Outer Limits 4x4 Board

my 4.2diesel with 330,000 has started idling lower than usual, feels like 500 or so. Exhaust rattles everywhere. My question is what would be causing this?
Still drives fine, no power lose and still getting exceptional fuel economy. For the time being i've just bumped up the adjustable idle in the cab but keen to get it sorted properly.

leaking intake?
blocked fuel filter? bout 9000k's old due to be replaced in 1000k's
leaking fuel line running to lean?
fuel pump playing up? needs rebuild?
injectors?

Any help or suggestions would be great

cheers

when was its last full service start there n see what change it does

start with the basics n then worry about the complecated issuses

last service was 4000k's ago, oil change and oil filter, air filter change. Next service fuel filter due. Might just change the fuel filter and see if that helps.

If changing the fuel filter fixes it I would be draining your fuel tanks to make sure all the cral is out.

Worth doing anyway to clean the crap off your fuel pump filter inside the tank if they are the same as petrol 80s.

My mate spent ages trying to source his low idle issue in his petrol 80. turned out to be a small crack in the intake pipe between the airbox and throttle body - it was hidden in the base of the deep ribs where it bends.

cheers.

Is it the factory turbo engine? 12 ht I think their called
Could be a pump issue.
As I believe this motor has is a common issue which makes them idle down on inclines? not sure tho
cheers

stock standard 1HZ 4.2 diesel. yeah will change the fuel filter and see what happens. Otherwise might be worth taking to united fuel injection just to make sure everythings o.k

JWB wrote:Is it the factory turbo engine? 12 ht I think their called
Could be a pump issue.
As I believe this motor has is a common issue which makes them idle down on inclines? not sure tho
cheers

12ht is a 60 series engine, 4.0L if i remember right.

Layto....

Ok well replaced the fuel filter and it wasnt that.

I'm thinking would it be that my power steering pump is knackered and putting load on the engine all the time. i noticed before when I turned the wheel on the spot the idle dropped and the pump groaned, even half a turn and its doing it.. Does this sound like a good cause of the low idle?

shouldnt be that. your revs will drop only when you turn the wheel at idle and when you stop turning your revs should pick up. So i would say its not the powersteering system. If your belts a re to tight on the other hand it can cause a lower idle

It seems to be fine when it's cold then when it warms up the low idle comes back? any ideas?

I had the exact same thing going on with my 1HZ 80 series

It was OK when cold, but when working hard up a hill it would stall when you took your foot off the gas!
Had to let it cool down before it would even idle on it's own without the hand throttle on!

After checking heaps of different sh#%, and talking to half a dozen different mechanics, I found the problem.

Turned out that a small section (10mm) of my intake manifold gasket was missing

Bloody thing must have cracked and got sucked in and spat out!

Stuck a new set of gaskets on and she's been fine since!

I guess I'd check everything on the intake side for any possible vacuum leaks.

Hope this helps!

Thanks heaps for that mate will check that. Yeah last thing I want is to start fixing things that are not broken to get this sorted. ends up costing $$$ when you fix things to eliminate them. injector pump rebuild and injectors is like $1400 wouldn't want to fix things like that when it was fine in the first place

No probs, let us know if ya find anything!

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Rick... get back to work...
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mine did thesame...if you still get good economy and power, it is probably the linkage that has worn slightly....give it a wiggle and you will see...why those ball things are facing up at the cable to lever i dont know...catches all the crap and grinds it up....i would adjust the idle at the pump and keep driving it...did this to mine today 270kms

well yeah still drives perfect might just take it to my mechanic n and get him to have a quick look if he can't work it out get him to adjust the idle at the pump n keep going

same sort of problem with mine.
you mentioned power steering pump.. yep mines rooted cant turn without revs

Try tightening your belts up abit and see if it makes a difference aswell.
Let us know your findings as im about to tackle low idle problems soon myself after extractors

drain out Auto tranny fluid and run steering fluid...twice as thick, alot better at making pressure at low revs

yeah had a look wasn't autotrans I put in. was texamatic power steering fluid and transmission fluid for ford 4sp automatics.. I've got some castrol power steering fluid should I drain it and put that in instead?