Cummins engine problems

[krbrown048]

When I was driving up to TN in my Winn Journey with a 300hp Cummins engine, I noticed a whisper of white smoke from the exhaust but no other problems. I pulled off the interstate and stopped at a stop sign to head for a campground. When I pressed on the accelerator, I had almost no power - maybe 5%. NO lights came on - not even the check engine light. After limping into a campground, I called the tow service and scheduled a tow to the nearest diesel shop that Good Sam recommended.

The next morning when I drove it off the mountain to get it towed, there was a check engine light on but the engine acted normally - with a whisper of white smoke. I drove to the shop. The mechanic pulled the code but didn't understand it so they sent me to the Freightliner shop 15 miles up the road. I have a Freightline chassis. When their mechanic tried to pull the code there was none. Apparently the first mech erased the code. Freightliner said they had no real starting point but could try some things as a trial and error.

I elected not to do that and will take it to a Cummins dealer in a couple of weeks. Hopefully, they can resurrect the code. Meanwhile I'm staying at my present CG.

My question is: what options do I have if the Cummins dealer can't find the code and says he can "try a few things to see if they work"? The same trial and error as Freightliner suggested.

I have also posted this on the Freightliner forum page - for what that's worth.

[Iron Man]

A good starting point is to the talk to the first mechanic and get the code. That way Cummins would have a starting point. From what you a describing chances are that the code will show up again.

[SargeW]

Quite often times the codes set and conditions you describe are related to a failing sensor. In the early stages it will be intermittent until it get worse, which it will. What you are describing sounds like a fuel rail sensor that failed on me. Easy fix once it is diagnosed.

Sarge

[spike45]

To show you how old I am, I can remember putting on training classes on Caterpillar engines where we would purposefully retard the injection timing a degree or two. On start up and acceleration, the exhaust would be white smoke. The same is true now. For some reason known only to your engine ECM, the injection timing is delayed due to some possible sensor issue such as the sensor for TDC. The ECM controlled engines must have a reference for what Top Dead Center in order to establish 0 degrees position. I have sent an inquiry to a Midrange service engineer at Cummins for determination if an old fault code can be resurrrected to determine what has been happening in your engine. IF the first mechanic did not erase the fault codes, it should still reside in memory as the ECM keep count of some codes.

Are you taking it to Cummins in Knoxville, TN or Chattanooga?

[Perry White]

Call the first Cummins mechanic that reset the codes and see if he saved a work order. That would have the code on it. He could e-mail it to your mech

[spike45]

Quote:

Originally Posted by krbrown048 When I was driving up to TN in my Winn Journey with a 300hp Cummins engine, I noticed a whisper of white smoke from the exhaust but no other problems. I pulled off the interstate and stopped at a stop sign to head for a campground. When I pressed on the accelerator, I had almost no power - maybe 5%. NO lights came on - not even the check engine light. After limping into a campground, I called the tow service and scheduled a tow to the nearest diesel shop that Good Sam recommended. The next morning when I drove it off the mountain to get it towed, there was a check engine light on but the engine acted normally - with a whisper of white smoke. I drove to the shop. The mechanic pulled the code but didn't understand it so they sent me to the Freightliner shop 15 miles up the road. I have a Freightliner chassis. When their mechanic tried to pull the code there was none. Apparently the first mechanic erased the code. Freightliner said they had no real starting point but could try some things as a trial and error. I elected not to do that and will take it to a Cummins dealer in a couple of weeks. Hopefully, they can resurrect the code. Meanwhile I'm staying at my present CG. My question is: what options do I have if the Cummins dealer can't find the code and says he can "try a few things to see if they work"? The same trial and error as Freightliner suggested. I have also posted this on the Freightliner forum page - for what that's worth.

What is your engine serial number?

I can get more specific information when I know it as I can determine what fuel system you have.

Here is some the troubleshooting procedure for white smoke as taken from the Troubleshooting manual for your engine family.