[southernstroke]

Every time I come to Texas my truck gives me trouble and it always seems to be fuel related. At one point the screen pick up foot in the tank came off and I sucked trash into the pick up. Then last week my truck started running really rough and would barely get over 30. I changed the fuel filter and let it sit over night and everything was good.

Now I'm experiencing something similar to last week. I have very little power and I'm occasionally getting black smoke under heavy acceleration. I have noticed that the longer I drive the worse it gets. Pulling over and letting the idle smooth out or just shutting the truck off for a few minutes helps but after a few minutes on the road the truck runs rough again. My oil level is good. I replaced the fuel filter again. When I first start driving my boost levels climb fairly normal while the truck is running OK but as it gets rougher the boost won't climb much and EGT's climb pretty quickly. I have a Tymar intake so I just bypassed the filter and drove down the road for a mile or so. That did not help and may have even made it worse. I it's hard to tell sometimes when you are paying such close attention if there is a small change or if it's just my imagination. I'm over 800 miles from home right now and I really can't afford to be stuck.

On top of that last week near San Antonio my truck got broken into at the hotel and basically all of my tools were stolen so I don't have much to work with.

 

[79jasper]

Wire the Backpressure valve open.

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[southernstroke]

I can give that a shot. But would that make it run rough idling?

 

[southernstroke]

I do need to add that when I'm driving and it is rough I can hear what I've always known to the the injectors "ticking" or however you want to describe the sound they make while starving for fuel.

 

[79jasper]

But it doesn't seem like a fuel problem. If it was, I doubt you'd be seeing high EGT'S.
You could have multiple things going on.
No check engine light?
And it can make it feel kinda rough.

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[bigb]

I'm thinking a fuel problem could cause higher EGTs because the engine can't build RPM so the turbo isn't spooling like it should.

 

[StockKnocker]

Southern, I'm not sure what modifications you may have on your truck, or age of individual components, so I'll take a shot in the dark. X2 on wiring EBPV open. First, I would check for leaks around the bowl after KOEO, since you just replaced the fuel filter. I have had replacement filters with the new cap connected, leak in the past. I'm assuming you drove across LA and East Texas where some of the highways will rattle your teeth loose! Also, just for peace of mind, check factory fuel line connections between tank and FP to see if any of the metal clips are just hanging. Of course, this would be irrelevant if you did Hutch mod last time your tank was dropped. Lastly, post back what city you are in if you have continued problems for possible help recommendations. I happened to find an excellent shop after a break down in Houston a few years back.

 

[WDELLC]

Here's a REALLY stupid shot in the dark, which solved a friends issue. Check ALL your vacuum lines for cracks, particularly the ones around the turbo. My friends F250 was getting little power, but would run decent, but pulling a heavy load it was like the truck had no turbo. He pulled his 28 ft camper from NH to NC and was getting like 8 or 9 mpg with NO power on hills (40 mph or less). He got here and I got poking around and the vac line coming off the turbo was rotted, and buried under a bracket so was hard to see. Fixed that and he said he pulled the hills going home at 55 with the wonderful sound of a turbo whining away, and his MPG went up to 12. Think about this too, BLACK smoke is excess fuel. WHY is there excess fuel? If the engine is calling for it and its getting it, but the air is not there to burn it...... see the point? Good luck!

 

[southernstroke]

Right now I'm ON the border in between Laredo and Del Rio. Not a good place to break down. My tank does have the hutch mod done. But a while back when the pick up screen came off I was on the road and had sucked up trash I checked the entire pick up foot and it was clear so as a quick fix I ran some injector line from the tank to the pump just to be sure the line wasn't clogged. Later when I was home I cleaned out the factory line and reconnected it. The metal clips are still on as they should be and I put a new plastic clip on the inlet side of the pump. Yesterday I filled up and added some AFT and Lucas to the tank. After idling for around an hour the problem went away. I just filled up maybe an hour ago and when I run 75 I can feel the problem starting to come back. If I back off to 65 - 70 after a while it seems to go away. I forgot to add anything to the fuel when I filled up so I just pulled over to add some. I know this is a band aid to the problem but like I said I'm not in a place where I want to break down. I'm starting to wonder if the fuel pump could be weak? It was just replaced back in the fall but I know how aftermarket fuel pumps go. I went through 6 in 2 years on my Chevy.

The truck has 295,000 miles and counting. 4500 of those miles are in the last week.

