I have a Hitachi ZX-200LC-3 that runs fine for awhile (usually a few hours) and then all of a sudden loses all power. It puffs a little white smoke and if you operate any hydraulic function it lugs the engine down to where it about dies. If you let it sit for awhile (a few hours or next day) it acts fine again for awhile until it acts up. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks
Basic things to check is if the fuel cap is venting, a hissing noise when its removed is the give away. Then the fuel filters, screen in the banjo bolt on the inlet side of the primer pump, open the drain tap on the bottom of the fuel tank and see what comes out. If it's water and crud the tank will need a good clean out. I can't remember if there's also a screen in the tank outlet so check there.If at this point nothing has changed there's a good possibility the hose from the tank to the lift pump has perished internally and collapses under vacuum.
Check the turbocharger
Serviced or not. How’s the fuel? Changed any filters? Do you believe it is related to the engine, or could it be the hydraulics? Does that have a pilot filter?
Fuel filters have been changed. A couple of years ago the fuel tank was steam cleaned because it had some algae in it when I bought it. It feels more engine related, but maybe something in the hydraulics are stroking out the pump and overloading it.
My thoughts are that if it is a hydraulic problem it would occur when the oil gets to operating temperature and the exhaust would be blowing black smoke. Just reread the original post and missed the part about white smoke. Universal Parts could also be correct although I've never known a failing turbo to self correct. Isuzu engines of that era did have turbo issues in Hitachi excavators that were never acknowledged by the factory.
Welcome to HEF ks_farmer . No service codes ?