How can you tell if a diesel engine is rooted?

Post by **Beastmavster** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 10:18 pm

How can you tell if a diesel engine is rooted? Saw a SD33T cheap and want some info on how long it should last and what signs it will give if it is stuffed.

Post by **Heathx4** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 11:27 pm

Can you see it running? If so, then look at the smoke and at the oil if you can. Some smoke on startup is okay. Any smoke once warm is a concern. Metal or water in oil is bad news.

If you can't see it running, then you're a bit buggered!

Post by **Screwy** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 11:28 pm

SMOKE:

Black is fine
White on COLD start is normal but only on cold start
BLUE IS ALL BAAD

Listen for knocks
Oil leaks

If its done under 300,000 KM's for a TURBO model then its got a good chance of being fine, The stardard SD33's will easily for 450,000 km's if u treat em right.

check for fumes out of the oil filer cap, if they are present its a bad sign...

the rest is straight forward

screwy

Post by **chimpboy** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 11:39 pm

Heathx4 wrote:Can you see it running?

Yes, the motor in question is running.

Post by **Screwy** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 11:42 pm

Thats a good start!!!

Post by **Beastmavster** » Sat Jul 17, 2004 12:05 am

Ok.>> well I'll see how I go with this and let you know if I buy it.

On the upside it is cheap so if the body is good and if it blows up it's just asking fopr a V8 enhancement.

Post by **kamote09** » Sat Jul 17, 2004 1:44 am

do you think this can be fixed by doing a top overhaul? valve seal defects? or piston ring problems?

check for fumes out of the oil filer cap, if they are present its a bad sign...

Post by **shortgq** » Sat Jul 17, 2004 9:24 am

I've been told by a heavy diesel mechanic that the longer u have to crank a cold diesel generally the poorer the condition of the engine is. As diesels rely on compression to ignite fuel/air mixture if the rings are poor or valves don't seal the engine won't be creating as much compression, therefore ignition is slower to occur. This of course is reliant on injectors etc being in good condition etc.

Post by **MQ080** » Sat Jul 17, 2004 12:02 pm

Also put your hand over the blowby pipe on the LHS of the block and see what type of force the pressure is against your hand/piece of wood, as a general rule the more force the "tighter" the engine is i.e. more life left

Post by **dumbdunce** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 12:54 am

MQ080 wrote:Also put your hand over the blowby pipe on the LHS of the block and see what type of force the pressure is against your hand/piece of wood, as a general rule the more force the "tighter" the engine is i.e. more life left

err, you mean the LESS force, right? a good engine should have little to no blowby.

as for black smoke, it's not a great sign - if the engine make s alot of black smoke then it probably needs an injector overhaul which is expensive (abo ut $500 for a 6 cylinder motor). black smoke is partially burned fuel.

grey smoke is unburned fuel and is a sign of low compression or other internal nastiness.

blue smoke is, as others have stated, oil burning. could be bad but sometimes a good flush out will make it good again.

pay for a compresison test, it is the best indicator of condition short of pulling the head.

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How can you tell if a diesel engine is rooted?

How can you tell if a diesel engine is rooted?

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