ISL losing power

Topic: ISL losing power (Read 987 times) previous topic - next topic

ISL losing power

March 05, 2013, 04:13:47 pm

Need some advice. We were heading down 59 out of Victoria Tx. Engine started hitching and then engine light came on and off several times. Got worse as we went and by the time we got to Mission I couldn't get enough power up to get out of second gear and 30 mph at WOT. No black smoke.

Thinking it's a slug of water in the fuel but would the check engine light come on? Gonna change out both fuel filters but wanted to see if there was anything else I should check.

Thanks, Dean

Re: ISL losing power

Reply #1 – March 05, 2013, 05:22:28 pm

Yes, with those symptoms, changing fuel filters is a very good (and fairly inexpensive) please to start.

Wouldn't hurt to cut open the primary filter and see if it is contaminated-- debris? algae?

Brett

Re: ISL losing power

Reply #2 – March 05, 2013, 05:44:51 pm

If all gauges (oil pressure, temp) read normal, chances are you have a filter restriction. If your engine idles smoothly and will rev up in neutral with no load, this usually means the problem is in the fuel supply. Lack of smoke is also lack of fuel. Read up on changing the fuel filters and then do it. If you find algae, make sure you have at least one more set onboard.

Pierce

Re: ISL losing power

Reply #3 – March 05, 2013, 05:56:22 pm

I would be thinking maybe the EGR acting up if filters are not clogged.
Dave M

Re: ISL losing power

Reply #4 – March 05, 2013, 06:05:06 pm

Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart – March 05, 2013, 05:44:51 pm

If all gauges (oil pressure, temp) read normal, chances are you have a filter restriction. If your engine idles smoothly and will rev up in neutral with no load, this usually means the problem is in the fuel supply. Lack of smoke is also lack of fuel. Read up on changing the fuel filters and then do it. If you find algae, make sure you have at least one more set onboard.

Pierce

Thanks guys. I do have two sets of filters with me. Just went down and picked up a gallon of diesel to fill the filters and a gallon of Seafoam to put in the tank. I will do a search on changing the filters but would like any input from those that have done it before.

Is there any fuel shutoff before the filters?

Thanks again, Dean

Re: ISL losing power

Reply #5 – March 05, 2013, 06:16:20 pm

algacide would be a good addition too....

Re: ISL losing power

Reply #6 – March 05, 2013, 09:21:27 pm

Changed out both fuel filters. The main filter was clean other than a bit of dirt, no sign of water. The secondary filter had a bit of water and quite a lot of gell in it. I am thinking that because this was the coach's first year in cold weather that some water in the tank had froze, turned to gell and made it's way to the filter and injectors.

The bottom line is that after the filter(s) change it is running like a champ. We are "Happy Campers" now. No more 25 mph in 2nd gear max....honking horns and being passed on both sides. And my mind wandering to the worse case senario. Pheewww.

Thanks again for the much needed moral support and advice.

Now to start vacation, Dean & Dee

Re: ISL losing power

Reply #7 – March 05, 2013, 09:38:09 pm

The jell is what got you, I have had jelled up happen at 17F, I would get a large bottle 16oz or so of a anti jell to put in the tank, normal the fuel stations treat the fuel when the weather starts to get cold, some stations are very late in treating the fuel and you wind up with the problem. Glad that was all it was.
Dave M

Re: ISL losing power

Reply #8 – March 05, 2013, 10:11:12 pm

This morning I had a u270 pass me on 77 South..It was a hour or so south of Victoria,9:30am. Sound like your rig??

Re: ISL losing power

Reply #9 – March 05, 2013, 10:23:37 pm

Quote from: 96u270 – March 05, 2013, 10:11:12 pm

This morning I had a u270 pass me on 77 South..It was a hour or so south of Victoria,9:30am. Sound like your rig??

Yep, I was messing with the GPS and Dee yells "Foretravel". Looked up and saw you heading North. I blew the Hadleys but was probably too far past you.

You must have had a heck of a headwind. We were pushed South with the wind, unlike yesterday when I was turning right all day! With the issues we had today I am glad we had the help from Mother Nature.

D&D

Re: ISL losing power

Reply #10 – March 05, 2013, 10:40:23 pm

So that was y'all..I was driving my truck to Houston when you passed me.. Great looking rig and glad it was just your filter,, Happy trails and try to stay out of Mexico or if you go go with a group of people

Re: ISL losing power

Reply #11 – March 05, 2013, 11:09:30 pm

Quote from: 96u270 – March 05, 2013, 10:40:23 pm

So that was y'all..I was driving my truck to Houston when you passed me.. Great looking rig and glad it was just your filter,, Happy trails and try to stay out of Mexico or if you go go with a group of people

So you were not in your coach? Then I saw someone else driving North in a beige colored Foretravel. Not planning on heading into Mexico, been there, done that. Hanging out in the Valley on the U.S. side for the duration.

