I'm replacing my injectors today. I bought brand new Delphis. I'm hoping this takes care of some of my driveability concerns but I read about the valve seals causing valve sticking. I definitely don't want to suck a valve. How common a problem is this?

Edit: 1994 F-450 Super Duty mason dump. Non turbo E4OD. Tear 9000 #
I wanted to put all this in a sig but....

 

that's a new one on me. never heard of it but if oil allowed to run to long between changes could maybe cause something like that to happen.

 

Supposedly, IH oil consumption was too much for Ford and they introduced "improved" valve seals at some point. They allegedly don't allow much lubrication and can cause valve sticking and, eventually, collision with a piston. Bang....Game over!

I have an intermittent "chuffing" sounding exhaust. Also, I have some fuel starvation problems that happen at extended low idle periods.

It's so frigin hot today that I haven't done anything on either of my trucks. (My Dakota cooked a wheel bearing on the way back from VA Beach).
I put a window A/C in my garage today and almost fell out! It's time for a few Heinies and a TV movie until it cools off. I have a Mr. Gasket green pump and a set of Delphies to go in before my next job. I'm grossing out at close to 30,000# with the Eager Beaver and my PC-50 so I need all the power I can get. I'm doing the pull on Mon. This'll be the third move and, this time, it's almost all down hill.
I also bought 4 gal of green NAPA antifreeze and 2 qt of NAPA Cool.

I'm going to turn the fuel up one flat as suggested and bump the timing forward a hair. I keep meaning to swing by the school bus garage to see if there's anyone left that I know. They are all turbo 6 cyl now but they used to be all IDI V8's in those busses. They may still have some tools for the older V8's.
For now, I'll time it by ear. It sounds wrong to me right now. If I can't get it to pull a little better, I'll go ahead and get a new pump. It only has 74,000 mi on it though.

 

I just replaced all the injectors. There was one new Delphi and the rest were original. The new injector was clean and dry. All the rest were black and soaking wet. I hope the truck will run a bit better with a fresh set but I still want to time it before I test drive. Also, the Mr. Gasket pump will go in in a few minutes. I bought another fuel filter...the one with the drain **** on the bottom this time. I like the idea of the drain and sensor thing but it leaks unless I reaf the hell out of it and I don't like that. Also, the tail pipe has a sieve in the end. That can't be helping anything. I'll have to see about a better exhaust. Maybe a turn down right after the muffler. That's legal here since it's a dump truck.

 

keep posting and we'll figure it all out.

 

OK...Injectors in, Mr. Gasket pump pumping....No more chuffing exhaust but it still was breaking up bad at ~3000 rpm. I marked the pump and advanced the timing a good 3mm before I thought it sounded right. Now, it starts without the glow plugs and revs nice and quick right to about 3800 rpm and no blattin' exhaust or breaking up. It sounds right. I still need to put rear brake pads on and replace a rusted brake line so no test drive. I'm about to turn the fuel screw in one flat while it's still accessible.

I feel that it could stand even more advance but it sounds now how I remember, when these things were brand new. I'm going to leave it right there and see how she runs.

 

Pump screw is adjusted.
Almost 10:00 and I still have brakes to do. Gonna be a long day tomorrow!

 

I couldn't wait. I hooked up the brake line and went for a ride. It runs like a new truck and it scoots! The rev limit is 3500 rpm and that's where it shifts. No black smoke or anything, it just runs like it should.

 

I ran it all day today and it feels like a different truck. There is a little black smoke when it's lugging, like up a steep hill in 4th at 30-35 mph. As soon as I tip it enough to 4-3 shift, it cleans right up. The engine is quieter going down the road and it takes a lot less pedal to keep it at speed. Very happy so far. I started the truck this morning without waiting for the glow plugs. Not even a hiccup! It just fired right off.

 

there should be smoke when under a load. if you just take your foot out a little it will go away. its just excess fuel you arent burning while your trying to get those rpm's up.

 

Yup and I'm fine with that. Once I cranked the pump on an L10 285 in an old Paystar tri axle dumper to try to get it to move. I opened it up as far as it would go. It had a 7LL behind it and if you missed a shift, the traffic behind you would disappear! That was a bit much but the truck was so under powered, it was practically undrivable otherwise. My F-450 feels pretty well dialed in but I will keep asking around until I find someone who can either lend me the gear or time it for me.

How much advance is safe?

 

good to hear that it's on the road again. my truck doesn't smoke pulling either.don't know on timing as haven't ever timed a diesel before. turned up a cummins 400 twin turbo in a ford 9000. ran great for about another 8000 miles then blewup rather bad.

 

the way i was told was to advance it until it had a powerstroke like sound to it.

 

With the cold start advance on ...

-Enjoy
fh : )_~

 

How do you tell when the timing is too advanced? I never had the ***** to push it. I had a Volvo 740 turbo diesel years ago and the trick timing for that was 1mm on the depth gage. That was the Euro spec. I never tried to advance more then that though. I did a 6D105 in a Komatsu D41A and set the pump timing by ear. It ran like a raped ape for years. I just set it so it sounds right and leave it. I know that retarded timing causes blueish white smoke so I time it 'till there is no smoke at idle. What happens if you advance it too much?