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Customanalog
07-01-2006, 22:28
Hi all, I let my membership lapse, but just renewed. I'm puzzled by this one: 85 Suburban 6.2 with 145K on chassis. Bought in 2004 with 124K miles, from California, and the dealer said the engine was replaced at 100K miles in 2001. Truck had been used for towing before the replacement. Valve covers say GM Goodwrench 6.5, but the injectors are for a 6.2. No turbo.

All was well for 5K miles, then noticed a heavy knock on the right one day while accelerating. Went away for a few weeks, then came back occasionally. Within the last year, loud knocking from the right side occurs every time 1) the engine is warming up for the first time that day, say at 150 degrees. If I let off on the pedal for 30 seconds, it goes away and stays away for the rest of the day unless 2) I floor it going up a long hill or 3) come to a long slow stop at a light and then accelerate moderately. There is generally not a problem driving at normal highway speeds. Loading the engine does it.

The knocking is accompanied by a MASSIVE CLOUD of grey smoke from the right bank, which smells like burning crankcase oil. Problem is worse in Winter, less in Summer, but it can burn a quart of Rotella in 70 miles if I have to climb hills. The engine does not smoke in flat terrain driving, or for more than a few seconds after startup.

So I replaced the injectors. The one nearest passenger compartment (#8?) was pretty fouled. Problem remained. Checked #8 again after 100 miles of driving. Pretty fouled again. My mechanic checked compression, which is between 300 and 320 all cylinders. Then he pulled the injector lines, cranked the engine and noticed that more fuel comes out of #8. Boston Fuel Injection, which rebuilds GM pumps, says that's impossible with a rotary pump, and to try advancing the pump just a bit to compensate for wear. That was done also, with no change.

I've talked to a number of guys with extensive diesel experience. Consensus seems to be to "get a new pump and if that doesn't fix it, a short block." Any ideas appreciated... Thanks!

john8662
07-01-2006, 23:39
The knocking could be one a few things, but I'd look into checking the injectors. Sounds like you could have a bad injector, and it's possible for one to "wash out" where it's just spraying fuel and not popping and spraying a mist of fuel into the cylinder. If it's that bad, it'll be obvious when a technician pop tests the injectors. Most fuel pump shops will do this for free or a measly default price.

Another source of knocking can be from a sticking lifter, but this wouldn't normally be load specific.

The oil consumption isn't normal.

The compression of 300 to 320, is that that just the max the mechanic's gauge went to? If he was using a diesel compression gauge, then I'd be worried about your compression.

300 is on the low side of compression, and if all the cylinders were pretty close to that, the engine is on the tired side. The procedures for checking the compression also needs to be questioned, to check the accuracy of the check.

Sounds as though you've got a 6.5 longblock with 6.2 externals bolted onto it, pretty normal replacement, as the 6.5 is a replacement for the 6.2.

The pump shop is right, one cylinder won't be getting more fuel than the rest from the injection pump, as it's rotary. But, as mentioned, a bad injector can do that.

Customanalog
07-02-2006, 16:17
Thanks for the reply! Replacing all the injectors made no difference. I have a spare set, and could do it again, but the engine only has 100 miles on it since the new ones.

I'll ask the mechanic regarding the compression test. I'm not convinced I was given the straight story about the engine when I bought the truck. It may have done some towing after the replacement.

The oil consumption is what puzzles me the most. I could just baby the truck and the knock is not a big deal, but not if the oil disappears so fast.

Thanks again!