• Welcome to The Truck Stop! We see you haven't REGISTERED yet.

    Your truck knowledge is missing!
    • Registration is FREE , all we need is your birthday and email. (We don't share ANY data with ANYONE)
    • We have tons of knowledge here for your diesel truck!
    • Post your own topics and reply to existing threads to help others out!
    • NO ADS! The site is fully functional and ad free!
    CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

    Problems registering? Click here to contact us!

    Already registered, but need a PASSWORD RESET? CLICK HERE TO RESET YOUR PASSWORD!

A good place to start?

P

poptopjr

New Member
Messages
49
Reaction score
0
Location
Winterville, NC
I just found this site and have enjoyed it quite a bit. This will be my first question, I'm sure many will follow, I appreciate all the experience that seems to be here.

I have a '97 K1500, "S", 3.73's, and from what I can tell it is bone stock. Truck has 143k miles on it.

Right now I am not looking for performance, that will come, I want to start off making sure it will last a good long time. I am not currently experiencing any major problems. Starts easy winter and summer. No smoke unless I get on it hard. I have felt a stumble at cruising speeds and the last time I jumped on it there was also a stumble. It runs about 210* towing my boat, about 4000 lbs, (I pulled the top shroud and the radiator needs to be cleaned, this will be done promptly). I also plan on cleaning all the grounds (found the thread about those, that was very helpful).

I am looking at Injectors as a starting point (I don't have anyway of knowing if they have been changed, do I?).

What are your collective opinions?

Thanks in advance.

Keith
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the info so far. I will get the vin and do a vin check (I forgot about that). I did one before purchace on a different site and remember the IP and the PMD being replaced a few times and the IP as recent as 119K, but I can't recall if the injectors have been replaced or the lift pump for that matter.

I have put nearly 10k miles on it so far. I am ordering a filter and a lift pump for a '93. Do y'all use OEM fuel filters or another brand? If the VIN check does not list injectors would it be worth the trouble to buy and change even without symptoms, just to be on the safe side? I have read here and other places 100k is enough for injectors.

The soot trap is still there. I have considered removing and adding straight pipe. Don't know if it would be worth the time. Or should I just wait to get a full exhaust.

Also, for harmonic balancers, does GM recommend a change intervel? And when y'all change them do you usually use OEM. Fluidamper's are a little pricey for my wallet for now.

Thanks again.

Keith
 
I've been using Baldwin fuel filters. They are good filters but they don't bleed for anything.

The older baldwins bleed nice but the new ones with the full plastic top just leak fuel out around the bleeder instead of through it.

I use them because the baldwin sales is only 9 miles away. The closest place I can buy any kind of filter.
 
Welcome to the site, if you need injectors look at having your injectors rebuilt, might be a little more cost effective.
 
Start with the air filter. The troubleshoot the boost if your smoke is more than a puff or getting the turbo up to speed.

A stumble or surging when you are in higher RPM's can point to the lift pump, plugged fuel filter, or sock. Also EGR issues / intake plugging if you got one of those POS devices.

Then you have the advice above for the soot trap and the electronic stuff.

Rebuilt and close pop tests of your injector set makes a night and day difference on these engines when they are worn out. New injectors may not be as close as you can get them rebuilt to.
 
Depends on the exhaust if money is tight, if it is I would suggest cutting that soot trap out pronto, they can start to restrict the exhaust & that will just build heat & rob power. IMO heat is the worst enemy for any diesel. If you can afford it I just recently purchased a full 4" Diamond Eye exhaust with muffler from TV diesel.com delivered for $275. Warpspeed 2.5" x over for about $80 delivered.

Yr issue sounds more like LP or fuel delivery though but thought I wood suggest the soot trap if the LP checks out fine, there known to plug over time.

Welcome to the best 6.5/diesel site on the net!
 
Oh & I wanted to mention my truck was also an S 6.5 and with the help from the members here at this site, mine absolutely runs SWEET. I have deleted the EGR swapped the upper & lower intake manifolds for non EGR 6.5 F motor, replaced my vacuum pump tubing & turbo solenoid, added a custom chip & the the new 4" exhaust & 2.5 X over, reset the timing TDCO to -1.94. For a motor that is just about to turn 210K it runs smooth, gets 19mpg avg & for a full size pickup has great acceleration. My 1/2 ton longbed rides like a caddy compared to my ole F250 with 1 ton suspension.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top