Maybe its me, maybe its this winter blend fuel. But recently my truck wont get out of its own way. It used to get up and haul you know what while pulling 8 to 10k on the trailer. This past trip I thought I was loaded very heavy, cause she didnt have much pep.....only pulling 7k total.

Does the winter blended fuels kill power that much? MPG is still healthy, fuel filter is about 6,500 miles old, and its drained frequently. I notice a lot more blueish smoke on startup(but cleans up in a reasonable amount of time), and a lot less black smoke when im in the pedal, so im guessing that I have a lack of fuel somewhere.

Maybe ill toss a new filter on, and give her a shot.

 

lack of black smoke could be the result of the colder weather this time of year...colder = more dense = more of it in the combustion chamber.

maybe a fuel supply issue?

 

Not sure its the truth but the john deere guy tolb me winter fuel costs you 12% of your horse power.

 

Possibly a torn or stuck AFC diaphram?

 

Winter blend sucks. Not sure on the 12% figure, but it does steal a fair amount of power---enough so you know when you run the first tank of summer blend come April.

 

It's really odd, but my truck has been running much better for the past month or so. More pep, slightly higher EGT's, more boost, and better fuel mileage. It is as though I suddenly got some fueling back -- I had been attributing this to colder fuel = more BTU's per gallon, but it seems so drastic, and with the fuel mileage, I was starting to wonder if fuel this summer was inferior overall. The stuff I'm burning is definitely winter blend, too, as it has been getting down in the mid 20's F at night, and I haven't had any gelling trouble . . .

It seems to me that if you are still getting the same milage, then it probably isn't the winter fuel problem, or retarded timing (clogged fuel filter, etc.) Boost leak, perhaps? Torn AFC as was suggested above?

 

Yesterday i noticed blueish smoke at idle, after truck was warmed up, and that my Pyro has been reading lower than normal. Dont get me wrong I can still get it up there, but normal driving it isnt reading normally.

Ill try a new fuel filter tomorrow morning and run it. I get diesel fuel at so many places its funny. I guess I can start there.

How can I check the AFC diaphram? The only pump cranking was done before I got the truck. Thanks

 

You would have to take the cover off the AFC housing, and visually inspect the diaphragm for tears, or take the fitting off the AFC housing where the tube from the intake attaches, and make an adapter to feed about 25 psi in and see if it leaks down.

 

I see in your sig that you have a boost guage, any change in boost, also it may sound dumb but are you getting full throttle, just the other day I was pulling about 5000lb and passing a truck on the hiway about 80mph when I suddenly lost a bunch of power, every thing was fine but no power, I took the next exit and found out my throttle cable sliped and I was only getting like half throttle. My setup is custom but it would be somthing to check , I have seen peddles bend before and limit throttle.

 

do they winterize coloured fuel?

 

Well 2 things here.

1. Replaced my fuel filter...True story, I bought a new Baldwin Fuel Filter yesterday and this AM it was 14 deg here, so I thought id let it warm up before swapping it over. Ran the truck about 100 miles, and stopped for a leak break When I got out I noticed diesel fuel pouring all over the place. I shut the truck off, and got looking, it looked like the fuel filter bottom. I removed the filter in the parking lot and noticed a crack...yep a crack right around the area where it appeared welded for my seperator. Filter went almost 6500 miles with only a snugged seperator, so i dont think it was me. I swapped over filters and no leak. I lost almost 1/2 tank of fuel on my trip. I would have noticed but my sending unit is very slow to respond, and still sat near 3/4 of a tank until I stopped.

No more Purolater Fuel filters for me, used Purolater for a few years and no problems.

But I think my blueish/white smoke with very heavy odor is my cold fuel at idle. I payed more attention to it. seems like after idleing about 5 or 10 min (temps in the 20's) it has a light haze, until i rev a lil bit and then it goes away. I deff know my power is back

 

Funny thing, I just swapped filters a couple days ago. Got a Bladwin from Fleet Pride--it replaced a Wix. I'm smelling raw fuel when the vent down by the pedals is open...maybe my fliter is cracked, or leaking in some other way. Gaskets are new, no hard starts....

 

I run nothing but wix on two trucks a dozer and 8 tractors, iv never had a single problem from them, fuel filters can cause a lot of headaches.

 

I was amazed. I know I took extra care of the seperator drain, and thought maybe it was loose, well it wasnt. I dunno maybe it was plugging up and found a weakspot, i dunno. Now it runs great

I guess thats why most truck stops sell fuel filters over the counter....trouble

 

For me I see about 1.5-2 mpg less (USG) poorer and lower idle (as much as 75-80 RPM), more smoke and less overal power.
I use a cetane improver and it almost reverses the situation so I end up with the summer "values" again.

pb...