remember we are talking an EMPTY truck here right?
Yup, empty truck.
remember we are talking an EMPTY truck here right?
X2. You "recently aquired" this truck because the person who had it before you hasn't probably spent any money on it in a while. How many miles are on it? It's likely the pump and injectors need to be replaced, or at a minimum you need to get the thing timed properly. Whoever times it should be able to tell you how much life is left in the pump. If it's worn, the fuel needs turned up to compensate. What are your EGT's? Your black smoke may be due to poor fuel atomization. Get the injectors pop tested. There are quite a few things you can/should do to ensure your running as best you can, rather than just guessing on the timing and hoping for the best.
Like others have said I think you have something up with your truck. It'd be worth timing it at the very least. When these motors wear out the injection pump the timing moves. Thus the need to re-time them periodically. But the one thing no one else mentioned and I myself have personally had experience with are locked front brake calipers. I'm completely serious. We drove my moms crew cab for atleast two years with bad front brake calipers on it. Took it in to have the front suspension serviced and they did the brakes at the same time, didn't catch the brake caliper problem. We thought the motor was worn out, it literally didn't want to pull itself. Let me tell you forcing these things to drag themselves around wears on everything. It is definitely worth your time to atleast check the brake calipers for excessive grab.
Clyton,
I was not suggesting that all was necessarily fine with your truck...100k is about the normal wear interval for pumps and injectors, and I am sure it probably needs to be timed. My only point was that compared to what I have heard others say I was not expecting much out of my truck the first time I pulled a grade....I was pleasently suprised it held solid with or without a load, and as of my last run I know I have at least w bad injecctors...still held pretty dang good. Gearing makes a big difference in keeping these motors in there "happy spot" for pulling. They will never be the fastest horses in the coral, but they will always finish the race, and usually for a heck of a lot less $$$ than anything else
after that save your pennies for a turbo. you won't miss your gasser then.
I really wanna keep it N/A, Less things to go wrong. I'd just like for it to run like it's supposed to.