micah

disclaimer... i'm new to diesel.

so I know most people love the black smoke... and from what I gather that is a sign of dumping enough fuel to make big power. Of course, I also gather that to make the most use of it all, you would want enough air to help burn it all.

regardless, my question is this. my truck is stock (as far as I know) minus the K&N and the straight 3 inch pipe. At the bottom of each gear, until my turbo gets going, my truck will blow plenty of black smoke. is this really a good thing in my case or is it a sign of a 141,000 mile motor that is just not as tight as it use to be? If it is a sign of age, would it still be safe to install some RV275's, a VA, and eventually a 4 inch straight exhaust (all after guages of course)? Unless I fall into a bunch of $ sometime soon, I expect to be running the stock turbo for a while (HX-35?), with a little WG mods of course.

Saxet Nomad

No boost guage? How's it running? Sluggish? You might have a leaking intercooler boot causing you not to get much boost...or the sticking wastegate...my boot was leaking before 10k miles and any mods were done...was doing the same thing...

graphitecumnz

I guess it depends on what you consider 'a lot' of black smoke.

My 02 would blow a little smoke when stock on a hot(90+) afternoon. Just a function of air density. What have the temps been like in Austin??

A boost leak would cause smoke. If you had a boost gauge, you'd notice it for sure.

any other issues like low fuel mileage??

micah

actually the truck runs great, pulls strong, and gets great mileage.

its not 'a lot' of smoke by any means... just a steady puff of smoke at the bottom of each gear, more if i'm in the throttle more. no gauges yet... just got the truck.

2500Ram

Not to hyjack but my 02 is smoking more, seems less power and definitally less MPG, only gauge so far is FP. So check the intercooler boot, help a fellow newb out. Where is that, front of the turbo twards the rad? What torque? Is that the rubber boot with the 2 clamps?

phox_mulder

There are 4 rubber boots.

One from the turbo to the connector tube,
one from the connector tube to the intercooler (by the radiator),
one from the intercooler (other side) to the connector tube,
one from that tube to the intake horn.

Check them for wear spots, bulging, and for tightness on both ends (shouldn't be able to move them), and the clamps that hold them on both ends for tightness as well.

Not sure on the torque for them, but "good-n-tite then a little more" is usually perfect.


phox

2500Ram

Just went out and checked and yes there are 4 clamps

From the turbo forward between the first 2 clamps there is a rubber boot, very soft and can squeeze it, bulge in the middle. From there forward hard black looks like plastic could be metal. 3 of the 4 clamps are accessed from the top, the very front on from the bottom.

Does that make sence? Will tighten them up.

blackdiesel

how much is a lot of smoke? anything like this:

or a lot less?

phox_mulder

There should be 4 on each side of the engine for a total of 8.

4 rubber boots with a clamp on each end.


phox

2500Ram

THANK YOU PHOX!!

I tightened the 5 on the pass side, drove the truck around, let it warm up again and WOT. Big power difference, couldn't really tell with the smoke but the turbo is screaming now, it's dark in this neck of the woods. After reading your reply here I tightened the other 4, drivers side, no test drive until the AM, had a few All 9 were loose as could be. Only question is on the pass side all the clamps were spring loaded meaning there was a tension spring before the clamp beween the nut and the clamp. On the drivers side no springs?

Either way where was a HUGE difference in power with just having the pass side tight, can't wait until tomorrow to see what it really drives like. I could actually break the rear tires again.

Again thanks phox and everyone on this site.

Thanks again.

cumminsdriver635

Micah: If you are getting good mileage, and have good power, then that just means you have a healthy VP44, and lift pump . It has nothing to do with the motor bieng loose, and you still have a long ways to go before that anyway Bomb the heck out of it.

Eric

storx

sprink loaded clamps are better then normal clamps... they apply the preassure more even and prevent from overtorque kinda "in a way"........i replaced all of mine to the spring clamps......just order them through napa i payed like 3 and some change per clamp....

2500Ram

So they wouldn't be stock then? Just curious as I'm the 2nd owner and don't have any details from the PO other than he lived in AZ and I'm in CO.

phox_mulder

I'd have to check mine, but it kinda makes sense that only the passenger side would have the springs.

That side is pre intercooler, so it has to fight to get the air through,
driver side the engine is sucking the air in pretty quick, so it doesn't need to handle as much pressure.

By 5, I assume you're talking about the one on the inlet side of the turbo,
that one's important, but you wouldn't have a boost leak there, if it was loose, you'd be sucking unfiltered air into the turbo.


phox

2500Ram

Sorry for my turbo ignorance but all 5 clamps were on the same line/tube on the passenger side. The 5th one I think were talking about was on a down tube from the turbo, metal connecter to metal maybe 6 inches away. Next 2 were on a rubber boot with the bulge, next right infront of the intercoller (I think that's what it's called) from the top, last one from the bottom, next to the rad (intercoller)