My van gave up smoking

[PJPVI]

I have an 2005 E350 6.0PSD. A couple months ago, it started having terrible power lag when accelerating from a stop (lag would last several seconds until it "kicked in"). A couple weeks ago a friend noticed that it was belching black smoke as well (just when accelerating from a stop).

I've been preparing to bring it in to Ford assuming it is the turbo or EGR. I just put 500 miles on it last weekend and added some Amsoil diesel fuel treatment for the trip. I hadn't used any for probably 8 months or so. When I drove the van yesterday, the power lag is gone and I'm not belching black smoke anymore.

I'm not sure if it is coincidence or if the fuel additive cleaned something out.

Any thoughts?

Thanks -
Phil

[blageurt]

You have a variable vane turbo. If you don't stand on the pedal often , the turbo vanes clog up , which probably was the reason for the smoke and the lack of power. crap fuel also causes this along with excessive idling. Now it is probably cleaned out the soot from the vanes and it is running normally . The 6.0 has to be driven hard every now and then to clean the soot from the turbo from what i've been told .Adding a cetane booster would not be a bad idea too . . .

[PJPVI]

Thanks for the input. I noticed it blow a little smoke once today, but overall seems quite a bit better (I'm probably going to get in an accident as I keep looking in the rear view mirror when I'm leaving a stop light or stop sign to see if there's smoke!). My trip last weekend included some very long steep climbs. I must say I don't get on it very often. Maybe I'll need to every now and then.

Phil

[dieseldude73]

There's a nice thought: literally drive the crud out of it!

[woodman55]

I was using amsoil in my 1985 with the 6.9 and it helped out a-lot with the smoke the old girl blew.