Diesel Down Salinas

Headed down to In-laws turkey day eve, yaks and dive/fish gear with me just in case. Truck felt different around Patterson on I-5 with a little jerkiness at low rpm.  Looked back in mirrors and saw giant smoke screen . With all the supplies, and gear in truck decided continue on to Salinas.  A few one fingered salutes on the uphill  Pacheco Pass.( I know Ford Diesel is # 1. ) Upside was no tailgaters .  Stranded in Salinas but at least at In-Laws with lots of food.  Heard West Coast Diesel in Salinas does a good  job.  Appreciate any input. May have to dive at least one day to cheer myself up

Hope you're back on the road with minimal delay

That sucks Russ!!!
I hope one of the Salinas crew can help you out.

I'm usually a ford man but can't stand their older diesel. That ia why I bought a dodge. When I was buying ford couldn't get out of their tracks until it warmed up for 10 mins. I hear the new ford is much better. Good luck

What color was the smoke?
If it was black then probably a bad injector but it's hard to say
Good luck

I passed you on  the 19th in Reno, it looked fine.We were heading to Wyoming for some hunting. You looked like you were loaded for some fun.
 Hope everything works out. If you make it to Sac and need anything let me know.

If you're still in town and want to dive tomorrow send me a text or PM.

I'm on my way back from New Orleans and need some water therapy...

Sincerely,

Jim

Never used West Coast Diesel in Salinas, but the one in Livermore does a great job. They have a separate mechanic for Ford, Dodge, and Chevy, so whoever works on my 2001 F250 is the same guy every time. Good luck with the truck and diving!!

Wish I would have saw this earlier. You still in town? West Coast diesel is who I use for our fleet.. Call me if your still here.

Hope you're back on the road with minimal delay

That sucks Russ!!!
I hope one of the Salinas crew can help you out.

I'm usually a ford man but can't stand their older diesel. That ia why I bought a dodge. When I was buying ford couldn't get out of their tracks until it warmed up for 10 mins. I hear the new ford is much better. Good luck

  Thanks for the words of encouragement,  I's nice to know wherever you are there seems to be a NCKA Bro.

What color was the smoke?
If it was black then probably a bad injector but it's hard to say
Good luck

  Constant light black smoke, put your foot in it felt like a rocket and everything within 50 yds obscured by BLACK Smoke. Run away injector(s) will know for sure Tues.

I passed you on  the 19th in Reno, it looked fine.We were heading to Wyoming for some hunting. You looked like you were loaded for some fun.
 Hope everything works out. If you make it to Sac and need anything let me know.

Yaks have been living on top of truck "just in case last minute trip"  Did I miss your hunting post.? 

Never used West Coast Diesel in Salinas, but the one in Livermore does a great job. They have a separate mechanic for Ford, Dodge, and Chevy, so whoever works on my 2001 F250 is the same guy every time. Good luck with the truck and diving!!

Thanks for the suggestion, but at least in Salinas I have free lodging and food, thank goodness for in-laws.

If you're still in town and want to dive tomorrow send me a text or PM.

I'm on my way back from New Orleans and need some water therapy...

Sincerely,

Jim

PM sent. Just rigged hooptie rack non wife's car, if yak does not fly off will be diving SWS 1030ish.

I have some experience with vw diesels, which are rotary pump injected. If so, it sounds like it could be a clogged injector. The black smoke might be unburnt fuel that a bad/clogged injector isn't properly charging into the cylinder. This could also be the cause of the jerkiness at low rpm BUT you could also have some poor ignition timing that's causing the unburnt fuel.

When you say "runaway injectors" does that mean your car isn't turning off and you're having to stall it out? If so, you might have bigger problems like a leaking turbo or major blow by from improperly seated/worn rings on the pistons.

Please keep us posted. I'm a diesel nerd and curious

I have some experience with vw diesels, which are rotary pump injected. If so, it sounds like it could be a clogged injector. The black smoke might be unburnt fuel that a bad/clogged injector isn't properly charging into the cylinder. This could also be the cause of the jerkiness at low rpm BUT you could also have some poor ignition timing that's causing the unburnt fuel.

When you say "runaway injectors" does that mean your car isn't turning off and you're having to stall it out? If so, you might have bigger problems like a leaking turbo or major blow by from improperly seated/worn rings on the pistons.

Please keep us posted. I'm a diesel nerd and curious

I probably should not have used term "Runaway"  for this issue. Similar problem a couple years ago damaged injector too much fuel but shut off. Thanks for the reply will update you with  findings. 2003 Ford F-350 CrewCab 6.0....Quit laughing I know.....Big Trucks Big Bucks    .

If it gets bad,  check out these guys  http://www.santaclaratruckwreckers.com

My 2001 7.3l choked on dirt at 120K.   They put in a salvaged motor (installed) for either 3500 or 4500,  can't remember.  dealer wanted 10k for a factory rebuilt.  This was some time ago but I'm sure they do the same thing still.  There is a guy in Prunedale that takes salvaged title fords and rebuilds them.  He turned me on to Santa Clara Truck Wreckers.

When I was in Ambulance, Ford's were the only thing anyone ran.  That was the 7.3's TD's  Not so sure about the big turbo, little turbo concept.  I like the cummins engine, but would not give you dime for the frame it is mounted to, at least back then, no one built a box on a dodge frame for a reason...reliability to weight, dodge could not or would not build a truck that could meet the needs of the EMS world.

I had both of them with my 2004 excursion 6.0 turbo diesel ,black smoke was a bad  injector about 1,600. and white smoke was a blown head  gasket and was about 8,000.00
there is lots of problems with the 6.0 diesel.

I hope your does not cost as much, i did not find out about left coast diesel till after the head was repair so they fixed back to factory specs. left coast does it the right way but i was nor ready or willing to pay another 6,000.00 to fix it right till it blows again.

left coast is not cheap but they fix it right.