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Cat 259B3 Sputters, Blows White Smoke Only After Hours of Use

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Howey Matt

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2021
Messages
129
Location
Howey in the Hills, FL
Hi all,

The machine has around 2,000 hours on it. Runs fine for 3-4 hours, then I notice it gradually starts losing power. When I give it full throttle it starts sputtering, and won't run well at more than about half throttle. Puffs of white smoke from the exhaust. Not using oil, but coolant was low today when I checked. I think the white smoke had a slight bluish tint to it, but that could be me - it was getting dark and I was looking through the rear plexiglass.

It just came back from the Cat dealer for this same issue. Dealer initially said nothing was wrong, then found a slight amount of glycol in the oil, so they changed the head gasket.

Any ideas?
 
B

bobatack

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2012
Messages
123
Location
Ontario, Canada
I have seen those symptoms when engine was starved for fuel...partially plugged fuel filter or partially plugged fuel sump hose in tank
 
D

Delmer

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2013
Messages
8,923
Location
WI
You need to figure out if the coolant is going down, or if it was never full to start with. Then take it back to the dealer, or figure out the fuel issue.
 
KSSS

KSSS

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2005
Messages
4,824
Location
Idaho
Occupation
excavation
Sounds like a head gasket to me.
 
D

Delmer

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2013
Messages
8,923
Location
WI
I'd suspect it's sucking air somewhere, if it takes a few hours to really warm up and start acting up.

Or, it's overheating and will go downhill fast.
 
heymccall

heymccall

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2007
Messages
6,125
Location
Western Pennsylvania
Mark and disconnect all fuel lines from separator head. Unplug priming motor. Remove filter. Dismount assembly from machine. Unscrew ring at arrow, and lift priming pump off. Now, remove all debris and crud, and, absolutely ensure that the inlet from the tank is not restricted.

If you find debris and restrictions, install a 3972 inline screen between tank and separator.
Screenshot_20220206-112954_Chrome.jpg
 
H

Howey Matt

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2021
Messages
129
Location
Howey in the Hills, FL
heymccall said:
Mark and disconnect all fuel lines from separator head. Unplug priming motor. Remove filter. Dismount assembly from machine. Unscrew ring at arrow, and lift priming pump off. Now, remove all debris and crud, and, absolutely ensure that the inlet from the tank is not restricted.

If you find debris and restrictions, install a 3972 inline screen between tank and separator.
View attachment 253353
Click to expand...

I'll give it a shot this weekend, thank you!
 
H

Howey Matt

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2021
Messages
129
Location
Howey in the Hills, FL
heymccall said:
Mark and disconnect all fuel lines from separator head. Unplug priming motor. Remove filter. Dismount assembly from machine. Unscrew ring at arrow, and lift priming pump off. Now, remove all debris and crud, and, absolutely ensure that the inlet from the tank is not restricted.

If you find debris and restrictions, install a 3972 inline screen between tank and separator.
View attachment 253353
Click to expand...

So I gave this a shot this morning. I didn’t see any debris anywhere - everything looked pretty clean.

I started the machine again, and it didn’t seem any better at first, but after idling a while, and revving the engine, the issue seemed to clear up and I was able to use the machine for about 2 hours.

Then it started to lose power again. It idles fine, but sputters and runs rough when trying to rev it up. It doesn’t blow white smoke when idling, only when revving higher. Feels like a gas motor that’s flooded/bogged down with fuel. I don’t believe it has lost any coolant since I checked it this morning. Smoke doesn’t smell sweet to me, but then again I don’t have the best sense of smell.

Anyway, any ideas? Injectors maybe? Fuel pump?
 
Last edited:
Nige

Nige

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 22, 2011
Messages
38,523
Location
G..G..G..Granville.........!! Fetch your cloth.
If it worked around 2 hours with no problems then started acting up then TBH injectors would be right at the bottom of my list of potential problems.

Have you tried blowing compressed air through the fuel line in the reverse direction from the inlet connection at the fuel filter back to the fuel tank.?
Have you tired draining any water and sediment that might be present in the fuel tank.? You are aware I hope that draining the cr@p from the tank is supposed to be done weekly.?

If you haven't done either of the above then they would be my next suggestion of things to try.
 
Last edited:
H

Howey Matt

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2021
Messages
129
Location
Howey in the Hills, FL
Nige said:
If it worked around 2 hours with no problems then started acting up then TBH injectors would be right at the bottom of my list of potential problems.

Have you tried blowing compressed air through the fuel line in the reverse direction from the inlet connection at the fuel filter back to the fuel tank.?
Have you tired draining any water and sediment that might be present in the fuel tank.? You are aware I hope that draining the cr@p from the tank is supposed to be done weekly.?

If you haven't done either of the above then they would be my next suggestion of things to try.
Click to expand...

I just jumped back on the machine after letting it sit for a few hours and it runs perfectly.

I’ll try to drain the fuel tank and work my way from there. What’s the best way to drain and flush the fuel tank? It looks like it’s located at the bottom of the machine.
 
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