Instant O/O and Loadboards II

Last time I had any problem with fuel gelling was in Montana one year in January.......

-25 or -30 on the temp......fuel in the reefer tank gelled up......truck was ok due to blend and tank heaters.

Nothing to worry about...........YET.

 

Along those lines.... do most you that run the upper Plains and Midwest States, do you put a winter front on your grill? What are your recommendations and outside temps before you snap 'em on?

 

technicly speaking the manufacturers say NO winter fronts anymore. the intercoolers can crack if they don't get enough air flow. But it gets so cold up there sometimes you need to run one. You just completely close it off anymore.

although you have a century and the radiator opening is already so small you don't need one. plus nobody makes one

 

Thanks Al....just the info I was looking for.

....and now, back to regular scheduled programming

 

Awesome info friends, I appreciate the help on this one. Most of my experience is with diesel dinosaurs and these trucks seem like a space program to me.

I do have some more info, the truck is still doing it's steam engine idle, and sometimes it'll idle smoothly for a few minutes when coming to a stop from speed. The fuel filters were both changed when we were unloaded in Albuquerqe, NM and the pre-filter in the jelly jar on the frame was showing fuel about halfway up at that point.

We were so shocked at the low cost to repair the flex pipe this morning ($50?! for an hours work at a T/A?! - it was like Christmas in October LOL) that I totally forgot to mention the info gathered so far on this problem. I managed to pull the codes up on the screen in the dash, they were:

MID128 - SID 251 - FMI2

Power Supply, Data Erratic, Active, 3 Events

Fuel Filter Pressure Drop, Value Too High, Inactive, 1 Event

Fuel Supply Pressure, Value Too Low, Inactive, 1 Event

EGR Temperature, Value Too High, Inactive, 63 Events

I had thrown a wild card last night in desperation and had the tech change the fuel pre-filter again, although Rob and I both figured it was a random shot in the dark. The tech came back and asked us to come check it out - the truck had a fuel drip coming from the firewall end of the injector rail. It's an intermittent leak which explained why I hadn't caught it on the pre-trip that morning - wasn't leaking when I looked the truck over.

Our first 3 fills of fuel were treated with Jacobs lube (that stuff is pricey!) and after that I figured we were in the clear. When it started missing I thought about water in the tanks and realized Jacobs doesn't mention anti-water on the jug, so I treated the next fill with Howe's, and added some to the pre-filter by removing the top plug and pouring it in. At first it helped, and 10 minutes later the loping idle came back - I think maybe the truck is trying to drive me insane for leaving her parked for so long .

 

sorry man, next time let me in on the secret.

if you get caught in a rain or snow storm and it's cold enough. your going to get blocked radiator anyways. all that moisture freezes up and accumulates. to the point you have an ice blanket in front. so make sure you have something to break the blanket off. like a hammer.

i actually come close to overheating in wyoming. i was close to delivery so i kept on trucking with the fan on. when i got there i noticed the ice blanket. and i never had a actual cover.

 

Disclaimer..
This is genuine heresay only.. brought to you via the grapevine..
And I'm in no way associated with Volvo trucks.. Nor am I a fan of or interested in post 1994 diesel engine technology..

Just tryin to throw ol' hippo boy bone.. Seems he's overdue..



So.. I've heard electronic engines with an irregular idle myself..
I was told that the ECM does this in order to save some petrol while your parked..
Is this what you've got or is it a dead miss on one cylinder??

If you've had experience with a bad injector before.. should be a easy call.. A bad injector will only get worse under load..
And I've never seen part timers or any that fixed themselves..When they fail.. they're done..
And 99.9 % of the time any fuel related problems especially {filters 100%} will only get worse as load increases..

I'll take electrical BS computer issues for $500 Alex..

If indeed you even have a problem.. besides the obvious.. J/K..

 

Also.. Winterfronts are for direct drive fans..

Or.. If your Medicine Man and your clutch fan hates you..

 

I think I may have figured out my fan clutch issue. Just haven;t had time to look at it. been pouring rain since I've been home. I sure do miss my shop.


This isn't 100% reliable info but it seems to me these EGR equiped motors idle rough as hell. MY detroit shakes like a junky on the wagon. It's really hard to sleep in as it sets up a vibration that rings in your head when you put it on the pillow. I do need to have my overhead adjusted but I don't think that's all the problem.
My old cummins idled so smooth and quiet you forgot it was running sometimes. this SOB is LOUD and rough

 

well seems im stuck here in south fla till tommor and ill grab something off the load board,and my trucking carrer is comeing to an end in three weeks do to slow frieght and other personal reasons,but lol as luck would have it ill probibly be relocateing to tampa due to a few calls from my old company starting a big job there and i can make there what iv been makeing on the road and be home everynight so things do change for a reason,but some thing iv been trying to stay out of for a while is calling me back due to my past reputation in the industry,which is a good thing but hopeing ill keep my position on the low low dont want all the stress i had befor ,but im looking on the bright side,at least ill have a job because there is nothing here in south fla all the work is north ,and ill have heath insurance,and 401k and a company truck to take home,,,but all this dont start till dec so ill see what crops up between now and then, im just trying to make a steady buck no matter what it takes,and the slow freight and bad areas are not from lack of trying i havent turned down one load its just the timeing