Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo Auction Link (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

how to tell when a diesel is running good

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
maddog

01-22-2005 10:33:01




Report to Moderator

I know when a gasoline engine is running well they run smooth and the exaust runs clean with water out the exaust. But how do you know when a diesel is running good and efficient?




[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
CentMO3088

01-22-2005 18:44:44




Report to Moderator
 Re: how to tell when a diesel is running good in reply to maddog, 01-22-2005 10:33:01  
The fair queen hands you a trophy!! HA HA



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
zachh

01-22-2005 16:01:10




Report to Moderator
 Re: how to tell when a diesel is running good in reply to maddog, 01-22-2005 10:33:01  
You guys also know that if it aint smokin it must be brokin.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
jdemaris

01-22-2005 14:40:02




Report to Moderator
 Re: how to tell when a diesel is running good in reply to maddog, 01-22-2005 10:33:01  
If it's running GOOD and EFFICIENT, it will run clean once it's warmed up and provide the power it's rated at without running overly hot. Also, once it's is warmed up, check hot oil pressure at idle. Cold starting can often be a good indicator for certains types of diesels, but not always. Many indirect injected engines, in perfect condition, will skip, smoke, and moan at cold startup - yet once they reach operating temperature they're fine. Even the case with some older direct-injection engines. If you have an engine that you KNOW ran clean and started well cold, and now does not - then that's a different story. We sold many new diesels that skipped, sputtered, and smoked when cold. Things are a bit different now with the EPA involved in most everything. If you have an engine that is suspect, then it will behoove you to pull the exahust manifold off, and look to see if there is excessive sludge, or smoke while running, in certain exhaust ports instead of being evenly distributed. If you find only certain ports that are plugging up, it's kind of analagous to finding fouled spark plugs in a gas engine. Those cylinders probably have damage - unless the engine has an in-line injection pump which can possibly overfuel individual cylinders. If I were checking over a diesel engine in a non-technical way - I'd first acquaint myself with the nature of that particular engine so I'd now what to expect from it. Then, check the exhaust ports or pipe and look for excessive black sludge. Also look of excessive smoke when running it at a moderate load. And, needless to say, make sure it's hitting on all cylinders. If running the machine around is not convenient, put it in a high gear, hold the brakes on, and lug it down a few times. See it feels like it making good power, not smoking though the breather, and look for smoke out the exhaust at the same time. Diesels can smoke real bad, black, blue, white, or a combination and still be mechanically sound. If the fuel delivery is turned up, or the fuel timing advance not working, or air is getting in the system, etc., a diesel can run terrible. I bought a truck for next to nothing because the owner was told by the dealer that it had a rod knock and was ready to blow up. Ended up it was a bad injector that was flooding a cylinder with raw fuel and causing a hydrostatic knock. Now, on the other extreme - I looked at a John Deere 350 crawler with a direct-injection engine. I know the machines, and they are usually good starters down to at least 45 degrees F with no assitance, sometime down to 20F. It was 80 degrees F and the guy was using ether to start it. Once it did start, it smoked and skipped for 10 minutes - but then ran fine except for a little blowby. Had good oil pressure and no exhaust smoke when hot. Pulled the engine apart and it had no top piston rings left at all, and the top ring lands on the pistons were just about gone. So, I guess - in my opinion, it's not easy unless you've got a lot of experience - especially if it's more of a "once over" than a technical diagnosis - which might include a run on the dyno, a compression check, and an oil analysis.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
BillKY

01-22-2005 11:08:54




Report to Moderator
 Re: how to tell when a diesel is running good in reply to maddog, 01-22-2005 10:33:01  
The best way to tell what sort of shape a diesel is in, in my opinion, isn't so much how it runs, as it is how it STARTS. If it starts right up, with little effort, and doesn't smoke heavily, most likely you have a good engine. After that, does it have much blow-by? Does it rev up crisply when you give it throttle? And finally, how does it do under a load?

But like I said, if it starts quick, it's a good chance she's in fair shape.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Mike M

01-22-2005 13:27:19




Report to Moderator
 Re: how to tell when a diesel is running good in reply to BillKY, 01-22-2005 11:08:54  
I ran into an exception to that once. I had a Case 450 crawler loader that would start as soon as you pushed the button ,you could not even get your finger off fast enough,but that thing slobbered and burned oil real bad. The best test is to work it.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
buickanddeere

01-22-2005 12:05:52




Report to Moderator
 Re: how to tell when a diesel is running good in reply to BillKY, 01-22-2005 11:08:54  
Put it on a dyno for 1/2 an hour and see if it makes rated power without smoke, leaks or overheating.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
rustyj14

01-22-2005 10:45:57




Report to Moderator
 Re: how to tell when a diesel is running good in reply to maddog, 01-22-2005 10:33:01  
start engine, push in the clutch, put transmission in forward gear, let clutch out smoothly! If it is running good, the machine will go right smartly! If not, the thing will bog down and quit! Easy, eh? by: RJ



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy