how are your filters, and how old is your IP and injectors? have you checked the timing?
Another "Low On Power" Thread
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Southeastern IL
Another "Low On Power" Thread
Im sure some of you guys have answered this question upteen times, but here it is again! My truck feels underpowered. I understand these IDIs aren't meant to be purebred race horses but you can still get a Clydesdale to gallop... if you understand my analogy lol. Iv drove my dads '88 with a 302 and it gets goin quicker than my IDI does, which is kinda surprising since the IDI makes all of its power down low. Heres my symptoms:
Up to 1000 rpm feels great. Anything after that feels...
It seems to pick up a bit the harder I push on the pedal (obviously) but still doesn't feel like its getting anywhere quick.
I had a lady tick me off today because she tried passing me in the turn lane
so I put er to the ground! You guessed it... Luckily she turned a few blocks later before she realized I was trying to keep ahead of her.
Its quite possible Im expecting too much out of this old diesel but I figured it would at least get up to speed pretty quick with all that torque.
Up to 1000 rpm feels great. Anything after that feels...
It seems to pick up a bit the harder I push on the pedal (obviously) but still doesn't feel like its getting anywhere quick.
I had a lady tick me off today because she tried passing me in the turn lane
so I put er to the ground! You guessed it... Luckily she turned a few blocks later before she realized I was trying to keep ahead of her.Its quite possible Im expecting too much out of this old diesel but I figured it would at least get up to speed pretty quick with all that torque.
Logistics Pro
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Start with the simple stuff, how are your filters? Plugged or partially plugged air and/or fuel filters will rob power. I don't know if the '89 has the independent water filter on the firewall by the booster, but if it does has it been drained?
Then there's the cheap mods, removing the soup bowl from the air cleaner, removing the stock muffler in favor of something more efficient. Helping it breath in and out is win/win.
When I got my '92 it was a dog. Ran fine, but if I climbed a grade at all it'd slow way down and spew out smoke. The '92 has the combined fuel filter and water separator, the filter was rusty and full of water. Replaced the filters, cut out the soup bowl, replaced the muffler with a glass pack (really not that loud) and ran heavy on the diesel kleen for a few tanks. In the end that truck was WAY more responsive then when I got it and it climb those same grades with zero smoke.
My '85 is kind of a dog and I've done all the mods and upkeep. It's okay, but I think it could do better. From what I've read here you can have a good running engine, but tired injectors or pump will rob you of power. In my case if it's tired injectors or pump I'll just live with it as long as it runs and hauls okay.
Retarded timing hurts too, but you have to find someone that actually knows how to time these engines and has the proper equipment to do it.
Then there's the cheap mods, removing the soup bowl from the air cleaner, removing the stock muffler in favor of something more efficient. Helping it breath in and out is win/win.
When I got my '92 it was a dog. Ran fine, but if I climbed a grade at all it'd slow way down and spew out smoke. The '92 has the combined fuel filter and water separator, the filter was rusty and full of water. Replaced the filters, cut out the soup bowl, replaced the muffler with a glass pack (really not that loud) and ran heavy on the diesel kleen for a few tanks. In the end that truck was WAY more responsive then when I got it and it climb those same grades with zero smoke.
My '85 is kind of a dog and I've done all the mods and upkeep. It's okay, but I think it could do better. From what I've read here you can have a good running engine, but tired injectors or pump will rob you of power. In my case if it's tired injectors or pump I'll just live with it as long as it runs and hauls okay.
Retarded timing hurts too, but you have to find someone that actually knows how to time these engines and has the proper equipment to do it.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Southeastern IL
From the looks and what Iv been told, this truck is 110% original. I doubt anything on this truck has been added/removed minus tires and oil changes. An old farmer owned it before me; one owner. It has a fuel/water separator right up beside the IP. I haven't checked on it but it might be worth unscrewin and checking out. No doubt in my mind its the original IP and injectors, but im sure that's a pretty hefty chunk of change to replace... I did remove the fish bowl without any obvious change in anything. It does blow some smoke upon start-up but its not obviously colored. Iv been told the timing is retarded because it is QUIET! I can stand next to it idling and carry on a decent conversation without yelling. But I hardly doubt anyone around here has a timing deal... Any other questions lol
And I appreciate you guys being helpful!
And I appreciate you guys being helpful!
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2011
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it might be wise to check in your local FTE chapter (end of forum list) and see if anyone near you has one. i'm around seattle and i have one, what part of the world are you in? there might be someone near you who has one.
you speak of it being quiet, is that to say it sounds just like a gas engine when idling - mine used to when the timing was very retarded. turn the IP just a little bit at a time to step it up a little. if its as retarded as mine was, it'll make a huge difference.
shopping on fleabay, you can have your IP rebuilt for just a few hundred - IIRC ebay seller "hectorwithinjectors" will rebuild it for like $245, but you have to be able to accept the downtime of shipping it back and forth. and a new set of injectors for as low as about 120 with the return line kit included. locally, you can easily spend over 500 on an IP rebuild
you speak of it being quiet, is that to say it sounds just like a gas engine when idling - mine used to when the timing was very retarded. turn the IP just a little bit at a time to step it up a little. if its as retarded as mine was, it'll make a huge difference.
shopping on fleabay, you can have your IP rebuilt for just a few hundred - IIRC ebay seller "hectorwithinjectors" will rebuild it for like $245, but you have to be able to accept the downtime of shipping it back and forth. and a new set of injectors for as low as about 120 with the return line kit included. locally, you can easily spend over 500 on an IP rebuild
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
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Well, the little mods I mention won't give you that "wow, what a difference" feel, they're just baby steps in the right direction. The other items, timing, turbo, injectors and/or pump if needed, those can make a difference that you can notice.
