Ok, I'm going to remove the muffler as well.
-
Thank you for visiting HeavyEquipmentForums.com! Our objective is to provide industry professionals a place to gather to exchange questions, answers and ideas. We welcome you to register using the "Register" icon at the top of the page. We'd appreciate any help you can offer in spreading the word of our new site. The more members that join, the bigger resource for all to enjoy. Thank you!
2001 Isuzu NPR
- Thread starter Coy Lancaster
- Start date
Well, you were right. The most logical way to approach a lack of fuel, start at the tank. I drilled a hole in a 5 gallon bucket, put in a fitting, ran a hose to the electric fuel pump, bled the system. Started right up and ran. RAN for over an hour. Started to clear up a little too in regards to the white smoke.
It blows white smoke when I accelerate, but it is starting to have a little RPM as well. Doesn't stumble as bad it did before. I ran about 2 gallons of new diesel in it, a couple ounces of Howe's Meaner and Kleaner. Seems to be working on getting that injector a little better than it was.
I'm hoping to find some biodiesel, but I can't find any in my area. Seems like one of those things that you see all the time, but can't find when you need it.
I have a side tank as well on the unit, I plan on cleaning it out, putting a new sender in it and give it a try.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP UP TO THIS POINT!!!!!!
So.....Here is my issue. The tank is full of sludge. Like a LOT. I can get quite a bit out by hand, but it does not dissolve with gasoline or mineral spirits. I have a pretty potent degreaser that seems to work pretty good, but I need to get this thing clean. Any thoughts?
Nige
Senior Member
Had the fuel in the tank when this all started (not the fresh fuel you added since) been in there for an extended period of time.?
Is it really "sludge" or algae growth.? Does it have a greenish tinge.? You need to consider the possibility. If it is algae the treatment process will be totally different.
Last edited:
No idea how long this truck sat, but it sat. No idea what this stuff is on the bottom of the tank. Not really a green tinge, but nothing really dissolves it that I have laying around. Could be algae, but not sure. How do you tell?
Nige
Senior Member
I would assume it's algae (more correctly described as microbial growth) and treat it accordingly.
Nige
Senior Member
Not my area of expertise I'm afraid. I know it will plug fuel filters, beyond that - no idea.
As I say assume what you have in the tank is algae and treat it (and then the rest of the fuel system) accordingly.
As I say assume what you have in the tank is algae and treat it (and then the rest of the fuel system) accordingly.
heymccall
Senior Member
It is if you bypassed the frame mounted filter and ran your "questionable" fuel to the pump without a filter.
The plugged up injector was an issue prior to purchase.
Nige
Senior Member
And somehow you don't think that all the cr@p you found in the tank wasn't also there before you bought it.?
The stuff in the tank most likely came from the fuel itself, either algae growing or the fuel breaking down and forming crud. That same old fuel was in the pump and injectors and they are coated with the same bits. It might work through without problems, or it might not. I've never seen permanent damage from this sort of thing, but I'm not a pump expert either. I've certainly seen injection pumps ruined by waste vegetable oil, which is one possibility for what you have, depending on who you bought it from, or just old biodiesel blend.
That’s what I am saying. I’m betting the issue I have with the injectors is related to all of the stuff in the tank.
heymccall
Senior Member
$300 gets 4 new injectors, but, if you're fortunate like me, you'll have a local injection shop that can test them. Until the fuel supply is cleaned up, it would all be for naught.
Nige
Senior Member
Agreed. First get the tank cleaned out and treated with biocide on the assumption that you have algae present. It can't hurt even if the "sludge" is nothing more than contamination from dodgy quality/stale fuel.
Then fit all new fuel filters and clean out any screens that might be in the system between the tank and the fuel inlet to the IP. You'll probably need extra filters if you do not get 100% of the sludge out of the tank, which you most likely won't. The filters are where it will land.
Get some fresh fuel in it and see how it goes from there.
Oh, and maybe do a check of the valve adjustment at some point BEFORE you start thinking about pulling injectors.
Here is my current plan. I have pulled out about 80% of the sludge with my hands. It sat overnight with Zep Purple Degreaser in it and LOTS of stuff loosened up. I drained that out this morning, filled with 5 gallons of E85 and it has really softened things up. I am going to drain and fill it again with E85 two more times. In the meantime, I will keep running the truck out of a 5 gallon bucket and new diesel. I am going to replace all of the plumbing to and from the tank. I am going to reinstall the tank, fill with Biocide and new diesel and run for several days at my farm. Change the filters and repeat. If the injectors don't clear up, pull them and I will take them to a shop for rebuilding.
Nige
Senior Member
Sounds like a plan. I’d still suggest to set the valves before pulling the injectors, just in case. Far cheaper than having the injectors rebuilt as well.....