Cat C15 loses power, white smoke from exhaust

I have a 2005 Peterbilt with a Cat C15 (is it ACERT? - no emission equipment) It has a twin turbo.

Yesterday, after delivering a load and on the way back empty, I noticed the truck started losing power and could not even go 60 MPH with an empty gondola trailer.

The truck and engine would also shake as it was lacking power and emitted white smoke from the exhaust.

As I kept driving it became worse, and I could not go faster than 15 MPH. Fortunately, at this point, I was only 5 miles away from my place. I had to unhook my trailer and go home, bobtail and picked up the trailer with another truck.

We investigated this today. We can reproduce it by going bobtail to about 5th gear, then if I push the gas pedal hard, it loses power, the engine shakes, and the truck cannot accelerate.

There is NO coolant loss, and the white smoke smells like diesel. The check engine light does NOT light up.

Any idea what it could be?

Thanks!

 

Thanks. Would this "failed injector" problem show up only when a lot of power is asked for? The engine runs nicely at idle; the problems only show up when I push the gas pedal to demand more power.

Is there something I can do to pinpoint this problem? Open engine covers? thanks!