I haven't looked into it, but maybe someone can explain the ways to test the IP and injectors if possible, it'd stink to spend that kind of money and not need to.
Do you have an International dealer in your neck of the woods? Check if there are some old-school guys in the shop if you do. They can time it right. Ours does and I haven't picked their brains on my IDI, they have been tons of help on an old Cargostar we have at work and it's 14 years older than my truck.
I haven't looked into it, but maybe someone can explain the ways to test the IP and injectors if possible, it'd stink to spend that kind of money and not need to.
Do you have an International dealer in your neck of the woods? Check if there are some old-school guys in the shop if you do. They can time it right. Ours does and I haven't picked their brains on my IDI, they have been tons of help on an old Cargostar we have at work and it's 14 years older than my truck.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: On the prairie
you would be suprised at how much old injectors and pumps cause issues like yours. My buddies 89 ran ok, not great; it idled a little on the rough side and when he would get on it there would be nothing there.
We tried timing it and that helped, but it still kinda sucked. He pulled the injectors and took them to be tested, I told him if possible to ask that they be set at either 1800 or 2000 psi. He brought them back and said that one of them would not pop even with 5000 psi behind it... I was a little shocked.
I'm in central WI if it helps.
We tried timing it and that helped, but it still kinda sucked. He pulled the injectors and took them to be tested, I told him if possible to ask that they be set at either 1800 or 2000 psi. He brought them back and said that one of them would not pop even with 5000 psi behind it... I was a little shocked.
I'm in central WI if it helps.
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Logistics Pro
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From: Southeastern IL
My sig isn't much help on where im at lol. Im in southern Illinois, a half hour from Indiana and about an hour and a half from Kentucky to give u a visual.
Its not "gas quiet" but its sure as heck not noisy. It doesn't even knock that loud the second it fires up.
When I was looking at it at the dealership, we had the hood popped and I was carrying on a good conversation with the salesman. We did have to raise our voices some but we certainly weren't shouting.
Im going to haul a VW Bug about 850 miles next weekend so we will see how she tows...
Its not "gas quiet" but its sure as heck not noisy. It doesn't even knock that loud the second it fires up.
When I was looking at it at the dealership, we had the hood popped and I was carrying on a good conversation with the salesman. We did have to raise our voices some but we certainly weren't shouting.
Im going to haul a VW Bug about 850 miles next weekend so we will see how she tows...
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Southeastern IL
Update: I decided to try my first experiment. I figured maybe this ol truck has been putted around its whole life and never really drove hard. Maybe it just needs to spread its legs a bit and blow some cobb webs out. So on my way home one day, I dropped it into 4th and put it to the floor! Kept goin til it tached about 3 grand, then shifted into 5th about a mile before my turn. Less than impressive but that's ok, I wasn't racing anyone lol. Next day, did the same thing, except I revved it to 3500 before shifting. It definitely caught up quicker! Now it runs tons better! Definitely no race horse but it just "feels" like its running better! Ill still look into changing out some filters and some maintenance in the near future.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Edmonton AB
When I had my 91, it hated being idled around. After alot of slow running (hunting). when I got her back on the road I would always plant my foot and run the hell out of it. Man would it smoke when I did. If I didn't, it would run rough at mid RPM and just be sluggish. IP's for IDI's are cheap. I payed around $350-400CAD for mine. Also stanadyne makes fuel addatives for there pumps. I use to run it religously, with my new pump. you can get it at any International Heavy truck shop.
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Logistics Pro
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From: Southeastern IL
$350 to $400 is quit a chunk of change for someone like me lol. (FYI, $400 CAD is $400.76 USD lol)
Its definitely an upgrade Ill be looking into once both the vehicles are paid off! Which is soon hopefully
Its definitely an upgrade Ill be looking into once both the vehicles are paid off! Which is soon hopefully
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Edmonton AB
[quote=El Camino Man;12811800] (FYI, $400 CAD is $400.76 USD lol)
Even though our currency is at or close to same. Canadians pay alot more for same products. It's rediculous But that is a rant for another time.
I agree that that is alot of money for one part. I would still consider your self lucky. You could have to pay $1500 for an electronic pump.
Even though our currency is at or close to same. Canadians pay alot more for same products. It's rediculous But that is a rant for another time.
I agree that that is alot of money for one part. I would still consider your self lucky. You could have to pay $1500 for an electronic pump.
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Boss351Bronco88
Pre-Power Stroke Diesel (7.3L IDI & 6.9L)
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Aug 20, 2011 08:19 AM