I have a 350 BC Cummings, and haul logs for a living. My load usually avg 90,000 to 98,000 including Truck and Trailer. My Truck seems to fall flat on its face in the past week when going up any kind of hill.

I know that a 350 will not pull like a 430 etc...., but it just seems to have gotten real bad this past week.

Something else that I just thought of that might have something to do with this, when I first crank it up when cold, it will jump from 5 to 7 rpms until it warms up. It sounds like a car engine with a big cam in it making that loping sound.

When it is empty, it is the same as before, pulling fine.

I replaced the fuel filter after it started doing this, but it has not helped.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Sounds like a vaccum line or air leak. Those are usually more noticeable at start up.

It also sounds like you may be over-taxing your equipment. Is an upgrade an option?

Partial collapse of a fuel line. Mine pulled fine empty but like crap when loaded.

Could it be the injectors?

Papa Rick, I might havesomething for you. Your power loss could be as simple as a gunked up engine from poor fuel quality. The product that I have addresses that problem. Do you get a lot of black smoke, especially at start up? Go to my site (below) and check out the info. 1 ounce treats 10 gallons of fuel and you may have to go though 2 or 3 tanks to see the results. It's best to add 1 ounce per quart of oil too. If you try it and you don't have better results I'll buy it back because I stand by this product.
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[email protected]

If it were me I would have a mechanic hook up to the CPU. It might be the quickest way to either diagnose the problem or eliminate some things.

Big Cam Cummins shouldn't have a CPU.

No power, hard starting?

dirty fuel filters
bad dose of fuel
air leak on the suction side of injection pump
binding fuel shutoff solinoid

I think you mentioned this was a '85 frightliner used in the woods??? Damaged fuel line???

Forget the snake oil!

Dont waste your money

Just remembered something: I had an injector go bad, took it to the shop to get replaced. After they put the injector in, and I cranked it up and was getting ready to leave, I noticed it surging from 550 to 700 rpm, and backed it back up to the door, and asked the mechanic to to come and listen.

He told me that it hadn't worked all of the air out of it yet? I know nothing about this, but said ok, and drove on with it.

It never did stop surging real bad when cold, and still does a little when warmed up.

It puts out so much white smoke when cranking up, (it did not do this before), and takes alot longer to crank when it is cold. I know it will take longer for a older engine, but it takes longer than before.

I called the mechanic and told him about the problem (surging), and he told me that the pump would need to be rebuilt.

I asked him if something could be wrong with the injector that was put in, and he said no.

If you could tell me how to check for an air leak on the suction side of the injection pump, or binding fuel shutoff solenoid, I will check this.

I have replaced the fuel filter, and it did not help the surging.

As for the power loss, it only started this week.

I am really needing advice on this. It does fine empty pulling, but loaded it falls flat on its face.

This is forPapa Rick,

This is a testamonial some of you may be interested in.
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