I know that some of you guys want that, but for the most part, I'm happy without it....

I first noticed it this summer pulling the 5th wheel - about 7800#
I was pulling onto the highway from a side road. Wound it up to around 2000 in 1st gear. As I was changing gears I looked in the mirror to see how the trailer was coming around and there was a huge cloud of black wrapping over my box.
After that I started keeping a closer eye on my exhaust. I noticed that under about 1800-2000 rpm the smoke was quite heavy & black. Once the turbo started waking up, the exhaust cleaned right up.

It took several tanks running empty before the truck started to "clean up" and the smoke was a big issue (to me).
I also noticed about the same time that the truck had quite a puff of black on firing up (cold or hot). This too diminished quite a bit over the several tanks.

Then today again I hauled the trailer about 80 miles. Up some good grades (longest was about 3 miles at 7%) from sea level up to about 4500'.
I noticed about the end of the trip again that the smoke levels seemed to be back.
I can't give you EGT temps or pressure, etc. no real gauges.
I can say that the engine earned it's keep (& so did the turbo).

The truck has averaged just over 17mpg this year (total mileage / total fuel purchased).

I don't know if there any mods. None that I know of. However, I wonder if PO did put bigger injectors in.

Only about 10K on the rebuild. (cracked block).

Thanks for bearing with the long post.

 

I got this, i'll post it later. Its nothing to worry about though

 

Air filter dirty?
Towing like you are without gauges is taking a big risk.
Try cleaning the MAP & IAT and see if that helps.
Start saving for gauges.

 

I know I need guages.... but since (I believe) the truck is stock, I wasn't too worried that I was stressing anything too much.

Air filter is only about 2 months old - AMSOIL EA drop in.

I did pull the sensors about 3 or 4 months ago and cleaned them. Wouldn't hurt to check them again.

Good tips. Thanks.

 

At the very least put a test gauge in and check your fuel pressure. Even on stock trucks they fail. Quite often too.

 

That is something I should do - regardless. Good reminder.


A thought occurred to me today.... a few times in the last month or two I've noticed the tach flicker a bit while cruising along at a steady speed. Just 1 or 2 hundred rpm and just for a brief moment before settling down again...
I wonder if my CPS should be replaced??