[ncw250]

I just bought a 93 w250 diesel club cab with 200k and a manual trans. The truck drove fine on the test drive. I was hours from home and it had really old dry tires I opted to tow it back home. The intake filter was not attached to the intake tube, it was just set in place. The filter opening was about an inch bigger than the intake pipe. The truck had about 2 feet of exhaust after the down pipe then it just pointed down. I got new wheels, got an adapter so I could attach the air filter to the intake pipe, and installed a 4" cat eye exhaust. I drove a mile to the gas station and got 5 gallons of diesel. The fuel gauge doesn't work so I have no idea how much fuel it had. I left the gas station and roughly 2 miles later on the highway the truck was blowing out white smoke and I lost power. I got towed home and now the truck won't start, turns over but won't start. I've been searching the forums and based on the trucks symptoms I suspected a leaky ve pump, bad injector, or maybe the timing was off from the leaky pump <I don't understand how that happens but read a couple posts about that happening>. My ve pump is definitely leaking. It does not look like a hug leak but everything below it has moisture on it. I was planning on checking the timing on the pump and seeing where the fuel screw and smoke screw were positioned. While I was looking around I found 2 plugs that weren't connected and this oblong loop thing that looks like it should attach to the throttle somehow. I saw pics online where it goes around that pin beside it but there is a lot of slack in that cable so the oblong loop kind of lays on the pin when I set it there.

When I found those loose connectors I stopped my amateur diagnosis thinking they could be part of the issue. I am not a mechanic but can read instructions and turn a wrench. I ordered the factory service manual from genos garage and hopefully that'll help me understand this engine bay a bit better. I was trying to think how the exhaust, intake, or adding diesel could've triggered this but now that I found these unhooked connectors I am quite lost.... Also, the truck is not giving me any engine codes. Went straight to 55 when I checked.

Does anyone have an idea of what may have caused the white smoke and loss of power?

 

[9297oldram]

Start out by replacing the fuel filter, you could have gotten some bad diesel fuel. When you take the filter off dump it into a clean container and look to see if there is water in it.

Check to see if you have 12v at the FSS, also it's a good idea to just gut it by taking the spring and plunger out and then installing the body back on. You can use the manual shutoff on the side of the IP. Make sure the tip is on the plunger when it comes out.

That IP looks pretty clean like it could be a newer one, check the vent on the back side of the AFC when you get it running to see if fuel is coming out of it.

That connector in your hand looks like it could be from the fuel heater that was bypassed. They leak most of the time and really aren't needed.

 

[Black cherry pulling team]

Are you sure you got Diesel?

 

[Blackduck59]

Sounds like the fuel maybe dodgy.
Another thing to try, remove the fuel cap and run it and see if it improves.

 

[ncw250]

I am sure it was diesel, I even went back to the station to double check the pump I was at.

I am going to check the fss tomorrow if I can get it out, really tight space there. How much do people remove to acess it? It almost looks like it can be done by just taking off the afc.

I also got a new fuel filter to install as well, Ill be sure to check the fuel for water too. I'll try taking off the cap and seeing if that makes a difference also

I am hoping to have some time tomorrow to get back under the hood. Hopefully I can get this figured out. I really appreciate all the help!

 

[9297oldram]

You can remove the FSS without taking off the AFC, iuf you have a automatic you may need to take off the TPS.

 

[ncw250]

The fss was not the issue, it looked to be in good condition. I was sent the wrong fuel filter but I just got a new one today and wanted to change the filter out and attempt to purge the lines of air. When I pulled the old filter I was surprised to see all the gunk in there. Does anyone have any idea what I am looking at? I'm planning on draining the tank now.

While the fuel filter was off I turned the key to the on position but didn't try to crank it. I was expecting fuel to come out where the filter was removed but nothing happened.

 

[9297oldram]

Looks like water in the pan, you don't have a electric fuel pump it's a mechanical one mounted on the left side of the engine.

 

[thrashingcows]

Looks like a mix of water, diesel and maybe some algae, bacteria, yeast, mould or fungi...drain your tank and refill with clean clear diesel, then get an anti-fungal treatment additive for diesel fuel and add that. With the ULSD you should be running some sort of diesel additive, make sure it has some anti-fungal properties, I run Diesel Kleen with Cetain booster and it has an anti-fungal property to it.

 

[ncw250]

I drained the tank and added 5 gallons of fresh diesel. Added a bit of diesel kleen as well. I tried to prime the fuel system but the lever on my fuel pump gives no resistance at all. I cracked open the water valve on the fuel filter and pumped the primer about 50 times and nothing changed, there was never any resistance on the priming lever. This isn't normal, right?

 

[Blackduck59]

Your lift pump maybe be high on the cam, you need to rotate the engine to where you can get some action from the primer

 

[ncw250]

I finally got the truck started. Cracked all the injectors and primed the system, after a few tried she finally came back to life. The truck is blowing white smoke now. Just a little at idle but when I give it throttle the engine seems to hesitate just a bit and there is a lot more white smoke.

I'll have some more time to work on it tomorrow after work. I just bought the truck and my 10 day tag expired. The apartment complex I live at is threatening to tow my truck if I don't get the tags renewed. I can get another 10 day tag from DMV but I have to get this truck running right so I can get it inspected and get my tags current

 

[thrashingcows]

I find that there can be a bit of residue air in the lines/system and idling might not clear it up, you need to go for a drive and get load on the motor and see if the issue clears up or continues.