Thanks, D&D

Re: ISL losing power

Reply #12 – March 05, 2013, 11:13:54 pm

I put over a million miles on semi trucks. I hauled potatoes from northern Main all winter long for a time. It gets really cold up there. Power Service!! The rest of the stuff in my opinion is snake oil.It displaces water all year but prevents jelling like nothing I've ever used. I tried them all. Power Service Diesel Fuel Conditioner. Whats the old saying, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" Yikes! I'm turning into my father...

Re: ISL losing power

Reply #13 – March 05, 2013, 11:27:01 pm

Nope, It's in the driveway here at the house...Kool deal y'all have fun and if your ever in the Corpus Christi or Port A area hit me up

Re: ISL losing power

Reply #14 – March 05, 2013, 11:41:35 pm

Quote from: 96u270 – March 05, 2013, 11:27:01 pm

Nope, It's in the driveway here at the house...Kool deal y'all have fun and if your ever in the Corpus Christi or Port A area hit me up

Thanks, and Corpus Christi (as is a lot of places and stuff) is on our bucket list. Thanks for the invite....and careful what you say, we may just show up someday.

D&D

Re: ISL losing power

Reply #15 – March 06, 2013, 09:12:03 am

Well, not only did the coach lose power, (which is fixed now), but the site in the park we are at had a power issue. Tripped out twice and then died. I opened up the breaker box and it looked like it had been submerged and salvaged from the Titanic inside.

Got the park manager to come over and check it out. He told me the owner would not let him call in an electrician after hours because it cost too much. Told us we could move to a much less desirable site. It was late and I was not in the mood to relocate.

So being the stubborn jack-of-all, master-of-none that I am I spent 1 1/2 hours in the dark pulling the breaker box apart and cleaning up the inside. Ended up replacing the badly corroded 50 amp breaker with a dozen or so onlookers watching and "advising".

The good news is the park manager told me we would be staying for free for a week.

So now everything is working all that is left to do is wash the coach and call insurance to get two windshield rock chips repaired courtesy of a semi truck in Tenn.

It was a looong day. Took an Advil and a glass of scotch before bed.

Dean

Re: ISL losing power

Reply #16 – March 06, 2013, 02:32:06 pm

andyr,
You didn't tell me you were a trucker when we talked at Skidaway SP, Georgia!
Pat

Re: ISL losing power

Reply #17 – March 06, 2013, 08:27:37 pm

Quote from: Dean & Dee – March 05, 2013, 11:41:35 pm

Thanks, and Corpus Christi (as is a lot of places and stuff) is on our bucket list. Thanks for the invite....and careful what you say, we may just show up someday.

D&D

Well I'm always up for meeting new folks and yes, Corpus/Port A has a lot 2 do

Re: ISL losing power

Reply #18 – March 07, 2013, 08:38:09 am

Quote from: andyr – March 05, 2013, 11:13:54 pm

I put over a million miles on semi trucks. I hauled potatoes from northern Main all winter long for a time. It gets really cold up there. Power Service!! The rest of the stuff in my opinion is snake oil.It displaces water all year but prevents jelling like nothing I've ever used. I tried them all. Power Service Diesel Fuel Conditioner. Whats the old saying, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" Yikes! I'm turning into my father...

Andy

I live about 30 miles northwest of Bangor. That is where our 1998 U270 is parked right now. I have about 3/4 of a tank of fuel that I got in Mass. I am somewhat new to this diesel thing. Just picked it up in Jan at MOT. Should I be getting this "Power Service" stuff?

Norm

Re: ISL losing power

Reply #19 – March 07, 2013, 09:16:09 am

Norm,

Depends on WHEN you purchased the fuel. If the fuel in the tank was purchased during the summer or early fall (i.e. summer blend diesel), then yes, add PS anti-gel from Walmart, etc.

But, it you filled in winter when winter blend is pumped, you are OK.

Two other things: Suggest you keep the tank FULL when storing it to reduce condensation. If storing the fuel over 3 months, add a BIOCIDE.

Re: ISL losing power

Reply #20 – March 07, 2013, 10:24:40 am

Quote from: sawdust316 – March 07, 2013, 08:38:09 am

Andy

I live about 30 miles northwest of Bangor. That is where our 1998 U270 is parked right now. I have about 3/4 of a tank of fuel that I got in Mass. I am somewhat new to this diesel thing. Just picked it up in Jan at MOT. Should I be getting this "Power Service" stuff?

Norm

Before you write the check, read the review of additive brands: Lubricity Additive Study Results - Diesel Place : Chevrolet and GMC Diesel Truck

Pierce

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