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Troubleshooting Guide

Symptom: Excessive black smoke at full load (Hot, unburned fuel)

  • Dirty primary or secondary air cleaner
  • Overloading
  • Overfueling
  • Operating in a gear that is too high
  • Faulty turbocharger

Symptom: Blue smoke (indicates oil consumption)

  • Leaking head gasket
  • Cracked head and/or liners
  • Faulty injector
  • Incorrect starting procedure
  • Incorrect fuel injection timing
  • Poor fuel quality

Symptom: Increased oil consumption/excess blow-by

  • High hours on engine
  • Worn rings and/or liners
  • Worn turbocharger seals
  • Worn valve guides

Symptom: Unusual noises

  • Malfunctioning fuel nozzles and/or injectors
  • Worn piston pin bushings
  • Worn rod and/or main bearings
  • Malfunctioning turbocharger
  • Too much valve lash

Symptom: 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

Symptom: Oil level overfill

  • Coolant and/or fuel leak into crankcase
  • Improper oil fill

Symptom: 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 stages 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.