LS 180 smoking and loses power

[Goodwood]

Hi Guys.... A newbie here, trying to figure out what is wrong with my 2000 LS 180? It loses engine power, idles down, and then will come back to full throtle, and it's burning a lot of gas, smokes real bad (fuel) when it gets hot!! I've got new air cleaners in it, and the fuel filter is about 25 hours old. Any and all help would be appreciated.

 

[irvi00]

Thats a tough one! Could be several things causing it. First check the little in-line filter on the fuel line coming from tank going to the main fuel filter. After that I'm going to say checking fuel injectors or the injector pump. Is the smoke white or black? When it starts to lose power does the engine skip or run erratic? It could also be a loss of compression on one or more cylinders, (hope not!). As far as the injectors and pump, you will need a good diesel shop to diagnose problems there. Hope this helps!

 

[Goodwood]

Thats a tough one! Could be several things causing it. First check the little in-line filter on the fuel line coming from tank going to the main fuel filter. After that I'm going to say checking fuel injectors or the injector pump. Is the smoke white or black? When it starts to lose power does the engine skip or run erratic? It could also be a loss of compression on one or more cylinders, (hope not!). As far as the injectors and pump, you will need a good diesel shop to diagnose problems there. Hope this helps!

I will check the little filter in the morning. I didn't know it had one, hence I only changed the one at the pump. The smoke is pure fuel..... very rich smelling diesel.....more on the blue side, but for sure not oil. The engine doesn't skip at all. it's almost like I am throttling it all the way down, but after a few seconds, it jumps back up to full throtle...so it does run erratic. I will call the local dealer (ugh) in the morning. They've work on the machine and they know it fairly well....but that is what I was trying to avoid. Thanks for your help!

 

[jerrymack553]

I will check the little filter in the morning. I didn't know it had one, hence I only changed the one at the pump. The smoke is pure fuel..... very rich smelling diesel.....more on the blue side, but for sure not oil. The engine doesn't skip at all. it's almost like I am throttling it all the way down, but after a few seconds, it jumps back up to full throtle...so it does run erratic. I will call the local dealer (ugh) in the morning. They've work on the machine and they know it fairly well....but that is what I was trying to avoid. Thanks for your help!

couple things to check: (1) are you making oil ( fuel injector stuck open pour fuel in combustion chamber washing dow the cylinder past the rings into the oil pan) check and see if oil is over filled by alot. (2) this time of year critters are looking for a new home pull the air intake tubes off of the machine from the air filter to the intake see if any critter nest are present. (3) is it a turbo charged engine check all of the clamps be sure they are tight and the tubes have no holes in them. (4) change main fuel filter agin possibly a bad filter or incorrect double check filter number to engine. (5) check lift pump be sure it isn't over pressuring main fuel pump.(6) recheck all fuel line clamps make sure they are tight so it isnt sucking air. (7) often over looked is the fuel tank vent that is plugged and is creating pressure in the fuel system easy check pull fuel cap when unit acts up and run to see if it clears up. hope something here helps you

 

[Goodwood]

couple things to check: (1) are you making oil ( fuel injector stuck open pour fuel in combustion chamber washing dow the cylinder past the rings into the oil pan) check and see if oil is over filled by alot. (2) this time of year critters are looking for a new home pull the air intake tubes off of the machine from the air filter to the intake see if any critter nest are present. (3) is it a turbo charged engine check all of the clamps be sure they are tight and the tubes have no holes in them. (4) change main fuel filter agin possibly a bad filter or incorrect double check filter number to engine. (5) check lift pump be sure it isn't over pressuring main fuel pump.(6) recheck all fuel line clamps make sure they are tight so it isnt sucking air. (7) often over looked is the fuel tank vent that is plugged and is creating pressure in the fuel system easy check pull fuel cap when unit acts up and run to see if it clears up. hope something here helps you

OK....here's what we've done so far: new air filters, and new fuel filter (even though the fuel filter had only 30 hours on it). We checked the turbo, and no oil in the tubes, all clamps are tight, and no fuel in the oil. After we changed the fuel filter, there was a HUGE difference in the performance of the machine. It went back to full power, with no lagging in the RMP's......, until the fuel level got low, and then it started to do the same thing again. I added 5 gallons of fresh fuel, and it seemed to have helped. We are going to drain the fuel tank, and change the fuel filter again, and go from there. The lift pump is new (about 30 hours on it). I've got to think, at this point, it must be contaminated fuel. I had my neighbor mechanic look at it and he said if it was the injector pump, it would be blowing black smoke all the time, which it has never done. Again, that to you guys for your help, and I will keep you posted on what we find.

 

[xtreem3d]

OK....here's what we've done so far: new air filters, and new fuel filter (even though the fuel filter had only 30 hours on it). We checked the turbo, and no oil in the tubes, all clamps are tight, and no fuel in the oil. After we changed the fuel filter, there was a HUGE difference in the performance of the machine. It went back to full power, with no lagging in the RMP's......, until the fuel level got low, and then it started to do the same thing again. I added 5 gallons of fresh fuel, and it seemed to have helped. We are going to drain the fuel tank, and change the fuel filter again, and go from there. The lift pump is new (about 30 hours on it). I've got to think, at this point, it must be contaminated fuel. I had my neighbor mechanic look at it and he said if it was the injector pump, it would be blowing black smoke all the time, which it has never done. Again, that to you guys for your help, and I will keep you posted on what we find.

could the fuel pickup be broken, or off inside the tank causing it to run poorly until fuel level is up?