High Altitude symptoms?

[nxski]

I'm in Sun valley right now and just came over from Yellowstone. While in Yellowstone the van had a few odd symptoms. I was told at the visitor centre that my vehicle would run "oddly" but I just wanted to make sure that this is normal for high altitude conditions.

1. Lots of light grey smoke at start-up
2. High EGT's for the speed and load being put on the van
3. Blowing out black smoke under minor load
4. Rattling more than usual while cold
5. Slower acceleration

From what I've read in the past blowing out black smoke is normal since there is less oxygen so the vehicle runs a bit rich. Also, the slower acceleration and higher EGT's also seem to make sense but I wasn't completely sure so I figured I'd ask the "experts"

[tonydca]

Is your engine turbocharged or not? Don't know why it would knock louder when cold, but the rest sounds understandable.

For an entertaining read/flame war that does actually contain info on altitude effects and turbochargers, try this on for size:

http://www.delica.ca/forum/lack-of-powe ... -7692.html

Hope your trip is otherwise going well.

Cheers,

Tony.

[Manitoba deli]

Not again! If you are going to read that, you have to read the 5 page follow up also. Warning though, it gets pretty heated. Not one of my best moments, I usually don't lose my cool.
http://www.delica.ca/forum/turbo-diesel ... ight=turbo
Sorry, didn't know how to provide the direct link.

Jason

[nxski]

Ok, those were intersting reads but I still don't have a great understanding of what's going on. Yes, I have a turbo but from what I understand that just means the loss of power won't be as pronounced as with a non-turbo engine (not that there won't be an affect from altitude) correct?

Other than that the trip is going great. I wish I'd broken up my drive between Forks and Yellowstone though, 19 hours of driving is a bit much for me, especially in an L300.

[FalcoColumbarius]

.....I wish I'd broken up my drive between Forks and Yellowstone though, 19 hours of driving is a bit much for me, especially in an L300.

That's why I restuffed my saddle with gel and memory foam. You can get gel & memory foam seat cushions at London Drugs for around $40.00, Makes long trips much more comfortable.

Do you still have the altimeter on board? You might notice that the lines go a different colour at 2,000 metres. I'd be inclined to warm the engine at 1,100RPM at the start of the day, before putting any weight on the engine, wait for the needle to move ¬ let the head & block get up to temperature. Maybe you won't get the rattle so much with the hand throttle engaged...

Glad you're having a good time, Nxski!

Peace,

Falco.

[nxski]

If I warm it up any higher than 1000 she smokes like a chimney so I leave it at 1000 until the engine is smooth and I have the throttle locked that way while I drive away, I start off very slowly (around 30km/hr until acceleration becomes easier then I unlock the throttle control and drive it around 1000-1100 degrees max no matter what the speed limit is. Luckily I haven't had too many people get upset about this and the 2 that started following too close got a flash of my 1200 lumen reverse lights and backed off instantly and / or passed me.

[tonydca]

Smoking like a supermodel doesn't quite sound right - how clean are your injectors?

There's this one nut-job on the forum who advocates cleaning 'em out by doing a highway run with a bunch of IPA added to your tank...

[nxski]

Smoking like a supermodel doesn't quite sound right - how clean are your injectors?

There's this one nut-job on the forum who advocates cleaning 'em out by doing a highway run with a bunch of IPA added to your tank...

I had them cleaned by Butch immediately before leaving on this trip so I can't imagine they got clogged in the 2000km I've driven since then.

[nxski]

Symptoms are all gone now that I'm on the coast!