Deadeye
10-31-2005, 03:57 PM
My truck has had white smoke when I started it in the morning for some time. This past weekend it dumped a lot of white smoke while coming down from the Rocky Mountains. The problem has been identified and I fixed it last nite.
Lennert and Neils (sp?) arrived from Germany late last week and SD and I took them up to his hunting area on Saturday. On the way down the mountain my truck died. We changed the fuel filter but it still died. It stalled probably two dozen times and Michael pushed the priming pump that many times. But we got it down to the highway and SD re-hosed around his lift pump (I had pulled the wiring off it and all the other mods for a dealer visit). We got down the road a ways and it was running ok but it was still showing a lot of white smoke at times.
We stopped for dinner at Dillon. When we tried to leave. It would not run for more than 5 seconds and would then die. I did not have any spare parts/components except filters and hand tools so when we decided to re-connect the lift pump and wire it to the battery it was 10:30pm and all the stores were shut down. Got some tape and stripped wire off the windshield heater/fan. Michael got the Lift pump running and we made it home by 1:30am (same time I made it to bed the previous nite after hangin’ out with these same guys!)
I got to tell you I was quite relieved getting home but boy was I tired! The truck died at about 8,000 ft on a muddy, snowed dirt road several hundred miles from home and a long ways from the main highway!!!!
While driving home Michael and I discussed the cause. We both knew that somehow air was getting into the fuel line but it was dark, cold, wet and we did not have the right place to be able to locate the source of the problem. I did suggest to Michael there was likely more than one cause to this problem (seems typical to me).
Sunday morning I started searching for the cause. I first cut open both fuel filters (stock and lift pump). The lift one had been replaced a week earlier but was ok. The stock one was filled with crap. I had been doing some alternative fuel experimentation and was planning on having the dealer replace it this week (filter warranty recall). OK, one problem.
Looking under the truck I saw fuel on the garage floor. Then I saw it all over the tank, drive shaft, axle and pumpkin! So I started looking for the source. This truck has a first generation Super Tank which Michael helped install this past April. The leak was on the top of the tank where the aftermarket fuel hose connected to the stock fuel intake line. The connection was quite loose!! -:t Another problem.
It took me the rest of the day to lower the 53 gal tank that was ¾ filled and get to the source of the problem. I realized that the instructions and plan from Super Tank was not very wise. We followed their instructions but they instructed just cutting the stock tube, slide a hose over it and screw down the clamp. Another problem. The tube should have a barb or flare on the end.
Anyhow, once I got it done and got all the diesel fuel and mountain dirt off me I went for a drive. It ran fine. No white smoke when I started it this morning. Maybe by tomarrow morning I will recover from this weekend.):h
I think that Michael’s lift pump not only let use get home, but also kept the problem from surfacing earlier because it was always running and forcing fuel past the leak point. The clogged fuel filter probably allowed the lift fuel pump, before it was electrically disconnected, to force the leak point to expand. The temp near freezing probably let the fuel line contract a small amount from the fuel hose. Up in the mountain the temp, disconnected lift pump, and bouncing trail allowed the CP3 to suck in more air and stall the engine. Anyhow, that’s my theory and I am holding to it !!! :ro)
Seems life is always attacked by more than one problem at a time. :p: Unfortunately, we sometimes only hear the last shoe fall! ;)
My lessons learned:
1) carry more material & spare parts
2) If called at 10am to go to the mtns at noon, take the time to grab recovery stuff, tools, warm clothes, box of materials (wire, clamps, tape, tarp for laying under the truck, etc. . . .
3) When invading the fuel line, make absolutely sure connectors are stout. If clamping a hose to a tube, put a flare or barb on the end of the tube.
4) Don’t wait to replace the filter . . . do it!
5) Carry spare fuel filters AND A DECENT WRENCH: http://www.gmdieseltech.com/store2/cart.php?target=product&action=view&product_id=16249&category_id=258 or maybe this is even better: http://www.gmdieseltech.com/store2/cart.php?target=product&action=view&product_id=16250&category_id=258 (Eric you will hear from me soon!!)
6) I didn’t understand the need for this before: http://www.gmdieseltech.com/store2/cart.php?target=product&action=view&product_id=16263&category_id=258
7) Check and make sure about #1
I am sure glad I had several friends there to help. That may be a lesson learned, as well.
