Common problem with a new twist
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 85
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From: Calgary
Common problem with a new twist
The weather has been cold here lately. 20F or so. The last few days that I have started my truck it had knocked and clacked and blown white smoke so bad that I expected the fire dept to show up! I did a search and it certainly appears that I have a bad injector(s).
Now for the new twist...every so often, when I go to start it, the motor cranks breifly but sometimes will come to a sudden stop acting like the engine is totally seized (dash lights dim, dead short with starter). My question is this: When an injector goes, it can dump a ton of fuel into a cylinder, is it possible that it's dumped enough fuel in that cylinder to cause a hydro lock. I know someone will ask: hydro lock is when there is fluid in a cylinder and the piston is not able to move up as fluid is not compressable. If I let the truck sit for a few minutes (I suspect allowing the fuel to slowly drain out of the cylinder) I am able to crank and start the truck. Does this sound like a reasonable theory?
I called a few local dealers and priced out injectors...good lord! What are they made of gold???????
Now for the new twist...every so often, when I go to start it, the motor cranks breifly but sometimes will come to a sudden stop acting like the engine is totally seized (dash lights dim, dead short with starter). My question is this: When an injector goes, it can dump a ton of fuel into a cylinder, is it possible that it's dumped enough fuel in that cylinder to cause a hydro lock. I know someone will ask: hydro lock is when there is fluid in a cylinder and the piston is not able to move up as fluid is not compressable. If I let the truck sit for a few minutes (I suspect allowing the fuel to slowly drain out of the cylinder) I am able to crank and start the truck. Does this sound like a reasonable theory?
I called a few local dealers and priced out injectors...good lord! What are they made of gold???????
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 14,582
Likes: 12
From: 21791
a shattered or bent rod is the result from a hydrolocked cylinder. i believe your problem is that the glow plug system isnt working as well as it should. a few burnt plugs or maybe a bad relay. how many miles do you have on your truck? what year? simply replacing the relay cured the hard start problem on my 95 powerstroke.
to the injectors. no a HEUI injector can't "stick" open unless you have a completely trashed injector which i dont think you do. they are so expensive because they are Hdyraulically activated, Electronically controlled Unit Injectors (HEUI), that use oil pressure to push down on an intensifier piston that acts on a plunger that pushes a precise amount of fuel out the tip into the combustion chamber. i believe the problem is elecrical related, maybe the batteries are getting weak, and cant support the glow plug system (why you have white smoke) and also crank the engine over with the starter. static compression of these beasts is 450-550psi COLD, dry. it takes alot to move these engines over fast enough to start them. i would start out having your batteries checked out, and then replace the GPR. refer to the "hard start/ white smoke" thread at the top of this fourm. good luck.
to the injectors. no a HEUI injector can't "stick" open unless you have a completely trashed injector which i dont think you do. they are so expensive because they are Hdyraulically activated, Electronically controlled Unit Injectors (HEUI), that use oil pressure to push down on an intensifier piston that acts on a plunger that pushes a precise amount of fuel out the tip into the combustion chamber. i believe the problem is elecrical related, maybe the batteries are getting weak, and cant support the glow plug system (why you have white smoke) and also crank the engine over with the starter. static compression of these beasts is 450-550psi COLD, dry. it takes alot to move these engines over fast enough to start them. i would start out having your batteries checked out, and then replace the GPR. refer to the "hard start/ white smoke" thread at the top of this fourm. good luck.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 10,600
Likes: 3
From: Carhenge
Originally Posted by bigtoyfreak
Now for the new twist...every so often, when I go to start it, the motor cranks breifly but sometimes will come to a sudden stop acting like the engine is totally seized (dash lights dim, dead short with starter). My question is this: When an injector goes, it can dump a ton of fuel into a cylinder, is it possible that it's dumped enough fuel in that cylinder to cause a hydro lock.
