I have a 1996 f350. After truck ran bad with inconsistent lack of power and white smoke upon cranking, I took to my diesel mechanic. He read two bad fuel injectors and replaced. When he cranked truck, he said it sounded terrible. He checked it out and it had lost compression. After pulling engine?, he said the piston and rod had exploded in the cylinder and wasn't even attached. He said he did not know why this happened, but I would like to know some explanation. I trust him, as he has done a lot of work for me in the past without incident and has a good reputation; but, the truck had not lost compression before, and the white smoke and rough-running was not consistent with loading the truck or temperature. It is just shocking to me to take the truck in to replace two injectors and a week later to be told it will be 6K to rebuild engine. Also, it is probably not wise to repair this truck based on value, but it is a workhorse with a good transmission, ac, 4x4, etc. and I cannot buy another truck for what I can rebuild or but used engine. Please HELP.
PS This is my first time on forum so I hope I entered everything correctly!
Did he know enough about replacing the injectors to remove any oil / fuel inside the cylinders BEFORE re-installing the Injectors. If you do not remove the oil /fuel from the cylinders Hydrostatic lock can occur causing sever engine damage. Basically what I'm saying is , if he did not drain the HP oil rails befroe removing the injectors and then sucked all the oil /fuel out of the cylinders before reinstallation, this could have caused the damage. I would look for a good used engine. If you rebuild it you will have to break it in , which takes time and effort. Sorry for your loss
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95 E350 PSD HD Cargo , BB shim , E4OD , B&M aluminium Trans pan , HD cooler , 3:55 D70FF, Michelin LTX " E "
Not installed yet DP flashed PCM (60 Tow )Autometer Triple Pillar Guage pod ,New Injector O-rings /IPR /lift pump /filterbowl @ 235K
1977 F350 Dually Dump , 460 , 429 POLICE heads , 4:56 D70FF, Edelbrock Intake , Holley 850 dbl pmper ,MSD IGN , Custom HiPo C-6 Trans , Dual Exhausts , Bridgestone "E" Tires
1983 KZ1000R , Yoshimura Stage I
1982 KZ1000 , 1045 Wiseco , Turbo ready
1990 KX500
You should be able to find a used engine with fairly low mileage for a lot less than 6k. If your mechanic did not remove the fuel and oil from the cylinders, sounds like he made a mistake. Looks like a 50/50 deal. You provide an engine and he provides the labor. Check the classified section on this site as there are several 7.3 PSD for sale.
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Travis
1996 Extended Cab Long Bed XLT, 4x4, 3.55LS, Tymar Intake, Diamond Eye Performance 4" Exhaust, Meyer C-8 Plow, Timbren Load Levelers
Case 1845c Uni-Loader
PowerStrokes And Duck Hunting-It Doesn't Get Any Better
Last edited by eagleeye : 08-06-2008 at 01:19 AM.
Reason: Additional Information
I think he forgot to remove the oil from the cylinders and it hydrolocked.
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1996 F-250 extended cab long box five speed. Home made Tymar, 203 Stat, 60 gal in bed fuel cell, 315/75's, no cat, no muffler, ebpv welded open 3" to 3" DP, Babies. 255K, still chugging, and still smoking when cold.
UPDATED 8/1/08 Replace so far. 1 LUK flywheel+clutch, 2 thermostats, 2 set of brakes, 1 set of calipers, 5 CPS, 3 sets of tires, 2 Transfer pumps, 1 Injector modual, 1 Computer, 2 Alt, 2 sets of batteries, 1 Water pump, 6 Belts, 1 PS hose, 2 Sets ball joints, 2 set u-joints, 2 carrier bearing, 2 Speed sensors, 1 oil pres sender, 1 temp sender, 4 sets of e-break cables, 1 front fuel tank, 2 rear fuel tanks, 2 set of glow plugs, 6 Glow plug relays, Oil galley o-rings, Turbo pedistal o-rings, EBPV o-rings, 3 sets of Injector O-rings, 1 Vac-pump, 1 new carpet.Total $$$ in repairs v/s miles driven = 3.0 cents per mile. Add fuel to that it jumps to 14.8 cents per mile over the life of the truck.
thanks to all that helped. What a great website and a great bunch of guys that took their time to help. If anyone needs help on a landscaping question maybe I could return the favor. otherwise thanks and God Bless.
I agree also, have him explain the procedure he used to remove and install the injectors. If his explanation doesn't include removing the oil from the heads and checking for/removing oil in the cylinders before the motor was cranked over then he is at fault.
Dave
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1997 F250 HD 4x4 5speed Reg Cab, 4" MBRP exhaust, 1.0 turbo housing, Tymar Intake , 17* HPOP,Swamps 150cc, TW 4 position chip, Dana 60 w/RSK, Crossover steering, sittin on 35's
You should be able to just replace the piston in that bad cylinder or repair what is broken there. I lost a piston when a glow plug broke off and popped the top off the piston. I was firing it up at a gas station just after refueling. I was looking at a new engine, or remanufactured engine or a new truck. I had my neighbor, a reputable diesel mechanic with his own shop, take care of it for a little over $2k, which included pulling the engine and inspecting the valve train. That was about 40K miles ago and still going strong.
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Member since 11/27/1999 1996 F250/SC/4x4 BTS E4OD/Hayden 679 - 4.10/LS, 235/85-16 BFG/ATs, Auto Meter, Tymar Intake, Edge Programmer, DPP "exhaust products", 247K miles, B20
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1996 F250/SC/4x4 
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