I thought I had it in my sig. 2012 ram 3500 4x4 QCLB auto. Completely stock

 

[DonFitzwater]

What color was the smoke out of the exhaust?

 

[MountainSP]

What color was the smoke out of the exhaust?

Gray...Ish I saw it out of the corner of my eye and not that much. The truck chugged a couple times like it was about to die and then started running fine.

 

[RVTRKN]

When was the last time you had the EGR System serviced, I would at the first available opportunity go through the system and clean it properly and throughly.*

 

[AH64ID]

Have you checked the fuel filter?

 

[MountainSP]

When was the last time you had the EGR System serviced, I would at the first available opportunity go through the system and clean it properly and throughly.*

Bought it in January so never. By "system" do you mean the EGR valve or everything including cooler ,piping etc.?

 

[Bmoore2]

I had a really good friend who was experiencing symptoms just as the OP described. It was his fuel filters.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Fill in sig that we can ALL see.

 

[RVTRKN]

Bought it in January so never. By "system" do you mean the EGR valve or everything including cooler ,piping etc.?

If it's new to you, and you have no history, then definitely do the EGR service. There's two kits one with the CCV filter and one without. Here the links.
https://www.genosgarage.com/product/egr1/crankcase-vent-filter

https://www.genosgarage.com/product/egr-cleaning-kit-egr2/crankcase-vent-filter

Clean intake horn & inlet as well. At this time, tap a 1/8 NPT in horn for a boost pressure gauge before the EGR inlet. If you don't use it, install a plug for later install of a boost pressure gauge.

 

[EDankievitch]

I had a loss of power on my 13 comong home one night left stop light and this small car goes to pass me I mash the throttle and the truck just dies out... Back off and it comes back to life. I nursed it home and found the engine filter was plugged up and starting to collapse. That said start with fuel filters.

 

[MountainSP]

Thank you all for the replies. Checked the fuel filter....Black as night. Replaced it and just finished a 4 hour tow without a hiccup! I will clean EGR next

 

[RVTRKN]

Filter/filters should be replaced every 15K miles as a general rule. A student of mine complained that his California spec 2004 CTD had no power any more as when it was brand new. I asked him how many miles he had on his fuel filter, and his response was "what filter". He had over 65K miles on the original fuel filter, after he replaced it, it ran like was new.*

 

[Jeff Gurr]

I had no idea joining this "club" would be so informative. Man I love reading this stuff. Thank you everyone!

 

[RVTRKN]

Welcome to TDR, it's money well spent.*

 

[Newsa]

Thank you all for the replies. Checked the fuel filter....Black as night. Replaced it and just finished a 4 hour tow without a hiccup! I will clean EGR next

I replace my fuel filters every summer after 7500-9000 miles of annual driving. The front filter is always still white to slightly yellowish gray. I never cut apart the rear filter, but i think the rear one catches most of the debris.

 

[repo4sale]

Delete the EPA system! I did and 0 problems with 25_28mpg sometimes over 30mpg Google= cummins delete Skiatook Oklahoma

 

[Bob4x4]

Delete the EPA system! I did and 0 problems with 25_28mpg sometimes over 30mpg Google= cummins delete Skiatook Oklahoma

You are sounding like a broken record...............Just a heads up emission tampering is a federal offense.One bust will not make it very cost effective

 

[gsbrockman]

Delete the EPA system! I did and 0 problems with 25_28mpg sometimes over 30mpg Google= cummins delete Skiatook Oklahoma

#ad