Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hi there,
I'm wonding wether anyone can tell me what could be going wrong with my ute. She's a LN106 2.8D done about 270kms.

Was towing my tinnie on the weekend (a very light 3m Barra punt) and whenever I headed up a hill on the highway I just lost all power, it felt like I was towing a million bricks. (I checked the trailer and the bearings are fine, rolls real smooth and light) I pretty much have to drop to third sometimes second and crawl up any steepish hills. (I had to crawl up Toowoomba range in second)

I've been using more fuel lately too. from the usual 10km/L I'm probably now using 12-13km/L. It's not blowing smoke, only if I'm in too high a gear pushing up a hill with low revs. Lately I also seem to have to rev her really hard (up to 3000+rpm) before I can change up a gear. It's using a bit of oil, I'm topping up about 30-50mls every 2-3 weeks. The temp has been stable as the needle hasn't moved no matter how hard or long I've been pushing her. (radiator reco'd before Christmas) I've checked the brakes and they're not dragging. We recently did a trip up to Cooktown via bloomfield and had no trouble at all. Even with a tank or two of dodgey diesel. Could there be something wrong with my injector pump? It was serviced about 30k kays ago. Injectors? I haven't done them since i've had the car (50k kms) But it's not blowing any black smoke. I actually don't know when they were last done. (I'm assuming the last 100thou km) I know there's a lot of kays on the motor but these diesels are supposed to be good for 350-400thou. I was told by a mech the hiaces etc all run these motors and are good for that. I'm hoping to get to 350thou before I move to another car.

Can anyone help with a diagnosis?? If not any suggestions for a good diesel mechanic around central brisbane? Thanks.

Alex

Fuel / air filters?? If you've had dodgy diesel, maybe an injector line or the filter is blocked somewhere.

I would be thinking fuel system as you said it happened in all of a sudden possibly a blocked injector?

i have the same vehicle as you and 2.5-3k for gear change is the normal in mine has been scince i got it a year ago. as for towing i think this is normal my lux sucks for towing and going up hills. they are not known for there power. having said that ive towed a 18foot alimium uperduck with 150hp motor on the back up hills but just crawling up at 60km/h. i coulkdnt tell u my fuel fingures as ive never bothered working it out. mabye give her a oil and filter change see if this makes a difference. just remember it isnt a power horse. hope this helps some what

jack

I've always changed oils every 4000kms. Fuel and air done regularly. I changed the glow plugs last month. Three of them had oil all over the ends. Spoke to a mechanic over the phone reckons that's caused my rings are rooted. He reckons motor's rooted which means decrease compression = loose of power suddenly when hitting a hill on the highway, and having to rev the shit out of it for everything else. I thought there were a lot of blokes here that have fixed things like this on their own hilux's