Low power from a stop to about 10 mph...

[JakeG]

From a stop I go full throttle and the truck will slug to about 10 mph then I start to hear the engine roar from the exhaust and it will pull hard. This is unloaded and the truck has warmed up. With a stock truck, should I be able to spin the wheels on pavement? Im not looking to do this, but using it as an example because it is in no way possible for me to do it. If I am turning onto a road and Im in a hurry, I do spin just a little without trying. Im concerned because Im trying to make a 12 hour round trip to pick up a jeep on a heavy trailer.

[emperorjordan]

is this your first turbo diesel truck? sounds like the nature of the beast... How is the power once it gets going?

I think you will find that rolling into the throttle, instead of simply mashing it like in a gas powered vehicle, will give you much greater results.

[01redcrew]

sounds like turbo lag.

[JakeG]

I expect turbo lag, but Im wondering if my turbo needs to be cleaned or if the variable vanes are not working properly at low rpm. It was not as bad when I first got it.

[01redcrew]

so its getting worse?

[howell_jd]

Check for diagnostic trouble codes using a scanner (many auto parts stores will pull DTCs for free)...this is a reason why a digital gauge set is so helpful...

The sluggish performance could be turbo lag as described or it could be a failed injector too. Imagine an 8-cylinder engine running on 7 - or even 6 cylinders. The engine would be out-of-balance and the low-end power would be missing as a result. Once the RPMs come up the engine can compensate for a few weak (or failed) injectors...this will set a "contribution balance" fault if an injector is going/gone.

Gauges. Get 'em.

Jonathan

[OCVeloMan]

i have around 450hp to the wheels and, without a 4x4 boosted launch, a geo metro could take me from the line. Just mashing the accelerator doesn't work on a diesel truck. You'll start slightly rolling then lose your rear end when the turbo boosts.

My truck is best from a roll. I don't like boosted launches but have taken a few mustangs and cameros from a roll. Even 1 ZO6 that didn't know we were racing

[RatherBNtheWoods]

You can thank the EPA!!

[Tmoney511]

My truck was doing this and it turned out to be a HPOP going bad.

[Karls03]

My truck was a complete pooch without a little spool up. Putting the EGR cooler on the floor in the shed and Matt's SRL tune all but fixed those problems.