TD42 - strangest issue under power! Fuel pump?

Hi all. My first post so thank you in anticipation. Have this weird thing where under power at higher revs I lose power & engine becomes a bit rough Can feel 'vibrations' through the accelerator. Able to drive on the flat ok but up hills (out of Adelaide) I'm lugging around 60ks in 3rd in the truck lane. Boring. I towed a vintage van from MEL & aged about 5 years.
Anyway. Took it to diesel mechanic in Ballarat & none had come across the problem before. It idles well & performs as always has except when pushing or up hills. I'm wondering if under pressure one injector is starved & this may lead to such a thing?
Is pulling off & breaking down recommended for the uninitiated? Or better off taking to diesel mechanic? If so... any tips on who to see in Adelaide? ADL hills perchance? Thanks v much. BB

There could be a few different issues with the old TD42 that would possibly cause something like this....


The most likely is that you may have a bit of rubbish in the inlet side of the fuel pump, as this can often be the cause of this type of issue....

Some, but not all TD42's have a fine gauze filter located on the inlet side of the pump ( and not easily seen from just taking off the feed.

This would be the first thing I would look at .... if you don't feel comfortable doing it, then it will be a fairly cheap and quick fix at a reputable mechanic ( make sure that you tell them that is what you assume it will be too, so they have less chance to pull the wool over your eyes ).

If you don't have the filter or this turns out to not be the issue, then you will be looking at the injectors ( depending on age ), the timing, and lastly the pump.

A good diesel mechanic can bench test the injectors to rule them in or out, check the timing, etc

Mic

Well mate that sounds like a pretty normal td42 apart from the vibrations you mention.
Mine is back to 3rd in the hills to. And the old td42 doesn't excel in the high rpm output range like it does down low.
Is it any particular rpm range your noticing it threw.

Are the air and fuel filters clean?

Hi guys. Yes replaced outboard air & also fuel filters prior to MEL>ADL trip (secondary air filter looked pretty new). The behaviour is very different to just struggling up hills as I was used to in the past. Really is a weird feeling once it kicks in - as mentioned I had 4 diesel mechs around the Beast in Buninyong & they were perplexed.
Happens around 2300s but it's not the same in different gears/loads. Somewhere in that range but not absolutely consistent. Cheers chaps.

Sounds like fuel starvation. Check to see if te gauze filter is on the inlet. These are hard to see so look hard and will need to fished out with a small hook.

Also check all your lines. Right from the tank all the way to the engine bay.

Can you describe what happens when it breaks down in the higher rpm the best you can??

Hi Broochay

It sounds similar to that which my GQ TD42 was afflicted with.

Maybe its too simple but in my case the issue was pinhole / pinholes in the supply side rubber fuel hoses to the fuel pump / filter.(Engine bay in front of the glove box) As fuel demand increased it seems that some air was getting in to the fuel with the result not unlike what you describe.

My mechanic replaced the hoses on the supply side and I once again had a GQ that was happy to rev. Much smother and no more loss of power and vibrations as fuel demand increased.

Perhaps this may help but its cheap and easy to see.

Good luck with it.

Cheers
Chimo

As Chimo said eliminate the easiest and cheapest options first, before you outlay big dollars, quite often it's the little things that catch you out, good luck!

Does it blow lots of black smoke when it happens, if so its not getting enough air.
( more of a problem with a turbo fitted)