Quick response to the following symptoms can help extend the life of your diesel engine:
| Symptom | Possible Cause |
| Excessive black smoke at full load. (Hot, unburned fuel) |
Dirty primary or secondary air cleaner. Overloading. Overfueling. Operating in a gear than is too high. Faulty turbocharger. |
| Blue smoke (indicates oil consumption) | Leaking head gasket. Cracked head and/or liners. Faulty injector. Incorrect starting procedure. In correct fuel injection timing. Poor fuel quality. |
| Increased oil consumption/ excess blow-by | High hours on engine. Worn rings and/or liners. Worn turbocharger seals. Worn valve guides. |
| Unusual noises | Malfunctioning fuel nozzles and/or injectors. Worn piston pin bushings. Worn rod and/or main bearings. Malfunctioning turbocharger. Too much valve lash. |
| Lack of power | Dirty air cleaner. Dirty fuel filter. Incorrect governor linkage adjustment. Malfunctioning fuel nozzles and/or injectors. Slipping torque converter. Improper set point. Poor fuel quality |
| Increased fuel consumption |
Fuel leak. |
| Oil level overfill | Coolant and/or fuel leak into crankcase. Improper oil fill. |
| Debris in oil filter | Dirt entry. Damaged bearings. Coolant and/or fuel leak into crankcase. Excessively long oil drain interval. Incorrect oil used. |
Catching problems in their early stage can help prevent a costly major overhaul. If you pay for a major engine overhaul, it is almost impossible to reap the value of a construction or other machine before another major component needs major repair.
Technical Service
Universal Lubricants, Inc.
0903.2
Source: Construction Equipment, April 1999
For more information, please contact our Technical Services Dept. at 1-800-444-6457.
