One of my work trucks started running rough the other day. It is a 1990 Dodge CTD. I think it is a bad injector, but I need help to find out for sure. It started missing and makes tons of white smoke. It also seems to be dumping diesel in the oil, which leads me to believe I have an injector just squirting. Right now the truck is parked but I need to get it fixed right away as it is costing me money everyday it sits. I would take it in to a mechanic but in a town of 400, the only mechanic is not the brightest crayon in the box.

Am I on the right track here or should I look for other things as well. The truck ONLY has 300,000 miles so I can't believe any thing would be wore out

 

Does the truck start up somewhat normal or is it real hard to start ? While it is running crack a line one at a time at each injector and see if it changes the running of the truck. The front seal may be bad in the pump if you are filling the crankcase. White smoke is unburnt fuel which can be caused by air in the fuel or late timing as well. If you find a cylinder when you crack a line that makes little or no change in the running swap it with another cylinder retest if the problem moves you have found a bad injector.

 

Head gasket? How's the coolant level?

 

In reply to the above posts,
It's a bit hard starting. Coolant is good. What is involved in swapping injectors around? It don't "look" too bad to do. Would the front seal make the truck miss and run rough?

 

Check the lift pump first. If the diaphram ruptures, it can pump fuel into the oil and deny the injection pump of the same. To answer your question, yes, the front seal blowing out on the injection pump could cause the symptoms you're seeing.

 

Yes and if the front seal is leaking fuel it will spill over in the front gear housing and into the crankcase which will raise and thin the oil you would have to remove the pump but that seal is easy to replace. To remove an injector you need to remove the fuel line and then the large nut at the cylinder head then the injector is pulled straight up do not try to rotate it because it has a ball on the side of it that fits into a slot in the head. There is a rubber seal ring between the large nut and the injector i use a dental pick to remove it and spray some penitrateing oil there (do the line nuts also) because sometimes the nut is stuck to the injector and the injector will try to turn in the head .
When you pull the injector there will be a copper shim/gasket either on the end of it or in the head make sure you have only 1 per injector as they can stick to either . When reinstalling i always use a little anti seize on the body and nut makes things real easy the next time around. Make sure you keep everything completely clean even as you take things apart.

 

Thanks! you have been tons of help. I'll let you know what I find