1997 2500 no power, white smoke
 

On my way to work yesterday it felt like the turbo wasn't producing enough boost. On the way home (I live up a steep hill in Hawaii) I was forced to put it in 2nd gear to make it up the grade. This morning, the engine starts and runs but bogs down when I try to revv it up. This is my only vehicle and so I'm stranded up here so I need help. Gotta get to work, wife and infant son coming in to Kona from Colorado tomorrow and I can't even go pick them up...too much info that isn't necessary, I know. Suffice it to say I'm in trouble here. Injector pump? Oh, and there was a horrendous noise coming from the rear, too. But then it seemed to be coming from the front! Bizarre. No codes. Idiot light was on for oil. It leaks, so goes through oil. I will take it out and see what I can in the daylight with a fresh perspective now.

Took it around the block. No noises, lots a white smoke and no power. Bogs down when fuel applied. Seems to be plenty of fuel but its not burning efficiently hence white smoke. I'm stumped. Maybe I should check compression. But it wouldn't start well if there's a cracked piston? Any ideas?

basics: white smoke = air leak sometimes water (condensation). really bad smell, cracked head/gasket letting through coolant. greasy smoke.


soooooo, soapy water bottle and spray head to see if bubbles appear at any spot. if it runs, this area will also mess with the running engine....

after head, spray fuel rail, injectors and pump....

can be as simple as tightening the injector nuts, good luck man

happy reunion!!!!! faxing you a 'Do Not Disturb' sign......

Gotta be rings. Blowing way too much smoke. Need an engine overhaul. Crap.

WHOA! Before you condemn the rings, take your intake hose off the output of the turbo and see if it is oily....... if the Turbo is shot, it could very easily be passing oil into the engine to be burnt.

Don't freak out just yet..........

I bet the bearings are gone out of your turbo. It will dump oil into the intake and smoke like crazy.

I sure hope its the Turbo...it starts and runs fine...always thought the engine would outlive the truck

When I started noticing loss of power it felt like Turbo was dying

If you shut the turbo down hot it "cokes" the bearings (turns the oil left on the bearings into tiny little abrasive grit that eats them up. On my 96 I never shut down until the turbo gets under 300....

Can I rebuild the Turbo?

So we are talking about the intercooler being run through with oil? And then the air intake after the intercooler will have oil in it?

That doesn't really explain the low power problem in my mind, unless the turbo has grenaded to the point where it no longer turns. Pull the intake duct off the turbo and give the shaft a spin, see how it feels. My money is on a fuel problem, like maybe the timing has slipped badly, or the fuel pressure has dropped to zero.

I hate the idea that the oil light was on. Could it have gotten low enough on oil that the engine and turbo were starved?

Yes. Oil starved because the engine leaks and I drove it without making sure. On a normal day it should have been fine but apparently it wasn't a normal day and the seal must be bad on the turbo because I just checked and after the intercooler, there is oil in the air intake. Again, the engine starts fine and runs, so I bet its just a bad turbo.

Yeh you cant get parts from holset, online, ebay....etc. you can find used turbos on Craigslist or farm auctions. Just be sure to grab the shaft and make sure there is no fore and aft play in it or you might run into problems.

FWIW diesel engines with a bad turbo dont have nearly the same power as with a good one. That turbo helps out alot. Drive an older model non turbo vehicle and youll see a big difference.

My first diesel was a 1986 f-250 with a 6.9 liter. Predecessor to the powerstroke but normally aspirated and I bought a banks Sidewinder for it.

Found out new turbo is $1075 plus shipping