Need some assistance. When one winter with no problems, temps around -3 in the morning. This morning temp 1 and windchill -12. The truck started up an it sounded like the belt was slipping, 30 sec later it was gone. Drove to post office, 5 mile run no problem 50mph. Left post office for breakfast and mile down the road truck starts bucking then runs fine. After the next mile got stopped for a light now the truck won't do better than 30mph and to get that fast it's bucking and blowing black smoke. I can rev the motor up and hold 2500rpm with do problem. Put it in gear and drive at 25mph and it's fine just won't go over 30mph. I checked to see if a error code was present and all I got on the od was done and all dashes. I let the truck sit for two hours and just took it out on the road and no problem getting up to 50mph. It's always taken to the dealer for service as recomended in the book. The only thing they haven't changed is the fuel filter, she has 25000. Used a anti gel for the fuel from Cummins last winter but this winter I switched to Stanadyne PF this year. Any ideas on what the problem mite be.
Thanks in advance for your help.

 

I would try this since no one has responded; add an anti gel agent to your fuel right away. You can get it at Walmart or many other stores.

 

Are you running blended fuel or just relieing on the addative to keep from gelling. I have heard mixed reports abought relieing on straight number 2 and addative. It sounds as if it is starting to gell. But I am not shure as I have never had one gell up on me. I always make shure when its cold to run 50/50 and if it drops below 0 I add Power Servise to help. Today it is 3 deg out and all I have in it is 50/50 blend and no problems. I would change the fuel filter and make sure the fuel is up to snuff for that cold of temp. If thats not the problem I would tend to think of a lift pump or something but I wont be much help in that area.

 

Two other things that can cause this problem...

Faulty lift pump or faulty return valve on the CP3. For some reason those are both becoming common in the winter up here.

Hope its just the fuel.

Scotty

 

Thanks for your quick replys. This is my first diesel truck and she has treated me fine. As for the type of fuel it's not marked on the pump but I always fill up at Citco and I had no trouble last winter. The only difference is I started using Stanadyne PS this season it's suppose to prevent gelling also. I better stop at the Cummins service center for the stuff I wass using last winter. The dealer will get a call when he opens so I can get the fuel filter and the oil changed. Thanks again for the help.

 

I always go in and ask if it is not marked on the pump. Most of the time though the little collage blondie behind the counter just gives me a dear in headlights stare and finaly says she dont know. Try asking and if they dont know ask if there is anyone there that would. Most places will mark it on the pump if it is. Some places dont run blended fuel so if they have #1 available you have to blend it yourself and that sucks. A freind at work bought a Duramax this summer and when it started getting cool out he asked me abought blended fuels and anti gell adatives. He said he was going to run straight #2 all winter and only add Power service if it got down to 0. I just chucled and said good luck. I dont know if he ever started running blend or not but I dought it because he seems to think he knows all. Some day he'el probably call and ask how to get his truck going again from the side of the road.

 

Geo03, did I miss something or did your post read as though your fuel filter has never been changed. Or do you do it and that's the only thing the dealer doesn't do, because you change it sooner than 25,000...I hope! If not, change your fuel filter.

BTW it was 60 degrees this morning here!

Just my .02

Jamie

 

^^^^ - What he said! The interval on these is supposed to be only 15K!

 

Yes it's the original filter. When the truck went in for the 15000 mile service the filter was not changed. I asked why they didn't change it because the book says it should be and the reply from the dealer was it wasn't time yet. They sell a lot of diesel trucks there and I assumed he new when it should be done. The truck has been towed to the service center this morning and I have not heard any word from them. I will be calling tomorrow morning and checking and from now on I'll follow the book.

 

Geo03, I'm new to the diesel world too and I change my fuel filter about every 7-8K miles ( when the filter gets jet black). It's easy to do yourself and some would say that's a bit early but an ounce of prevention...

PM me if you would like details on the filter change.

Jamie

 

Got the truck back yesterday. It's running fine so far. The dealer said the camshaft sensor wasn't reading correctly. They fixed that and also reprogramed the ECM. They found three TSB's to apply. They are (18-003-04, 18-027-03 and 18-030-03). We'll keep a watch on mileage and see how she does. The diesel tech. wasn't concerned about the fuel fliter he said it was a computer problem. But I had the fuel and air filters changed along with fresh oil and filter. She is good for another 5000 miles. The weather is staying cold (close to 0 at nite) and a bunch of snow to play in. Thanks again for all the help and have a great holiday.