Duramax Problem - Montana Owners Club

RKassl · 01-19-2007, 12:00 AM

This last weekend, was not towing, but on the road. We were doing about 60 mph and the truck bucked, speed dropped and could go no faster than 25mph! Pulled over at the next service station. Never got a service engine lite, called ONstar for an engine diagnosis and nothing showed up either. I Shut down and restarted. Was able to climb slowly to about 50 mph, if I would accelerate, the truck seemed to want to die. I thought it was the turbo.

Took it to the dealer and they found the problem right away, the fuel filter was just about plugged! This filter was about 10 months old, probably under 10,000 miles.

Has anyone with a diesel experienced a bad fuel filter before? Any symptoms like what we saw?

If we were on a long trip towing this would have been a big problem. I have learned a hard lesson here. The dealer charged me $115.00. I will be more aggressive with fuel filter maintenance in the future especially when we set off for a major trip. Probably will carry a spare with me from now on.

Are diesels more susceptiable fuel filter issues than gassers?

Chip · 01-19-2007, 01:13 AM

Yes
My past experience with diesels is that any fuel issues (dirt, water, low temps) will affect the fuel filter first. Its not like a gas machine. It is more sensitive in the winter as well. I plan on changing my fuel filters once a year to be on the safe side. You have to tell service to do it as they will not do it automaticlly.

lawrenceb42106 · 01-19-2007, 01:29 AM

So far we have not had any problems with our fuel filters. I always change mine every 10,000 miles. Also i always carry a spare filter, with me. I always buy fuel at a high volume truck stop. Some of the mom and pop's don't sell enough fuel so that it can got trash, and water in it.

Illini Trekker · 01-19-2007, 02:30 AM

Bob I have not had that dis pleaser yet (knock on wood) what I have done is to install a prefilter. This site is another good source of info. to look at it shows a set up close to what I did.
http://dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=68874

But I used a Purma-Filter for my filter housing. After the first filter change I moved to a much taller filter that is water separator type.
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

I can offer no help to the bad fuel you found but this prefilter is MUCH easier to change if I where on the road, I do carry a spare for each. Get brand name fuel, turn motor off when fueling, never buy fuel with a tanker sitting out front, us a fuel additive to help with water.SeeYa

Bill and Ann · 01-19-2007, 02:59 AM

Bob: My experience was not quite as bad as yours but I did notice a change in performance. At first I thought the injectors were starting to act up again as the symptoms were the same when my injectors failed a couple of yrs. ago. Couldn't get it over 48 mph and wouldn't respond to the accelerator at all. Took it to the dealer and he said it was the filter. Will automatically change the filter from now on and save the diagnostic fee.

Les and Julie · 01-19-2007, 03:33 AM

We had exactly the same experience and we were towing! On Star could not see any problem --- had to be towed in by Good Sam Emergency Road Service ---- diagnosis test was done and clogged fuel filter found. We plan on changing fuel filter before long trips from now on. Les & Julie

cmp-shooter · 01-19-2007, 04:32 AM

Buy your fuel at good truck stops and there will be less chance of this happening again but there is always a chance of getting some water once in a while...to bad I wasn't there I'd have showed you how to change one...it's simple esp when you take off the "accordian" part of the intake 2 screws. and yes I always carry a spare filter WITH THE EXTRA WATER IN FUEL SENSOR ALREADY INSTALLED!! [$57.00]

E-MAIL me if you need to get the special tool for this wif sensor 31.50 shipped[not by me]
http://s116.photobucket.com/albums/o...rrent=4e_1.jpg

Montana Sky · 01-19-2007, 11:46 AM

Have not had this happen yet, but I know it can. Like mpl987 I try and only use truck stops that move large volumes of diesel fuel. GM also sent out a recall on the fuel filter and a change of mileage service requirement. New filter is to be changed every 10,000 miles as it filters much more than the previous filter.

party of 5 · 01-19-2007, 12:17 PM

I do not have a GM product but this is my maint. pattern
5k miles: change oil, oil filer and air filter
next 5k miles, chang oil, oil filter and fuel filter
1 a yr have chassis lubed
20-25k miles have transmission fluid and filter changed (miles depends on how much I tow the trailer) but no more than 25k mi before I have tranny serviced.
I have yet to have a problm with anything yet. (knock on wood)

RKassl · 01-19-2007, 01:23 PM

Thanks to all. Its nice to know the problem was properly diagnosed. We do have a GREAT board!

Happy Camping!

EagleRunner · 01-19-2007, 01:47 PM

One of the diagnostic functions of the Duramax is that it has a limp- home mode. Any condition the computer detects as a problem will cause the computer to enter this limp-home mode. A fuel system error is one of the big ones it treats as critical enough to prevent further damage to the fuel injection system. It gets you to the next garage but as you say, if you are towing that can be a different story. I guess they feel you can disconnect and drive in to the nearest service garage for repair. Who would want to leave their Monty on the highway while the TV is in the garage?

Cat320 · 01-19-2007, 02:40 PM

I'd be interested to know what your DIC said as far as "fuel filter life remaining." Did it (the percentage of life remaining) go down in a hurry? I have a boat diesel...normally it's not the fuel filter that is the problem, when it gets plugged, it is doing it's job. The problem is water or crud in the fuel.

Dave e Victoria · 01-19-2007, 03:43 PM

I believe the 2006 is the first year that the DIC keeps track of the fuel filter. Our 2003 did not. Bubba's DIC lets me go about 18000 miles before changing. I'm not sure if it is just hours of engine use or something more complicated.
Dave

jpkelpe · 01-19-2007, 05:28 PM

Same thing happened to us on our way to the Rally last year. happened right after we fueled at a big truck stop. A little later the truck ran fine and then started "acting up" again. had filter changed and no problems afterwards. Now we know ho to change it ourselves, and yes we carry an extra one.

EagleRunner · 01-19-2007, 06:14 PM

Dave,
I think you are correct about the Fuel Filter Life in DIC being new in 2006 models. Mine is 2005 and it does not have that.

SlickWillie · 01-20-2007, 02:06 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by EagleRunner

Dave,
I think you are correct about the Fuel Filter Life in DIC being new in 2006 models. Mine is 2005 and it does not have that.

I believe there is a reflash for the 05's that will add the Fuel Filter Reminder to the DIC.

Montana Sky · 01-20-2007, 09:42 AM

I heard there is a reflash available, but be careful with that. You will lose some of the "other features" on the DIC for pre-06 models. I saw a bulletin about it, but cant locate the number at this time. Will keep looking...

SlickWillie · 01-20-2007, 03:41 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Montana Sky

I heard there is a reflash available, but be careful with that. You will lose some of the "other features" on the DIC for pre-06 models. I saw a bulletin about it, but cant locate the number at this time. Will keep looking...

I'm sure one of the things that is done is bump the overheat alarms up some.

Montana Sky · 01-20-2007, 03:58 PM

Will,
Have you ever had an overheat alarm go off on your GMC??

sreigle · 01-20-2007, 04:05 PM

Don't feel bad, guys. I have to change TWO fuel filters on my Ford. One on top of the engine and another on the frame. So far it's never clogged but I change it at 15k miles.

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