Excursion 12v/nv4500

[Gots_a_sol]

So the question now to tickle the mind is, would this failure have happened if this engine was still in the dodge. Hmm...



I'll pull the injection pump tomorrow and replace the tappet cover gasket. I knew I should have done these things while the engine was out

[PToombs]

So the question now to tickle the mind is, would this failure have happened if this engine was still in the dodge. Hmm...

Well, duh! No, it wouldn't have happened, the ford contaminated it! 6.0's blow head gaskets all the time!

[Gots_a_sol]

Yea, just bad luck I suppose. I had about 500 miles on it since putting it in the Ex.


With the head off, I was able to get the tappet cover off without pulling the pump.




No pic, but the tappet cover is back on with a new gasket and a generous helping of right stuff. Also have the head back on and torqued down, valves re-adjusted and the covers back on.

Smashed the ford coolant temp sender in the process. I looked at it, said "self, you should take that out. Nah it'll be fine" then not even 2 seconds later it was dead

[PToombs]

Damn you work fast! Glad you got it back together.
I learned long ago, when self talks, I listen, 'cause that sob is usually right!

[Gots_a_sol]

So I finally quit being lazy and finished putting this back together. It starts and runs again BUT it is a blowing out a a fair bit of pressure from the oil fill at idle (enough to float the fill cap a bit) and is blowing white-ish smoke out the exhaust like crazy when I rev it up. Off to do research


I'm assuming the blow by started before/while it over heated as that would probably explain the blown out tappet cover gasket.

[Gots_a_sol]

Starting to think I have an injector gone bad and it wasn't actually a head gasket issue. I don't have a ton of diesel diagnosis experience and just assumed the missing/blowing white smoke was water in the cylinder, but the reading I'm doing says that a bad injector would do the same thing. The overheating is still a puzzle, not sure if the bad injector would have caused that.

The piston that was damp had a little bit of diesel in the bowl of the piston which I didn't think anything about at the time. I'm assuming that cylinder is also the source of the blow by now.

[dazedandconfused]

Crack each injector open and see if it changes the way it runs.

[Gots_a_sol]

Cracked all the injectors one at a time and each one made it stumble. It seemed like it may have stumbled less on some than others, but hard to say. Temp gun shows all cylinders are within 10 degrees of each other too.

It seems to be smoking less now. Idle has smoothed out but it seems to still miss/smoke some when you rev it up. I'm going to heat cycle it once more then drive it and see what it does.

[Gots_a_sol]

Drove it just now and there is definitely a problem. As soon as you put a load on it it starts missing and carrying on. Couldn't tell on smoke as it is dark now.

Also noted it did not start right up like it used to (half a crank). Took a few seconds of cranking then it was idling rough for a bit before straightening out.


*edit* Ordered a set of injectors from DAP and a fuel pressure gauge. I figure even if the injectors aren't the issue, at 330k they were probably due to be rebuilt/replaced.

[PToombs]

Sounds like it has an air leak in the suction side of the fuel, slow start, stumble are symptoms.

[thrashingcows]

I agree...sounds like air getting into the fuel. I have a slow air leak in my crewcab....if it sits for more then 2 days and I go to start it, it will takes 1 to 2 cranks to fire, then stumble and run rough for a few seconds until the air gets cleared out. It blows white/grey smoke during this.

[Gots_a_sol]

Injectors are in and eventually I got it to fire up. Seems to idle MUCH smoother now but still as soon as I rev it up it stumbles/falls on its face.

I temporarily hooked up the fuel pressure gauge under the hood so I could watch it (tapped banjo on the line before the fuel filter). It idles at 4 psi and as soon as I rev it up, it drops to 0. Like the second it starts revving above idle it drops. Once I slow it back to idle the pressure comes back. Would an air leak do that or is the lift pump shows its age too? *edit* I'm going to swap out my return line for clear line and see if its passing air tomorrow.

[Gots_a_sol]

Still not fixed. I haven't needed the truck lately, so just been driving my jetta, which I lifted and put bigger tires on I get about 35 mpg towing the bike, which doesn't hurt my feelings too much.




Replaced the fitting at the lift pump as it had gotten wonky from constant removal. Better, but still appears to be sucking air. Going to rig it up to suck right it out of a fuel can and work my way back to the tank.


I did stick a THD piston pump on there since I had it and already had the line off.





OH and this last time I had it idling it started puking coolant out the weep hole on the water pump. Come on truck, give me a break already

[thrashingcows]

35mpg's in your Jetta is nothing to scoff at...

Sometimes you can't win for trying. At least a water pump is cheap and easy to swap...well on a conventional 12V in a dodge at least..... I just noticed a weird squeak/grind when I walked in front of the grille while warming up this evening...one of my accessories is on it's way out.

[Gots_a_sol]

Water pump was still an easy swap. Especially with no mechanical fan to get in the way.


I finally moved the truck back in to the garage to figure out this damn fuel issue. I hooked a line straight to the lift pump and in to a fuel jug. STILL have the same issue. It idles at 10 psi but as soon as you start revving it pressure starts dropping and it starts stumbling. That leaves 2 fittings, the one that threads in to the pump and the one on the end of the line. I ordered replacements and hope that fixes this thing.