Help! Dt530e loss of power white smoke. Stuck amd wamt to go home

[Katchkarma]

I'm so frustrated just wrote entire post amd lost it. So this is shorter version. Hi all new to forum
Sorry for typos in advance I tend to forget to hit spell check. Have 2002 sc hools bus with dt530e am experiencing white smoke loss of power and water incoolant reservoir keeps dropping . Bus ran fine was preparing to head home when bus fell on its face started blowing white smoke amd total loss of power. $1000 later and new starter and new batteries I'm no closer to leaving that I was 3 months ago. I want to junk it but it is full of everything I own amd I plan on living in it. I refuse to quit so any Info is appreciated.

[American]

This is a great place for knowledge. Be sure and search old posts. I have no expert advise for your current situation but you are in the right place.

[Jolly Roger bus 223]

loss of power? white smoke? loss of whatever is in the coolant reservoir?
head gasket or bad sleeve on a cylinder.
sorry dont know your engine but do think you have a wet sleeve engine which without proper coolant and or additive can cause a sleeve to float which also means the cylinder sleeve can allow coolant into the engine instead of a head gasket.
if it is so then an inframe rebuild is possible which will save time and money.

[cadillackid]

did your oil level go up? does the engine oil on the stick look like a milkshake?


is there oil swirlies floating on the top of your coolant if you fill it, run the bus a short time then shut it off and let it sit?

[Katchkarma]

PMKatchkarma
Ok so I should add I have alot of oil in my exhaust , coolant reservoir keeps dropping had no coolant but kept fixed with water. As I just bought bus and it never heated up I wanted to make sure I did t have leaks as for I have cats that travel with me . Bus will start but not with out a shot of ether or at first it will idle and not heat up. I'm having an electric issue as I can't see gauges on live data with scanner but when I shut the bus off gouges show. I have low oil pressure and embarrassed to say I lost diptych haven't found new one for less than $400 so using one outnof a dt466 which bis longer but it has oil. I got a code that said low injection pressure had me looking at icp sensor until I seen the oil dripping out of exhaust also scanner live data shows no boost.

[Jolly Roger bus 223]

ok so you dont know a damn thing about what you have.
you do have a scan tool?
i cant help with the scan tool? sorry.
under the hood is there anything turbo boost wise that has came apart?
year make model of bus and engine would help.
me personally have a 90 thunderbird supercoupe with a 3.8 supercharged an 8.2 detroit.
we dont know what you have until you tell us.

[ewo1]

Originally Posted by Katchkarma

PMKatchkarma
Ok so I should add I have alot of oil in my exhaust , coolant reservoir keeps dropping had no coolant but kept fixed with water. As I just bought bus and it never heated up I wanted to make sure I did t have leaks as for I have cats that travel with me . Bus will start but not with out a shot of ether or at first it will idle and not heat up. I'm having an electric issue as I can't see gauges on live data with scanner but when I shut the bus off gouges show. I have low oil pressure and embarrassed to say I lost diptych haven't found new one for less than $400 so using one outnof a dt466 which bis longer but it has oil. I got a code that said low injection pressure had me looking at icp sensor until I seen the oil dripping out of exhaust also scanner live data shows no boost.

white smoke, loss of coolant = head gasket or cracked head!

Read this thread and start learning!

For learning purposes consider the DT530 and DT466 one and the same.

[Hardknockskoold]

Sounds like you blew orings on injector and or possibly an injector. Injectors are fired via electrical pulse and high pressure oil. I’ve been working on these engines for 30 years if it starts on either and you have a injection pressure code and it’s smoking that’s where I would be looking. Where are you located?

[Hardknockskoold]

Make sure you don’t have coolant mixing with the crankcase oil first I have a ton of other questions it’s tough to do a diagnosis threw a forum pm me if you want further help.

[Katchkarma]

I checked oil while running and it is black. Not milky in any way. Amd when it is cooled down. And I'm aware the oil would wash the water down dipstick as the oil sits on top of the water. No signs of water in oil whatsoever.

[cadillackid]

if theres oil in the exhaust thats usually a turbo seal.. and to me thats a dont drive situation because if the turbo seal on the other end of the shaft goes then you end up with a runaway, if you have a CCV recirc like mt T444E has you'll end up with oil in the intake but not the exhaust..



the fact you have little to no boost makes me think your turbo is gone.. its not hard to pull the intake boot going into the turbo and check if the shaft spins free and check the end play on it..

[Katchkarma]

So I will check turbo as soon as I. Back I had ans emergency and have to go to scaramento. This is my priority .I will update asap

[Daniel.harrington3]

Your turbo is gone, most likely because your egr cooler failed adding water to your exhaust.

[Omnibot2000]

Originally Posted by Daniel.harrington3

Your turbo is gone, most likely because your egr cooler failed adding water to your exhaust.

Agreed. Multiple issues I'm reading into this. This sounds like a real basket case.

A check on the EGR cooler is in order to see if it's cracked.

The turbo can be checked if the intake plumbing is removed. Check by hand is free to do.

Not cheap fix regardless.

It's a starting point at least.

[Hardknockskoold]

Are any of the people commenting diesel mechanics?

[ewo1]

Originally Posted by Hardknockskoold

Are any of the people commenting diesel mechanics?

Interesting question, why do you ask this?

Are you a diesel mechanic?

[Booyah45828]

Originally Posted by Hardknockskoold

Are any of the people commenting diesel mechanics?

Originally Posted by ewo1

Interesting question, why do you ask this?

Are you a diesel mechanic?

this gon be good.

Hardknockskoold, there are several mechanics on the forum, along with several who very easily could be. I wouldn't get snippy.

[Hardknockskoold]

Just a question I’m certainly not getting snippy and to answer your question yes I’m a 25 plus year ASE certified master machinist, master diesel -auto tech just to name a few of the certificates. I come from the old school of thinking about the problem and fixing it understanding how systems work. Sorry my question offended you

[ewo1]

Originally Posted by Hardknockskoold

Just a question I’m certainly not getting snippy and to answer your question yes I’m a 25 plus year ASE certified master machinist, master diesel -auto tech just to name a few of the certificates. I come from the old school of thinking about the problem and fixing it understanding how systems work. Sorry my question offended you

Your question didn’t carry any offense… knowledgable and friendly folks who want to help…. Is why this forum is so great!

Welcome!

Oh, and i am a you tube rocket scientist in training!
Double masters of disaster degree in progress!

Lol…

[Hardknockskoold]

I see a comment about a egr cooler but I do see a year of engine yet either so to my knowledge th “DT” series engines didn’t have egr systems until around 2008 and the engine was retaggegd renamed the maxxforce and a whole different story as far as reliability. Want to know if turbo is bad take charge pipe off of intake side cold side of head a see if it is wet you can leave disconnected and run engine make sure nothing can get sucked in but you can disconnect turbo piping very easily and quickly enough. Any engine with miles on it will have some very light oil in intake you are looking for a lot of oil your intercooler will be an easy sign it will be wet with oil also if that’s what you are trying to test.