I've been getting a lot more black soot lately

[Mule Skinner]

I've been getting a lot more black soot than ever before.
Is this a sign of bad fuel?
It shows up on my toad and the back of the coach.
Power seems fine.
Should I take it to Cummins and have them look it over?

[Old-Biscuit]

Soot is the result of too much fuel/not enough air

Fueling could be happening quicker then turbo can spool-up.......over fueling
Turbo could be lagging to spool-up.......lack of air

Either case the fuel/air ratio is NOT balanced

Could be fuel metering, bad injector etc
Could be turbo issue (check for loose hoses/clamps on air side)

Otherwise....need it checked out and corrected

[Janet and Todd]

How does your air filter look? When was the last time you changed it?

[Old Scout]

Air filter and checking turbo hoses/pipes leaks are the cheapest to look at first. Do you have Silverleaf or other engine monitoring device? If so, do you see any drop in max turbo boost....?

[Mule Skinner]

My 04 dose not have silverleaf.
Air filter has about 10k on it. I know it can get plugged in 1 day. I'll go ahead and order a new one.
Hopefully it is as simple as that.
Thanks all.

[336muffin]

Air filter is not changed because of mileage, it is the dirty air that warrants a new filter.

[Old Scout]

Unless you were routinely driving around mining operations, it is unlikely your air filter has clogged after only 10k miles. Sometimes you have to take the "help" offered on this forum figuratively rather than literally....recommend you continue looking at injector or turbo related issues that impact the air/fuel ratio....
PS---older Alpines have CACs with gaskets and numerous bolts on either end to seal the core--they are susceptible to leaking. A modest loss of boost may cause more smoke but not initially reduce power all that much. Until you can measure boost, you are kind of flying blind....

[DrDaveMA]

Originally Posted by Mule Skinner

My 04 dose not have silverleaf.

Like 04, the 05 does not have Silverleaf so years ago I reached out to them. They have a solution called VMSpc that attaches to the engine data port and runs on a PC. The software is free, the interface dongle is relatively inexpensive. I place a 15" PC on the dash and run VMSpc on the outside edges of the screen (the engine was shut off in the photo) and Streeet Atlas (no longer available since Garmin bought Delorme) but other GPS systems should work. VMSpc does not give you all the bells and whistles of the actual Silverleaf system but you get all the engine monitoring. Since I took this photo I have changed the configuration and now run the VMSpc data along the top and side of the screen, that gives me more room for the Street Atlas info.

I have been happy with VMSpc and Silverleaf's support, just not so sure what I am going to do about replacing Street Atlas, the last version available was 2014 and it has some quirks that you have to work around (it does run on Win 10). I like the 15" monitor because you can see so much more than a 7" GPS screen and it gives me the opportunity to run VMSpc at the same time. I might try it on a iPad but not sure how to run both applications so I will look into other solutions and when I find one upgrade them both.

[Kennzz05]

Anyone know if this will work.
https://www.scangauge.com/

[wolfe10]

Originally Posted by Kennzz05

Anyone know if this will work.
https://www.scangauge.com/

Yes, the Scan Gauge D worked very well on our 2003 ISL, providing a lot of data that you can custom arrange.

I set mine to give:
HP
Instantaneous MPG
Coolant temperature
Boost pressure

[jetar]

Not only agree with Wolfe10, but I set the scan gauge to the same read outs on my 2001, 350

[Kennzz05]

Good to know. I'll be picking one up. After having so many gauges in our semi it's hard to deal with the total lack of information on my 99 isl

[Owlhh]

Luber-finer LAF7472 Heavy Duty Air FilterI have a 2001 40' Alpine. What should be max turbo boost be? I have a scan gauge hooked up but not seen boost reading

[Old Scout]

....around 23-24 lbs of max boost for the older non-variable vane turbos....