Engine blew white smoke died then generator
Well, everything was running fine with this Cummins ISX15 525hp when we stopped on a grade (3% maybe) for one way traffic. Suddenly the eng idled badly and it blew a bunch of white smoke and died. No ...
Forum Discussion
These are interesting stories...
I put in Clear Diesel fuel and tank cleaner by Power Services as well as Bio Kleen. The instructions say how much to use for shocking it basically. I called the company and they said using extra doesn't help in any you're better off using it for a second treatment. I added it to the tank and then filled up the fuel tank. You're supposed to wait 8 hours and then run it. I had to get moving so I drove 200 Miles with it in it. Doesn't hurt to drive on it they say but it reduces the amount of treatment at least in the tank section that's not got fuel in it anymore so topping it off would treat the whole tank versus 200 miles that say you lose 25 gallons or 15% of the tank therefore you lose the treatment on that portion but still the rest of the tank is being treated the whole time as well as maybe the fuel lines I guess and even the new filter and fuel filter.
I did not change the fuel filter because from what I hear the water separator is the first filter even though it's not a true filter apparently the particular matter of this algae get stuck in that filter that's the primary one. I have no doubt the fuel filter is at least somewhat compromised but I was able to get it started and I was not in a position to be able to remove a fuel filter way up under the engine. I was lucky enough to be able to and remove this water separator. Usually there are much tighter but I didn't have a fuel filter and I needed to get down the road. The new separator made the engine run great so I was able to drive it with the fuel filter that was already on it.
I might have mentioned I blew out the generator filter this was mainly just a test to see if it would even start and I know using compressed air isn't ideal but it would be okay for a test start anyway I mean even coming recommended or said that I could use starting fluid as long as you didn't use it very much. I will probably never use starting fluid on a diesel engine. Someone told me I could run ATF in the filter but might need to use starting fluid to start it well I'd rather not do that instead I was able to prime the pump with the help of one of the people that was actually on the highway crew working on the one lane road.
The reason I didn't change the fuel filter was I just didn't have one and I was stuck in the middle of nowhere. I now have a fuel filter and I purchased an additional fuel filter and several additional water separators. So far I drove that 200 miles and it ran fine on the new water separator. It's my understanding I will probably need to replace a filter again apparently doesn't remove the sludge like chlorine would in a pool but it gets it off the tank surface and then it ends up in the filter still. That kind of contradicts what the company advertisement for one of the products of the two I mentioned says that it allows it to eliminate water and contaminants like sludge without clogging the filter so I don't know how it does that if it doesn't eat it for example but according to that company that sells this stuff I may need to replace the filters which contradicts what they say about not needing to by using it LOL but either way I've got extra filters for when it starts to act stupid. I need to run this tank out and then when I get somewhere for an overnight I will put enough additive for another shock and then fill the tank and then let it sit overnight basically like 8 hours like they say. I have a feeling the other filter had this problem before I bought it I drove 2000 miles before it completely plugged it and it was probably already partially plugged and I didn't know it. The deal are supposedly changed the filter but they lied. At any rate the rate of clogging is probably higher when you put this attitude so I fully anticipate having to replace it again.
Is the generator filter I found one that I have not changed yet cuz I haven't had to run it in fact I'm not going to try to run the generator and replace the filter if at all possible until I run a few tanks of this cleaner in because then I may not even need to replace the filter after I put the new one in having just blown it out with compressed air and it working right now. But again I'm not running the generator if I can help it until I burn through a tank or two of the cleaner. As long as I'm staying hooked up at night then maybe I can only waste one filter the one that was already in there and the new one won't be affected.
see what happens with all this but I have been able to actually drive it and start the generator and obviously the engine is running on the RV after doing the above so hopefully this helps somebody else with a similar problem.
I put in Clear Diesel fuel and tank cleaner by Power Services as well as Bio Kleen. The instructions say how much to use for shocking it basically. I called the company and they said using extra doesn't help in any you're better off using it for a second treatment. I added it to the tank and then filled up the fuel tank. You're supposed to wait 8 hours and then run it. I had to get moving so I drove 200 Miles with it in it. Doesn't hurt to drive on it they say but it reduces the amount of treatment at least in the tank section that's not got fuel in it anymore so topping it off would treat the whole tank versus 200 miles that say you lose 25 gallons or 15% of the tank therefore you lose the treatment on that portion but still the rest of the tank is being treated the whole time as well as maybe the fuel lines I guess and even the new filter and fuel filter.
I did not change the fuel filter because from what I hear the water separator is the first filter even though it's not a true filter apparently the particular matter of this algae get stuck in that filter that's the primary one. I have no doubt the fuel filter is at least somewhat compromised but I was able to get it started and I was not in a position to be able to remove a fuel filter way up under the engine. I was lucky enough to be able to and remove this water separator. Usually there are much tighter but I didn't have a fuel filter and I needed to get down the road. The new separator made the engine run great so I was able to drive it with the fuel filter that was already on it.
I might have mentioned I blew out the generator filter this was mainly just a test to see if it would even start and I know using compressed air isn't ideal but it would be okay for a test start anyway I mean even coming recommended or said that I could use starting fluid as long as you didn't use it very much. I will probably never use starting fluid on a diesel engine. Someone told me I could run ATF in the filter but might need to use starting fluid to start it well I'd rather not do that instead I was able to prime the pump with the help of one of the people that was actually on the highway crew working on the one lane road.
The reason I didn't change the fuel filter was I just didn't have one and I was stuck in the middle of nowhere. I now have a fuel filter and I purchased an additional fuel filter and several additional water separators. So far I drove that 200 miles and it ran fine on the new water separator. It's my understanding I will probably need to replace a filter again apparently doesn't remove the sludge like chlorine would in a pool but it gets it off the tank surface and then it ends up in the filter still. That kind of contradicts what the company advertisement for one of the products of the two I mentioned says that it allows it to eliminate water and contaminants like sludge without clogging the filter so I don't know how it does that if it doesn't eat it for example but according to that company that sells this stuff I may need to replace the filters which contradicts what they say about not needing to by using it LOL but either way I've got extra filters for when it starts to act stupid. I need to run this tank out and then when I get somewhere for an overnight I will put enough additive for another shock and then fill the tank and then let it sit overnight basically like 8 hours like they say. I have a feeling the other filter had this problem before I bought it I drove 2000 miles before it completely plugged it and it was probably already partially plugged and I didn't know it. The deal are supposedly changed the filter but they lied. At any rate the rate of clogging is probably higher when you put this attitude so I fully anticipate having to replace it again.
Is the generator filter I found one that I have not changed yet cuz I haven't had to run it in fact I'm not going to try to run the generator and replace the filter if at all possible until I run a few tanks of this cleaner in because then I may not even need to replace the filter after I put the new one in having just blown it out with compressed air and it working right now. But again I'm not running the generator if I can help it until I burn through a tank or two of the cleaner. As long as I'm staying hooked up at night then maybe I can only waste one filter the one that was already in there and the new one won't be affected.
see what happens with all this but I have been able to actually drive it and start the generator and obviously the engine is running on the RV after doing the above so hopefully this helps somebody else with a similar problem.