Anyhow, I will remember this experience for quite a while!
White Smoke is GONE!!
Lennert and Neils (sp?) arrived from Germany late last week and SD and I took them up to his hunting area on Saturday. On the way down the mountain my truck died. We changed the fuel filter but it still died. It stalled probably two dozen times and Michael pushed the priming pump that many times. But we got it down to the highway and SD re-hosed around his lift pump (I had pulled the wiring off it and all the other mods for a dealer visit). We got down the road a ways and it was running ok but it was still showing a lot of white smoke at times.
We stopped for dinner at Dillon. When we tried to leave. It would not run for more than 5 seconds and would then die. I did not have any spare parts/components except filters and hand tools so when we decided to re-connect the lift pump and wire it to the battery it was 10:30pm and all the stores were shut down. Got some tape and stripped wire off the windshield heater/fan. Michael got the Lift pump running and we made it home by 1:30am (same time I made it to bed the previous nite after hangin’ out with these same guys!)
I got to tell you I was quite relieved getting home but boy was I tired! The truck died at about 8,000 ft on a muddy, snowed dirt road several hundred miles from home and a long ways from the main highway!!!!
While driving home Michael and I discussed the cause. We both knew that somehow air was getting into the fuel line but it was dark, cold, wet and we did not have the right place to be able to locate the source of the problem. I did suggest to Michael there was likely more than one cause to this problem (seems typical to me).
Sunday morning I started searching for the cause. I first cut open both fuel filters (stock and lift pump). The lift one had been replaced a week earlier but was ok. The stock one was filled with crap. I had been doing some alternative fuel experimentation and was planning on having the dealer replace it this week (filter warranty recall). OK, one problem.
Looking under the truck I saw fuel on the garage floor. Then I saw it all over the tank, drive shaft, axle and pumpkin! So I started looking for the source. This truck has a first generation Super Tank which Michael helped install this past April. The leak was on the top of the tank where the aftermarket fuel hose connected to the stock fuel intake line. The connection was quite loose!! -:t Another problem.
It took me the rest of the day to lower the 53 gal tank that was ¾ filled and get to the source of the problem. I realized that the instructions and plan from Super Tank was not very wise. We followed their instructions but they instructed just cutting the stock tube, slide a hose over it and screw down the clamp. Another problem. The tube should have a barb or flare on the end.
Anyhow, once I got it done and got all the diesel fuel and mountain dirt off me I went for a drive. It ran fine. No white smoke when I started it this morning. Maybe by tomarrow morning I will recover from this weekend.):h
I think that Michael’s lift pump not only let use get home, but also kept the problem from surfacing earlier because it was always running and forcing fuel past the leak point. The clogged fuel filter probably allowed the lift fuel pump, before it was electrically disconnected, to force the leak point to expand. The temp near freezing probably let the fuel line contract a small amount from the fuel hose. Up in the mountain the temp, disconnected lift pump, and bouncing trail allowed the CP3 to suck in more air and stall the engine. Anyhow, that’s my theory and I am holding to it !!! :ro)
Seems life is always attacked by more than one problem at a time. :p: Unfortunately, we sometimes only hear the last shoe fall! ;)
My lessons learned:
1) carry more material & spare parts
2) If called at 10am to go to the mtns at noon, take the time to grab recovery stuff, tools, warm clothes, box of materials (wire, clamps, tape, tarp for laying under the truck, etc. . . .
3) When invading the fuel line, make absolutely sure connectors are stout. If clamping a hose to a tube, put a flare or barb on the end of the tube.
4) Don’t wait to replace the filter . . . do it!
5) Carry spare fuel filters AND A DECENT WRENCH: http://www.gmdieseltech.com/store2/cart.php?target=product&action=view&product_id=16249&category_id=258 or maybe this is even better: http://www.gmdieseltech.com/store2/cart.php?target=product&action=view&product_id=16250&category_id=258 (Eric you will hear from me soon!!)
6) I didn’t understand the need for this before: http://www.gmdieseltech.com/store2/cart.php?target=product&action=view&product_id=16263&category_id=258
7) Check and make sure about #1
I am sure glad I had several friends there to help. That may be a lesson learned, as well.
Anyhow, I will remember this experience for quite a while!
White Smoke is GONE!!