Help! She is running rough! Stranded in saskatoon

shaner · Post by **shaner** » Fri Dec 06, 2013 11:39 pm

Hi everyone.

So here is my issue. I drive a l300 and I am having some serious troubles today. While driving from Edmonton to Regina my van started to run very rough.
It started around north battleford 4 hours into my trip. she just started to run a bit more rough and louder then usual. The transmission also started to shift a little differently. It seems to rev a bit higher before changing gears. Knowing that I was not going to get help I pressed on to Saskatoon 1.5 hours away.

When I was about 15 km from Saskatoon I lost a ton of power. It felt as if I lost a cylinder. I could get up to about 40 km an hour, anymore then that and the tranny would shift and she would really bog down. I limped her to a friends house in Saskatoon and now I am a little stuck.

There were no issues before today, she generally runs great. The van has been taking a little longer to warm up/run smooth but nothing huge.
I did put in a new fuel filter this summer so it's not to old.
Normal white smoke.
The biggest difference is that it was -35 today and colder with the windchill. I'm not sure if that might have something to do with it. I have checked the air filter and it looks normal/ no ice.

Firesong has given me some great advice so far but I really don't know what the problem is.
Thank you for any advice you might have!

thedjjack · Post by **thedjjack** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 12:40 am

transmission shifting earlier most likely is just reacting to you holding the throttle more open trying to get power....

Fuel issue- air in the system. how is the starting? air in the system? Fuel filter could be clogged or fuel could be getting thick in the cold with a weak lift pump?

Turbo spooling? got turbo?

Any sign of a head gasket leak? hows the oil/coolant not hanging out together? top rad hose pressure at start up cold?

timing belt/timing did not jump a tooth?

vixentd · Post by **vixentd** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 1:21 am

I would also guess that it is your diesel gelling. When it gels it then plugs up the fuel filter and you no longer are getting the correct amount of fuel. When diesel gets very cold it can gel, even though it can be winter diesel. Heavy trucks and some vehicles have fuel filter heaters to help with this problem. The best product to combat gelling is Power Service. It can be purchased at any truck stop. Add that and once it is circulated through your system you may see your Delica is running great again. By running it your diesel is circulated throughout the system, as the return runs back to the fuel tank.

shaner · Post by **shaner** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 9:06 am

Well I tried to get her running this morning and no luck. I ran my webasto heater got 40 min and it did not do the trick.
It sure seems to be a fuel problem. There is no oil in the coolant and I have no idea if it could be the turbo.

I would not be surprised if its a timing issue. I actually have it booked in for service in Calgary on Wednesday to get the timing belt changed. I'm not sure that will be happening now. I might take a look at the filter, unfortunately it's still -30 outside....

Thanks for your advice. I would love to run some conditioner in it but I do not see that happening if she will not start..

Thanks for the advice
Any know of mechanics in Regina?

Firesong · Post by **Firesong** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 4:07 pm

Went over to help this afternoon. Shane changed the fuel filter, put conditioner in it as well. Glow plug system appears to be working and will turn over easy.

Diesel just isn't igniting. Wondering if when it started running rough the timing slipped. Shane mentioned the belts were loose and was booked in for a timing belt change.

Also talked to TinyToy who said it had happened to him 2x and fit the description perfectly.

Great to meet Shane. Sucked to meet under these circumstances.

James

shaner · Post by **shaner** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 7:09 pm

Hey all the story goes pretty much as Fire song said. He's a great guy and it was nice to have a fellow deli owner try to come to our rescue.

Except.... Emilie met me in Saskatoon (home is in Regina) and we went to pick up her new car! A really nice Subaru outback. It a great vehicle!!! Except it won't start..... We drove away from the dealership and now we are stuck at the pub...
We are awaiting another boost/tow from AMA.
Best part is that the car was a private sale through the dealership, so we can not just bring it back.

Oh well. #### happens. I hope the car starts and we are not both completely stranded!

shaner · Post by **shaner** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 7:45 pm

Car will not boost.
Getting it towed to the stealership. Seems like I'm taking the bus to Calgary tomorrow.

Firesong · Post by **Firesong** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 8:44 pm

Smile and give your lady many hugs...

shaner · Post by **shaner** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 10:09 pm

Oh ya. We were at the pub anyway. So we had a blast!

Tinytoy · Post by **Tinytoy** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 8:20 am

Hope you got your rig back on the road. Did you ever find out what the problem was? Hope it was an easy fix!
TT

Firesong · Post by **Firesong** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 5:56 pm

He has it at the shop (I texted him yesterday -coincidence..)
One cylinder is lower (from what I understand) so might have slipped
and changed the timing.
Hopefully just valves affected.

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