04 powerstroke intermittent power loss while towing - Diesel Forum

rooster46 · 06-05-2009, 11:05 PM

My 04 f-350 with 72000 miles & all stock will make a light choking sound about every 2 seconds & make a puff of smoke at the same time while towing my 5th wheel camper. It seems to mostly do it around 70 mph when I get into the throttle a bit going up a hill or making a pass. Anyone experience this before?

lusenuts · 06-06-2009, 12:55 AM

same issue i changed my turbo after pulling it out to check for stivking vanes ill let u know if that fixed the problem are u having boost pressure jumping around?

Smiley1 · 06-06-2009, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rooster46

My 04 f-350 with 72000 miles & all stock will make a light choking sound about every 2 seconds & make a puff of smoke at the same time while towing my 5th wheel camper. It seems to mostly do it around 70 mph when I get into the throttle a bit going up a hill or making a pass. Anyone experience this before?

Look here:

Power loss/hesitation only up hills while towing

This might be the same problem you are having.

rooster46 · 06-06-2009, 10:24 AM

I don't have a boost guage, so I can't say if boost is jumping around. No check engine light has come on. I also have not noticed any coolant leak or smell. Any recommendations for a guage?

rooster46 · 10-27-2009, 09:34 PM

After many weeks of ruling out all other possibilities of why my truck was puffing smoke & losing power intermittedly especially when pulling a trailer, I finally determined it to be sticking vanes in the turbo. When I pulled off turbo, I immediately found the unison ring rusted stuck to the surrounding housing. If you know what the internals of a turbo look like off a Super Duty, you know that a stuck unison ring can NOT move the vanes as it is supposed to & work properly.
It only took a few tools & a few hours to remove & reinstall turbo. I did not clean mine because I had a broken impeller blade on the exhaust wheel. I was able to purchase a new reconditioned one from Michigan Turbo in Grand Rapids,MI for under $800 compared to the dealer for $1500. They are exactly the same. After doing a little research, I was more comfy with MI Turbo, they have been around for many years.
I thank everyone who replied to my threads on this & hope this info can help others.

0660harley · 11-08-2009, 05:37 PM

Just got back from a weekend camping trip, only an hour from home and this was our first one with this new to me truck. Our TT is 24' and this is my first tow with it since we got the truck a couple weeks ago. The truck has overall been great so far. This was it's first real test (pulling any real load). I was very disapointed, it downshifted alot, the cooling fan was spinning up alot (sounds like the truck is going to take flight), and I now know I have more maint. to do, to get the truck back up to standards. I'm hoping it's not a bad turbo, but sounds like it could be. Running 70 mph, the boost would stay at 15 to 20 unless I was on completely flat grade and rpms were close to or above 2000. I don't know for sure, but my gut feelings are that the truck seemed to be working much harder than it should have been for this load. The TT fully loaded can't be more than 6000 lbs, but I've never weighed it.

lusenuts · 11-09-2009, 03:02 AM

0660harley your problem sounds more like a gearing issue what size tires are you running and whT gear ratio do you have? Also your traveling at a high rate of speed with low rpms just like my truck it needs to be re-geared most likely to take the boost down try randys ring and pinion for the online tire to gear ratio to pick a good set up for you tells you the rpm to tire size and gear ratio also includes gas millage chart all mixed together so toucan see what's going to fit your drivng best a turbo is more of a fluttering while under a load or a lag on initial take off mostly because of sticking veins your tuck really seems to be the gear ratio and your fancould be kicking on because the gear ratio is making your 6000lbs trailer seems like a 10000lbs trailer you could also look into a banks intercooler kit will help cool the air going into your motor resulting in lower engine temp on up hill pulls and lower egt temp helping keep the turbo lasting longer when it kicks on just ez off the pedal some ESP if the boost is high bu hey at least you know the fans kickin on lol mak sure your full on coolant also if it's over heatng alot like mine did I needed heads and head gaskets which then rusted my turbo causing it to have sticking veins 1300 and a weekend no fun

Smiley1 · 11-09-2009, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0660harley

Just got back from a weekend camping trip, only an hour from home and this was our first one with this new to me truck. Our TT is 24' and this is my first tow with it since we got the truck a couple weeks ago. The truck has overall been great so far. This was it's first real test (pulling any real load). I was very disapointed, it downshifted alot, the cooling fan was spinning up alot (sounds like the truck is going to take flight), and I now know I have more maint. to do, to get the truck back up to standards. I'm hoping it's not a bad turbo, but sounds like it could be. Running 70 mph, the boost would stay at 15 to 20 unless I was on completely flat grade and rpms were close to or above 2000. I don't know for sure, but my gut feelings are that the truck seemed to be working much harder than it should have been for this load. The TT fully loaded can't be more than 6000 lbs, but I've never weighed it.

Did you use "Tow/Haul" while towing? If not that would explain shifting too often. The fans on these trucks are loud. You just have to get used to it when towing. They should not be coming on while towing on flat lands unless its very hot out.

My trailer and yours should be pretty close to the same weight wise. I have never had a problem towing it from sea level to 8k foot elevation. That is with slightly oversized tires.

0660harley · 11-09-2009, 06:50 PM

I have a friend with an 03 f250 6.0 coming over this weekend. He's gonna let me pull my TT with his truck. I'll know for sure then, but I suspect a big difference. Somethings not right. I've got an appointment with my dealer in 2 weeks anyway. Runs great with no load.

0660harley · 11-15-2009, 03:53 PM

My buddy with the 03 6.0 came over yesterday and we hooked up the TT and took it for a spin down the highway. This is what I noticed. Take off and acceleration up 70 mph seem about the same, the big difference comes when trying to maintain that speed. His truck had no difficulty maintaining 70. The change in grade made no difference. His truck wasn't "complaining". This simple test has reassured my feelings that my truck is trying to protect itself from something that is malfunctioning. Anyway, It's going to the dealer this wed. I try to remember report back on their findings.