Lack of power

[fifty5rodder]

I have a 2000 cc intrigue with the isc 8.3 350 hp and am experencing lack of power on the climbs. Also some sooty exhaust. I was told by a diesel mechanic it could be fuel filters. Has anyone had this problem? It would seem to be more likely the turbo or the wastegate were at fault. My fuel filters were changed a year ago or so the people I bought it from said. Fuel filters would be much better!!!! Thanks Ron

[KIX]

Dirty fuel filter can cause the symptom you report. Changing the filter that's a year old won't be a waste of time and it's not expensive. My suggestion would be to open the old filter and see what may be inside.

[Triker56]

It doesn't take a year to start plugging a filter with dirty fuel in the tank.

[fifty5rodder]

Many thanks to all, The filters are already on order, I'll keep my fingers crossed it solves the problem.

[Mekanic]

1st check should be the air filter. and I would check your wastegate as well. if it is stuck open it might not spool up and Not have ANY boost at all.

[Good man]

Ron,
Be sure to check the air filter. That big engine is essentially a huge air pump. A clogged air filter will cause the same symptoms.
Safe travels,
Jim

[mythplaced]

As you will learn, diesels are picky about their filters

[Bill2]

A clogged fuel filter can happen after getting a bad tank of fuel. You say it was changed a yr. ago. There have been times I have changed mine after two months because of the same symptoms. I find that if you get resistance when putting your foot on the elcelerator, then the filter could be clogged. I carry an extra fuel filter all of the time in the coach.
Bill

Quote:

Originally Posted by fifty5rodder I have a 2000 cc intrigue with the isc 8.3 350 hp and am experencing lack of power on the climbs. Also some sooty exhaust. I was told by a diesel mechanic it could be fuel filters. Has anyone had this problem? It would seem to be more likely the turbo or the wastegate were at fault. My fuel filters were changed a year ago or so the people I bought it from said. Fuel filters would be much better!!!! Thanks Ron

[Iron Man]

Check the clamps and connections on your hoses from the turbo to the engine. We had a loose connection that was causing a loss in power and a sooty exhaust. Simple to check and fix.

[spike45]

Check the charge air cooler lines from turbo to the charge air cooler. Also, does the turbo whistle while running on grades? Turbochargers are normally very quiet and do not exhibit much whistling like older turbos did. Whislting is a symptom of a cracked header tank on a charge air cooler. It is common for trucks to have cracked charge air coolers. Your MH is no different. Leaking charge air will result in insufficient air for combustion. I do not think your Cummins has a VGT. Variable geometry turbochargers did not appear on ISC until later. A VGT turbo can compensate for leaking charge air coolers by adjusting the nozzle ring to cause the turbine to spool up to higher RPM and pump more air. Cracked CAC can be dust ingestion points when the engine is operating at low idle speeds where there is not real boost pressure so inlet air leaks in at that location.

[fifty5rodder]

Thanks everyone for the good info. I have checked all the connections on the piping, clamps, rubber connectors,etc. Also air filter like new can see light through pleating. I also checked the pac brake butterfly it moves freely not sure how to check wastegate. The arm seems to be impossible to move. I am hoping the fuel filter will solve the problem The coach runs beautiful on the flat just looses power on grade and sooty exhaust, getting about 7.5 to 8 mpg with toad. Thanks again to everyone. Will update when I receive and install fuel filters.

[BushlandGS]

Also check the fuel return line check-valve...they need to be replaced after some time because the spring gets weak.

[sdelerio]

the wastegate arm should move freely. If you can't move it , it is froze in the turbo housing. will lose all boost , just had to change mine at cummins west in fresno,ca.
about a 1300.00 hit

[waltmack]

Ron, had a similar problem with an 03 ISL. I did all the checks, filters, and the such and I ended up in taking a small hand pump sprayer and made a solution of soap bubbles and after removing the inside hatch access, I sprayed a solution on the inside of the radiator with the soap bubbles getting around the fan. I started the rig and gave it a quick static rev and immediatly shut the rig back off. running to the back to see if I could tell anything, Lawrence Welk would have been proud. The problem was the charge air cooler was leaking bad around the air lines that run from tank to tank. $1150 from Freightliner. Tried to find a used one from the salvage yards to no avail. Contacted Rex Radiator out of Peoria Illinois and for less then three bills the unit was cleaned and a two part epoxie was pumped around the core and a vaccume was applied to suck the epoxie into the tiny holes. Be advised, I looked the unit over prior to being repaired and I could not see where the unit was leaking before removing it from the rig. I sprayed it down with the rig on a high idle and I was leaking so bad that the bubble mixture was blowing off the coil. Once I reinstalled it and took the rig for a test drive it was like night and day. The engine even sounds different. Good luck, Walt