SWATPARAMEDIC

I don't have a way to test it even if I knew how to.

The turbo seemed fine, no play or excessive movement. All the fins are there. I hadn't had a chance to pull the valve cover yet and take a look. I'm starting to think i shelled an engine.

Update: I looked at the turbo and it seemed fine, no broken fins and no movement. No oil in it, the air filter, or the innercooler. Hadn't had time to pull the valve cover but it's starting to look like I shelled an engine.

Ok, thanks for all the input. I'll take pull things and start looking.

That's what I'm afraid of and the first thing I thought of when it happened. I was hoping maybe the code would lean towards something else.

Not quite sure what the problem is, but here's what happened. I had cruise set at 75 and everything was fine, tuck ran fine, good oil pressure, plenty of power, no warning lights, etc. All of the sudden there was a clicking sounding type of a knock, for lack of a better description and a lot of bluish smoke I think, it was dark but I could see smoke in the mirrors. It would increase as the RPM's did. I got off the turnpike and called a wrecker. Checked the oil it was full and no puddles or leaks. I had my OBD II scanner with me and it read P0234 with no check engine light. As far as I can tell I think the engine sounds fine but the knock/click is so loud it's difficult to isolate. I don't have a fuel pressure gauge so I don't know what the pressure is but I have replaced the VP and the lift pump. Never had that noise before, nor have I had a blown turbo. Is it possible the turbo and or waste gate could be making the sound?

As far as gas mileage I lost a few MPG because the set I have are fairly aggressive. I've had them since Nov of '11 and probably have 20,000 or so miles on them and there's still a lot tread left. They have 4 different tread patterns I think and one of them is a BFG all terrain KO and I think I'm going to get a set of those and use the ones I have as snow tires.

I'm running Treadwright retreads too and have no complaints on them either and will continue to run them from now on.

I burped both heater hoses couple of times each and the thermostat I have has the little swivel thing on it.

I'm also running a new water pump and radiator cap. For instance yesterday, it was 92 with 50% humidity and drove 7 miles and it still hadn't hit the 190 degree mark so I'm pretty sure I've trashed another thermostat.

I think I'm going to try a Cummins this time. Yes it's good, had it changed out with the heater core and ac evaporator in March of this year.

I thought you had posted before about going through thermostats. I've got to put mine in the shop for a heat/ac issue and I'm going to ask them about that. I'm with you thought, having a hard time believing that there that many defective thermostats out there.

Takes longer than normal to warm up except on hot days, and fluctuating temps. If i leave it idling, the temp gauge will drop to the next mark below 190.

I've had 2 NAPA thermostats fail since the first of the year. Just wondering if anyone knows of any particular reason why they could be failing aside from poor quality in the first place and what others are using Cummins or aftermarket?

Nice job. Noticed your XM radio, how did you mount it? Mine is just flopping around in the store. Also would like to know more about your map lights and your stereo and speaker mounting.

What do you use for a pattern to cut the material from or does someone have one?

Ok, Thanks that helps a lot. And it sure gets to be a pain carrying out 12 little bottles, not to mention the funny looks you get from people and cashiers. I'll start using that then,

Another question about the 2 cycle oil. Does it matter whether or not you're using standard 2 cycle oil or the oil with TCW-3 in it? And/or will the TCW-3 hurt anything? I've only found the oil without it in little 8 Oz bottles.

Actually the WalMart Everstart Maxx batteries are pretty good. About a year and a half ago Consumer Reports rated automotive batteries and for the money they rated them almost as good as Interstate batteries. Since then, that's all I've been using and had nothing but good experiences in everything I have.

I have a lift pump acting up and replacing it Wed. On the way to this morning my check engine light came on and I got an 0237 on the code reader. I read the check list on the error code page, so my question is can the map sensor just go out causing the code or is there any correlation between a bad lift pump and a map error?

I stayed with the same size I had. 265 75 16 10 ply.

Sure thing, I'll post updates and pictures of the wear as I put some miles on them. I changed my oil a week before I got them and they reccomend rotating them every 5,000 miles so I'll rotate them when I change the oil and put pictures up then.

Update: I got the tires put on and am happy for the most part with them. The only thing I don't like about them is that I lost a few miles per gallon. I don't think it's the tires themselves as much as the particular tread pattern. It's a much more aggressive pattern than I've ever had on a truck before. They have some noise but it's not more of like a turbine engine whine than a rumble.

I'll post how they work out for me and put some pictures of them up. Nope there's sure not any around here. I think I may have seen one in OKC but don't have a clue where it was. Yeah I know which one you're talking about having built. And you're right it is the Cowboy Hall of Fame it's in OKC and I still haven't been there.

I've heard lots of good things about Discount Tires, but we don't have any around here. We have a tire machine and our own mechanics at work that are going to mount and balance them for me.