Grease Converted 1995 Ram2500 CTD Hard Starting, Idle Stalling, and fluid sloshing
#1
11-22-2009, 04:44 PM
Join Date: Nov 2009
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Grease Converted 1995 Ram2500 CTD Hard Starting, Idle Stalling, and fluid sloshing
Hello,
I am a first time owner of a sick 95 ctd. I'm loving the truck, but some problems have arisen.
I recently converted the beast to run on straight vegetable oil. Since I did the conversion, I've been running into some glitches.
ALL OF THESE ISSUES ARE WHEN RUNNING ON DIESEL, NOT GREASE. I haven't been running on veggie since these problems started appearing about a month ago, with the hope that they were being caused by shock to the system due to a new fuel viscosity and burning temperature.
I'm not too much of a mechanic, although I'm jumping onto the learning curve pretty hard and fast as this is my first vehicle. So, here are the symptoms, can anyone please give me some possible diagnoses?
On startup, sometimes it takes a few cranks, and sometimes I even need to pump the throttle. I have also noticed that sometimes during startup, If I have to pump the throttle, than I can hear a sloshing sound coming from below the passenger seat. I don't understand what components in that area could have fluid sloshing around in them.
Once I do get her purring, she runs like a champ until I spend a long time at a red light or stuck in California traffic. If I'm sitting at idle for much more than a minute, than sometimes she will stall out
I have already increased the idle speed, when she's running smoothly the tach tells me that i'm idling at about 800-900rpm. I know thats a little high, but running on grease seems to call for a bit higher flow.
I have gone back and re-checked all my fuel lines for air leaks and places where the vacuum could be compromised and cause a lower fuel pressure at the injection pump. I don't have a pressure gauge to actually check the pressure at the injection pump. Is low fuel system pressure a possible cause for these problems?
Yesterday, the problem compounded when I ran on VEGGIE for the first time in a few weeks, and then switched back to Diesel after another stall out at a red light. I got to work and sat in my truck for a while with the engine idling and applying some throttle whenever I felt the engine start to sputter and shake. Eventually, the sputtering became less frequent, so I shut her down and went to work. When I went back to my truck in the evening, I was cranking and pumping the throttle and it started and then immediately dropped down to a really low idle, about 200rpm according to the tach, then sputtered and stalled out. After a few more attempts, she started up and I got moving. I got 6 blocks away from work, and at a very brief stop at a stop-sign, she stalled again. I checked all my fluid levels, filled up the diesel tank from a spare jug that I always carry with me because my fuel gauge doesn't work, checked all my hose clamps again, checked for any overheating components. Nothing was visibly wrong. This time, all my cranking and throttle pumping were to no avail. The starter motor was cranking, but there was no sound from the engine. So, I left my truck parked on the side of the road for the night. I'd like to get it home or to a mechanic for some real hands-on diagnoses.
Thanks a million, Bombers.
Marcus
I am a first time owner of a sick 95 ctd. I'm loving the truck, but some problems have arisen.
I recently converted the beast to run on straight vegetable oil. Since I did the conversion, I've been running into some glitches.
ALL OF THESE ISSUES ARE WHEN RUNNING ON DIESEL, NOT GREASE. I haven't been running on veggie since these problems started appearing about a month ago, with the hope that they were being caused by shock to the system due to a new fuel viscosity and burning temperature.
I'm not too much of a mechanic, although I'm jumping onto the learning curve pretty hard and fast as this is my first vehicle. So, here are the symptoms, can anyone please give me some possible diagnoses?
On startup, sometimes it takes a few cranks, and sometimes I even need to pump the throttle. I have also noticed that sometimes during startup, If I have to pump the throttle, than I can hear a sloshing sound coming from below the passenger seat. I don't understand what components in that area could have fluid sloshing around in them.
Once I do get her purring, she runs like a champ until I spend a long time at a red light or stuck in California traffic. If I'm sitting at idle for much more than a minute, than sometimes she will stall out
I have already increased the idle speed, when she's running smoothly the tach tells me that i'm idling at about 800-900rpm. I know thats a little high, but running on grease seems to call for a bit higher flow.
I have gone back and re-checked all my fuel lines for air leaks and places where the vacuum could be compromised and cause a lower fuel pressure at the injection pump. I don't have a pressure gauge to actually check the pressure at the injection pump. Is low fuel system pressure a possible cause for these problems?
Yesterday, the problem compounded when I ran on VEGGIE for the first time in a few weeks, and then switched back to Diesel after another stall out at a red light. I got to work and sat in my truck for a while with the engine idling and applying some throttle whenever I felt the engine start to sputter and shake. Eventually, the sputtering became less frequent, so I shut her down and went to work. When I went back to my truck in the evening, I was cranking and pumping the throttle and it started and then immediately dropped down to a really low idle, about 200rpm according to the tach, then sputtered and stalled out. After a few more attempts, she started up and I got moving. I got 6 blocks away from work, and at a very brief stop at a stop-sign, she stalled again. I checked all my fluid levels, filled up the diesel tank from a spare jug that I always carry with me because my fuel gauge doesn't work, checked all my hose clamps again, checked for any overheating components. Nothing was visibly wrong. This time, all my cranking and throttle pumping were to no avail. The starter motor was cranking, but there was no sound from the engine. So, I left my truck parked on the side of the road for the night. I'd like to get it home or to a mechanic for some real hands-on diagnoses.
Thanks a million, Bombers.
Marcus
#3
11-23-2009, 10:14 AM
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Berkeley, CA
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I don't own a pressure gauge. Low pressure would indicate an air leak in the fuel lines, right? Could high pressure be causing these problems? could the ramped up idle speed be causing engine flooding at idle or something?
---AutoMerged DoublePost---
oh, yeah. forgot to mention.
:a rgh:
---AutoMerged DoublePost---
oh, yeah. forgot to mention.
:a rgh:
Last edited by Marcus; 11-23-2009 at 10:14 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
#4
11-23-2009, 12:14 PM
Diesel Bomber
Since there's no throttle you can't really flood a diesel - it'll just rev faster. How is your fuel filter? If your filter is plugged it could easily choke the engine of fuel pressure.
#5
11-23-2009, 02:14 PM
Be cool and don't worry!
Change your fuel filter first. It is not uncommon to have clogged fuel filters with the combined use of Veggie and Diesel.
If the filter is clogged the pump will draw air into the lines.
Change your fuel filter first. It is not uncommon to have clogged fuel filters with the combined use of Veggie and Diesel.
If the filter is clogged the pump will draw air into the lines.
#8
11-28-2009, 07:56 PM
FormerVendor
I ran my truck on veg oil and you need to add the power additive or some octane booster or thinner. The left over vo in the tank will dry up and leave a really nasty goo. You fuel lines are most likely lined with the stuff. Changing the fuel filter will help alot as previously posted. Good luck.
#9
12-02-2009, 11:58 AM
Diesel Enthusiast
ya once you start changing the fuel filter it will be wierd i am filtering mine to 5 microns and stuill had to change the filter a bunch at the beggining the first 2000 miles i had to change mine 3 times but after that you shouldn't have to change the filter for about another 2000 miles.
