CAT 3406e fuel problem

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by tsavory, Aug 23, 2015.

  1. tsavory

    tsavory Road Train Member

    1,910
    1,860
    Jun 4, 2013
    Paoli, IN
    0
    Ok a few weeks ago I had 2 injectors replaced truck has not ran right since I even took it into CAT to have it looked at.
    They said the 2 that was just replaced ran a bit weak and fuel pressure was a tad bit low.
    Then they ran the rack showed me blown manifold gaskets. Got new gaskets and it still seemed rough.
    Last weekend started the truck ran home to get something got back Truck was dead and would not restart primed it and still would not start so used a bit of starting fluid it ran rough off and on all week. Last night started it ran about 10 then died. Starting fluid ran fine for a another 30 min went home. Thought let's check it out so went ahead and started it up again 15 of idle sometimes smooth others rough then real rough and died.
    Pulled the water separator it's less than half full? Where should I start looking?
    Motor is a Cat 3406e in a T2000.
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. average joe

    average joe Medium Load Member

    432
    274
    Jan 11, 2009
    0
    check the fuel tank vent
     
    tsavory and Ok big boy Thank this.
  4. Ok big boy

    Ok big boy Light Load Member

    77
    78
    Jan 22, 2014
    0
    I had a 99 peterbilt with 3406 E . Mine would just die and stumble driving down the road. All I can offer is my experience. I replaced the check valve on bottom side of primer pump. I think it takes 1" 1/8 th wrench.Remove fuel cap, crank engine.If it starts shut it off and put your ear to fuel tank .If your can here fuel draining back into the tank, then you know you have a check valve issue. I at one time drank a lot of KOOLAID.( KR brand). Had peterbilt shop install TURDBLOW 4000.Truck ran like crap, died,stumbled , etc. When they installed it they pushed the wiring for the timing sensor,and damaged it. I am old now and can't remember details. It's located on the drivers side of motor up towards the the top , on the back side of the front cover. The wiring runs back to ECM. I couldn't check it myself.Knew other guy's with 3406E had same issues with sensor.Hope I helped you.If not give me the finger!
     
    bigguns and tsavory Thank this.
  5. 062

    062 Road Train Member

    6,143
    33,165
    Oct 20, 2013
    0
    Get A bucket of clean fuel and go straight to the pump,see if that cures the problem. Hand primers are bad to suck air,might be a line collapsing.
    Also need to check ECM hot and ground.
     
    tsavory and Ok big boy Thank this.
  6. T800H

    T800H Medium Load Member

    608
    295
    Apr 2, 2010
    The Keys
    0
    I would check the fuel pressure and go from there.
     
    Ok big boy Thanks this.
  7. Cfifteen

    Cfifteen Bobtail Member

    40
    14
    Dec 5, 2013
    Vancouver, BC
    0
    You said it started running rough after two injectors were replaced. Your injector wire harness should probably be looked at. You could do it yourself. Take off the valve covers, start up and grab the harness. Most likely a broken wire.

    let us know what you find,
     
  8. tsavory

    tsavory Road Train Member

    1,910
    1,860
    Jun 4, 2013
    Paoli, IN
    0
    Ok pulled filters and replaced them and got it running and found a hose saturated so replaced all seems well now. Guess a mix of bad filters and a hose allowing in air.
     
    Cranky Yankee and 062 Thank this.
  9. tsavory

    tsavory Road Train Member

    1,910
    1,860
    Jun 4, 2013
    Paoli, IN
    0
    Well take that back ran great all yesterday and this morning started acting out of fuel again put it 1300 rpms 20 sec later smoothed out back down to 800 5 min later running rough back up to 1300 smoothed out been at 800 for over 15 min still smooth.
    So break down is check for bad wires to ecm and check valve and hope it's not the transfer pump. :)
    The injector harness is fine CAT looked it over real good when they had it apart.
    edit new info
    Oh and the hand pump was just replaced wait umm same time as the injectors and not able to get it to pull any prime?
     
    Ok big boy Thanks this.
  10. Truck engine machinist

    Truck engine machinist Light Load Member

    195
    185
    Dec 2, 2011
    USA
    0
    Check for air in the return fuel. I've had many situations where when replacing an injector removed the carbon seal that had formed around the injector tip. If the injector seat is warped, it allows combustion to go up past the injector fuel o-rings, and into the fuel system. If it is on of the front injector seats, the air will effect all of the rest of the injectors from there on back. If that is your problem, it can be fixed on the truck.
     
    tsavory and Cranky Yankee Thank this.
  11. tsavory

    tsavory Road Train Member

    1,910
    1,860
    Jun 4, 2013
    Paoli, IN
    0
    So pull the return line and see it its get bubbles of air? How steady should the return flow be?
    Is that a repair that really needs to be done at a CAT shop?

    I will be following up on each suggestion this weekend and just trying to get idea on what each will involve. Will test out myself just spent a grand getting it diagnosed and for CAT to find what's wrong with no luck don't mind spending the money as long as get results lol I know some times it like that though just trying to keep it to a minimum.

    To be honest this sound very likely because when it runs rough it seems almost like a blown injector. When 1 and 2 went it sound almost exactly like it does now off and on. Just not smoking
     
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2015
    Ok big boy Thanks this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.