1994 spacegear whistling sound with gas pedal, loss of power, black smoke

Lake · Post by **Lake** » Tue May 09, 2017 11:07 pm

Hi Everyone;
I have a 1994 Space Gear 2.8 Litre Turbo Diesel.
About the few months ago I noticed the van would have a whistling sound like a jet engine while driving, it was not loud and everything seemed fine and I kept using the van without any issues.
My last trip I was driving to Cranbrook, running very low on fuel and filled up at Cranbrook Shell station. I drove another 150 km after the fill up, the van started to not respond to acceleration, hesitation, loss power. When I went uphill loaded with some lumber, the van barely have much power, black smoke blowing. I managed to drive to the town of Canal Flat at around 80 km/h and less. Parked at Canal Flats until I can fix the problem. I live in Calgary.
Anyhow, after reading some of the posts, I am guessing it could be either a simple issue or very complicated one.
Can anyone suggest what I should do.
It can be fuel filter? turbo charger? egr?
I will be back to Canal Flats in about 3 weeks, would like to figure out what may be the issue, and order parts before I head there.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciate it.

Lake

TRUTHautomotive · Post by **TRUTHautomotive** » Wed May 10, 2017 5:39 am

The symptoms you describe sound like an exhaust leak between the engine and the turbo.

Possibly the manifold to turbo gasket.

I once did a roadside repair for this on a Town Ace in the middle of the night between Ft. Nelson and Whitehorse. We had nothing but a set of stubby wrenches, pliers and a sheet of copper It was...fun.

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Lake · Post by **Lake** » Fri May 19, 2017 9:05 am

Thanks for your response TRUTHautomotive;
That sound like a fun thing to do repair at middle of the night between Ft. Nelson and Whitehorse! you have a good chance to get abducted by aliens.

So you think is the EGR stuck in open position? all i have to do is use a sheet of metal to block the exhaust leak to the engine which I think is called the EGR.
Can it also be that I filled up when is very low in fuel, and is possible to trap air bulb in the fuel filter?

Come to think of it, the whistling sound may come from low engine oil, I read the turbo charger need oil from engine for lubrication. When I filled up the engine oil again, the whistling sound may have gone but could not be sure as the van is still parked in Canal Flats.

Any comments from anyone who experienced similar things would be greatly appreciated it.

TRUTHautomotive · Post by **TRUTHautomotive** » Fri May 19, 2017 11:26 am

That's a lot to unpack.

An EGR stuck open could diminish power and reduce turbo efficiency. If you planned on deleting it anyways it couldn't hurt to get that out of the picture.

What I'm suggesting is that there may be an exhaust leak (blown gasket) between the manifold and the exhaust side of the turbo.

This would account for all of the symptoms you are describing. Louder than normal whistle, diminished power and thick black smoke.

Lack of fuel or air in the fuel causes a lean mixture scenario and usually manifests as white smoke and misfiring or sputter.

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Lake · Post by **Lake** » Mon May 22, 2017 9:27 pm

Thanks for your insight TRUTHautomotive, it does make sense what your are saying. How do I fix an exhaust leak (blown gasket) between the manifold and the exhaust side of the turbo? Should I order a new gasket maybe from RisingSun? I actually don't even know where the gasket is, but will do more reading on it.
Any chance you want a free getaway accommodation and fix my van out in Canal Flats? There is Natural Lussier Hotspring, Fairmount hotspring, Golf, hiking, fishing. Let me know. We have a mobile home out there and is normally rented out to vacation people.

Lake

pajerry · Post by **pajerry** » Thu May 25, 2017 12:27 pm

I've had that problem with a stuck EGR valve. The noise not so much, but every other symptom.

I've also had similar issues when an attendant filled 3/4 tank with gas instead of diesel, regardless as me asking for diesel and there being two diesel only stickers on the door and gas cap.

TRUTHautomotive · Post by **TRUTHautomotive** » Thu May 25, 2017 2:51 pm

Sorry dude! It's tempting but I have too much on the go.

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Lake · Post by **Lake** » Fri May 26, 2017 12:18 am

Thanks guys for your feed backs.
I talked to one of the guys at Coombs. He thinks it is the intake manifold gasket leak, which I think is what TRUTHautomotive is saying as well.
So the whistling sound is the air leaking out from the gasket, and when it got worse, the loss of power and black smoke due to engine not getting enough air. So I will be ordering the intake manifold gasket and hope to solve the issue.
Also have been reading lots online.
Other possible issues are:
1. BOV (blow off valve) may get stuck open which will result in the same issue, air escaping before it gets to the engine.
2. Wastegate of the turbo venting.
3. Stuck EGR valve as Pajerry mentioned. Some people recommend blanket the EGR, anyone has done it? Does it help?
I also remembered more oil leak is coming out of the oil cap area, and maybe around the intake manifold area. ( since I do not have the van here, cannot confirm)
This could also be result of intake manifold gasket leak hence pushing air and oil out, and something to do with breathe hose connecting to the intake manifold.
Anyhow I will be back in Canal Flats in a week time and will try the simplest and most possible case, replace the intake manifold gasket. If that does not work, will look into the other 3 possible ways.
Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated, as I am ordering parts now.
Thanks TRUTHautomotive, if you ever need a break from your busy schedule let me know...