Is it an Injector? ICP Sensor? Help?

[Volcanman]

My 03 250 is studdering and jumping around like a cylinder is gone. I am thinking that it is an injector, however, those ICP sensors tend to go a lot. The truck is not producing any codes. When the truck is first started, it runs fine. After 5 - 10 minutes though, it starts a'rockin. Is there a simple test I can do to check the ICP sensor? I am considering disconnecting the injectors, one by one, to see if I can find the problem that way. The exhaust is white and smells rich. Any help is appreciated.

[JIM_C]

The exhaust is white? That indicates it's burning coolant to me. If it was an injector the smoke would be dark. Do you see your coolant level dropping or coolant out the tailpipe? Your EGR cooler may be leaking.
Post some details about your truck and we can help more.

[Volcanman]

My truck is an 2003 F-250 6.0 crew cab FX4 with 104,000 miles. I have owned it for 6 months now and it has ran fine until now. I live at an elevation of 6,000 ft. Filters were all changed 2,000 miles ago.

What effect would the EGR cooler leaking have on the cylinders? Would the recirculated gases contaminated with coolant have something to do with that? If that were the case, why does the engine run fine for the first few minutes? When the truck is first started, there is an initial burst of white smoke. Then the smoke is much harder to see.

[galexander]

Are you mysteriously loosing coolant? Might want to mark the top on the reservoir. Have you had you EGR valve check out?

[Volcanman]

The coolant level has not changed and the tail pipe is dry. Maybe a small leak? I drive the truck 4-5 times a week for a few hours each trip.

[kc2kgt]

If your coolant level isn't changing, then I would say a fuel issue. Does the smoke smell like diesel or that "sweet" antifreeze smell?

Faulty injectors can cause whitesmoke too.

[Volcanman]

I disconnected and removed the EGR valve to see if it were the problem. The valve was clean and closed properly. I then started the truck without the EGR wiring connected. The problem persisted. So I reconnected the EGR valve. That to me means that is not the problem. Right?

[galexander]

If you unplug the ICP sensor it will cause the computer to go a default. If it smooth out try plugging it back in and restart to see if it is repeatable. I know the ICP can cause surging problems. The egr valves get clogged up on these trucks.

[wesfx4]

Is it a dead miss? or is it just running a little rough? If it is a dead miss, do you hear a sound that is like someone beating on a congo drum from the intake?

[Volcanman]

Can I disconnect the ICP sensor from the top of the truck or do I have to get underneath it and disconnect it at the sensor itself? Doesn't the ICP sensor connect next to the glow plug connection? Can I disconnect from there?

[galexander]

The turbos can get clogged up with soot as well. Just some thoughts....I sure others will chime in.

[Volcanman]

The smell from the exhaust is not a sweet smell. It is a thicker toxic smell. The truck will start fine and run for 5 minutes without any hint of a problem. After it warms up, it feels like a dead miss. It seems to run fine until I get it up to 2000 rpm +, after that, the miss starts.

[soflasmoker]

Sounds like the beginings of an injector going out but the smoke should be like a blueish/whitish you should be able to pull a code like #? cyl contribution/balance fault. You would be losing coolant if you had an egr cooler problem and no your 03 has the sensor on the back of the enging under the turbo it can be reached easier from underneath on the drivers side. They didnt put the icp sensors on the pass side valve cover till 05... Hope this helps.