5.9 Cummins Stumble
Have been experiencing an assumed fuel problem.
2006 Dodge Ram 5.9L Cummins turbo diesel. No check engine lights.
Increasing, and intermittent (becoming MUCH less intermittent) stumble and rough running under LIGHT acceleration. When the problem occurs, it almost feels like it doesn't accelerate as well under heavy demand either, but that is hard to tell - stills runs quite well at higher demand and is pulling an 8000+ lb trailer up hills quite well (I'm away from home base). The stumble seems more to be during light throttle and between 1100-1800 RPM and at speeds up to 50. At cruise (1600 RPM) a slight stumble, but not really bad at all.
Also had a few episodes of white smoke and rough cold-start idle a while back. Since then I've been using "Howes Lubricator - Diesel Treat" because at THAT fuel stop it was the one on the shelf that was for fuel injector cleaning as well as diesel conditioning and anti-gel. After a very short time, no more episodes of rough cold idle or evidence of white smoke. But still - the other light acceleration issue.
I discovered a light oily condition around the fuel filter housing screw-off lid and backside hoses, so checked the lid tightness. Yep - I failed to tighten it more than hand-tight at the last filter change! The stumble had never occurred before.
This morning I tightened it and checked the other fuel line fasteners at the pump and at the filter housing. Was able to get the housing fasteners snugged a little (not too much, but they needed it just a little) and the pump's are tight enough.
I will drive today and check see, and post new reality. I don't want to start dropping into expensive dealers and shops to start troubleshooting unless it is really necessary.
I'm away from home base and I don't have a home base diesel mechanic anyway.
Questions...
What might be my causes?
Might a loose filter housing create a condition (higher/lower pressure/suck air/etc.) prior to the pump that might cause the condition at light throttle/demand?
Can driving a little longer on a stumble like this create "serious problems"? In other words, does this thing need to go into the shop immediately or since it's not acting up at higher demand/load am I okay to continue driving and check the results today of that tightened filter housing to see if that did it?
Would the earlier intermittent condition perhaps be injectors getting cleaned up and now dropping of pieces of **** like gall stones? If so, maybe I just have to live with the stumble until it cleans up? Like I said, there seems to be a worse/better stumble at different times, even to the point where the problem was hardle noticeable.
2006 Dodge Ram 5.9L Cummins turbo diesel. No check engine lights.
Increasing, and intermittent (becoming MUCH less intermittent) stumble and rough running under LIGHT acceleration. When the problem occurs, it almost feels like it doesn't accelerate as well under heavy demand either, but that is hard to tell - stills runs quite well at higher demand and is pulling an 8000+ lb trailer up hills quite well (I'm away from home base). The stumble seems more to be during light throttle and between 1100-1800 RPM and at speeds up to 50. At cruise (1600 RPM) a slight stumble, but not really bad at all.
Also had a few episodes of white smoke and rough cold-start idle a while back. Since then I've been using "Howes Lubricator - Diesel Treat" because at THAT fuel stop it was the one on the shelf that was for fuel injector cleaning as well as diesel conditioning and anti-gel. After a very short time, no more episodes of rough cold idle or evidence of white smoke. But still - the other light acceleration issue.
I discovered a light oily condition around the fuel filter housing screw-off lid and backside hoses, so checked the lid tightness. Yep - I failed to tighten it more than hand-tight at the last filter change! The stumble had never occurred before.
This morning I tightened it and checked the other fuel line fasteners at the pump and at the filter housing. Was able to get the housing fasteners snugged a little (not too much, but they needed it just a little) and the pump's are tight enough.
I will drive today and check see, and post new reality. I don't want to start dropping into expensive dealers and shops to start troubleshooting unless it is really necessary.
I'm away from home base and I don't have a home base diesel mechanic anyway.
Questions...
What might be my causes?
Might a loose filter housing create a condition (higher/lower pressure/suck air/etc.) prior to the pump that might cause the condition at light throttle/demand?
Can driving a little longer on a stumble like this create "serious problems"? In other words, does this thing need to go into the shop immediately or since it's not acting up at higher demand/load am I okay to continue driving and check the results today of that tightened filter housing to see if that did it?
Would the earlier intermittent condition perhaps be injectors getting cleaned up and now dropping of pieces of **** like gall stones? If so, maybe I just have to live with the stumble until it cleans up? Like I said, there seems to be a worse/better stumble at different times, even to the point where the problem was hardle noticeable.
