How do I know if my injectors are bad? To remove them I need to remove the nut and then use a slide hammer?
I took a long trip from Florida to NY and back. I had 120 gallons of WVO with me and the truck was fine except that the heater does not work. I gave it good flushes and it started right up after a night in the cold. On the trip I changed the veg filter and the diesel filter. It has actually been taking a few tries to start lately. On the way back in Virginia I ran out of veg-oil and switched to diesel not fast enough to keep it from dying but I got it restarted.

I drove on diesel fine for 200 miles then I stopped at a rest stop and it would not restart. I pulled the filter and dumped it and refilled it and primed everything. It was very very difficult to get going. But it did and drove fine after that. The Whole trip I think it was down on power but it has been so slow and gradual that I am not sure. I ran the fuel down to 1/4 tank and started to think about stopping for diesel when the cruise control started to slow down near an exit ramp. I got off and headed down the ramp when it stalled. I made a right turn without stopping and pulled into the BP station. Then did not have diesel I had to get my can and walk 1/2 mile on the other side of the highway to get diesel. It was very very difficult to get started but it started and I drove back to the station that I filled my fuel can at and decided not to turn off the engine again. That tank I did not add any diesel engine powerservice fuel system cleaner like I normally do. Against my better judgement I stopped at a relatives house in Jacksonville, I live in Fort Lauderdale, and spent the night. The next morning it was 30 degrees and would not start. I primed it but it was clearly turning slowly. I changed the fule filter and primed it a lot. I got another car and jump started it to have extra battery power because it was turning over so slow but that did not help. I kept priming it. Then the nieghbor stopped by and ask it he could help so I had him bring his truck by and I had two jumper cables one for each battery and I primed it real good and kept priming the lift pump while he tried to start it and on the third attemp with breaks in between it started. I did not turn off the truck again until I reached home.

MY truck is completly stock except for the fuel system has been modified to run wvo and has done so for the last 70,000 miles. Total mileage is 315,000.
I just changed the lift pump this year it is not a carter pump but it has been working for the last few months. I do not have a fuel pre-heater as I cut it off, and now I have a spacer plate that use to hold the fuel heater. My fuel lines are flared aluminum with rubber going to the lift pump and rubber going from the return to the tank. I have no hose clamps in my system everything is either flare or push lock that are good for atleast 300 psi.

I have not checked the ofv on the diesel return line? Does this truck actually have a catalitic converter or some type of particulate filter? I think I have been running to much low sulfer diesel fuel and the injectors are bad.

Is now a good time for marine injectors? A new cam plate? Bigger turbo? All of the above. Could my turbo be going bad since I have been loosing power slowly? It does not pull up hills very well anymore.

Any suggestions would help.

Robert

 

First, before you go modifying the truck, you need to haunt these forums until you are reasonably proficient, there are things you can goof up in a hurry with these things, really EXPENSIVE things.

That being said, I would say you have found out WVO is not good for a Cummins. Yea, it will run, but it also messes with Injectors. WMO ( Waste Motor Oil ) is a much better alternative, and many of us have blended up to 50 percent without issues, others are more bold, and have gone further.

I would first fill out your signature so we know what truck we are dealing with, since you mention the nut and slide hammer, I will assume you have a 94-98.4 12 V?

If so, you can cut a piece of PVC pipe the correct length and use one of your lug nuts to pull injectors.

I wouldn't personally use Marine injectors, but each to his own. I would say based upon your post, you are looking for mileage, not power.

When I need Injectors, I will be putting in DDP2's, perhaps 3's. They are more expensive, but over the course of their lifetimes, I am sure I will more than make it back in fuel costs.

Anyway, welcome, kick back, read till your eyes bleed, and we only bite when really stupid questions come up.......

 

Most of the last post , plus , get the fuel heater back in , its needed with diesel and even more use WVO , I am into bio-diesel , and recomend against WVO , except to make bio from .
A fuel pressure test when ever a diesel has issues .
Find a heated garage , park it in there for a day or so , change filter [ do not just pour out & reuse ] .