[C320-list] Perkins M30 Lift Pump, or ....

[Mark Seyler]

The Perkins M30 on my 1995 #232 has started stalling at idle, running rough up to around 1500rpm, and blowing light gray or white smoke out of the exhaust. My first thought was to change the Racor and secondary filters, but that didn’t help. And when I was bleeding the system after changing the filters, it didn’t seem as though the manual lever on the mechanical lift pump was moving as much fuel as I expected. (I used the piston pump on top of the racor instead.)
I’m wondering if the lift pump could be the source of the stalling and smoke. The engine starts quickly if I give it a little throttle, even after a stall. So I’m assuming it’s not loss of compression from the valves or rings. 
Does anyone have any other suggestions about diagnosing the possible cause, or advice about changing the lift pump?  I never had a Diesel engine until I bought my C320. 

Mark Seyler
S/V Reality

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