 

[StockKnocker]

Right now I'm ON the border in between Laredo and Del Rio. Not a good place to break down. My tank does have the hutch mod done. But a while back when the pick up screen came off I was on the road and had sucked up trash I checked the entire pick up foot and it was clear so as a quick fix I ran some injector line from the tank to the pump just to be sure the line wasn't clogged. Later when I was home I cleaned out the factory line and reconnected it. The metal clips are still on as they should be and I put a new plastic clip on the inlet side of the pump. Yesterday I filled up and added some AFT and Lucas to the tank. After idling for around an hour the problem went away. I just filled up maybe an hour ago and when I run 75 I can feel the problem starting to come back. If I back off to 65 - 70 after a while it seems to go away. I forgot to add anything to the fuel when I filled up so I just pulled over to add some. I know this is a band aid to the problem but like I said I'm not in a place where I want to break down. I'm starting to wonder if the fuel pump could be weak? It was just replaced back in the fall but I know how aftermarket fuel pumps go. I went through 6 in 2 years on my Chevy.

The truck has 295,000 miles and counting. 4500 of those miles are in the last week.

Southern, I'm just trying to understand and help. Yes, you need to get far from the border, for starters! So you said you did the Hutch mod to your tank but then described having factory fuel lines and clips under your truck? If you mean that you removed the cylindrical filters from the white plastic pick-up assembly, that's good, but one of the main purposes of the whole mod is to eliminate the factory quick connect lines between the tank and pump because they suck air into your fuel. That section is supposed to be replaced with 3/8" fuel injection hose as part of the Hutch mod. Also adding pre-pump filter would be best while you're at it. I would only use a Bosch pump like the original because they are very good. If you used some other replacement, that could be the problem. If you want to know if those lines are sucking air, I guess you could wrap those a/c type connections with lots of electrical tape and see if that helps. Maybe someone on this forum has some connection or friend in West Texas with a fuel pressure gauge, etc. For now, I highly recommend traveling at that lower speed so you're not starving the injectors of fuel. At least that way, you can reach some destination. Keep us posted on any changes. Be safe!

 

[StockKnocker]

One other thing I'm wondering is when was last time your EBP sensor tube was cleaned out? That sensor input influences fueling.

 

[southernstroke]

I have the in tank part of the mod. I guess I missed the point of getting rid of the quick connect lines. The 3/8 line is still on the frame rail so I guess when I make it home I need to swap that back over. So far 67 has been my magic number. After that it may or may not mess up. Also slow acceleration seems to be key. I've had plenty of time to think back on what I have done to the truck.
Back in February I replaced the ICP. Oddly enough it wasn't bad but leaking and I ended up finding out that the ICP in my truck was from a 6.0. How that worked I couldn't tell you.
Last fall I replaced the fuel pump with one from O'Reilly's. Around the same time I replaced both injector wiring harnesses and 1 injector. While doing the injectors I found that a previous owner had replaced one other. So 6 injectors are stock. Probably 3 years ago the IPR was replaced (turned out that it wasn't bad). 4 years ago the IDM was replaced.

Now last week when I replaced the fuel filter it was EXTREMELY dirty. I thought there may have been oil in the fuel but I didn't see any evidence of that when I changed it yesterday. Before that it was changed probably 10,000 miles ago.

I have one more site to visit in Del Rio and then I head off the border a little bit. But not far enough to make me happy.

 

[StockKnocker]

I have the in tank part of the mod. I guess I missed the point of getting rid of the quick connect lines. The 3/8 line is still on the frame rail so I guess when I make it home I need to swap that back over. So far 67 has been my magic number. After that it may or may not mess up. Also slow acceleration seems to be key. I've had plenty of time to think back on what I have done to the truck.
Back in February I replaced the ICP. Oddly enough it wasn't bad but leaking and I ended up finding out that the ICP in my truck was from a 6.0. How that worked I couldn't tell you.
Last fall I replaced the fuel pump with one from O'Reilly's. Around the same time I replaced both injector wiring harnesses and 1 injector. While doing the injectors I found that a previous owner had replaced one other. So 6 injectors are stock. Probably 3 years ago the IPR was replaced (turned out that it wasn't bad). 4 years ago the IDM was replaced.

Now last week when I replaced the fuel filter it was EXTREMELY dirty. I thought there may have been oil in the fuel but I didn't see any evidence of that when I changed it yesterday. Before that it was changed probably 10,000 miles ago.

I have one more site to visit in Del Rio and then I head off the border a little bit. But not far enough to make me happy.

Southern, if you're taking long trips from home, search Hutch mod and pre-pump filter on this site. I had a clogged fuel filter in January in Ohio and it was real cold. I was pulling around 10k trailer. The good news was that it was right on the frame where I put it and I was back on the highway 20 minutes later because I always carry a spare. Hopefully, you carry a spare CPS, belt, etc., too. If your truck is close to 300k on some original injectors, then that could be part of your problem. Hope all holds together until you get it worked out, so you don't have to trade the truck for a sombrero!

 

[southernstroke]

Well I'm finally stranded on the side of the road. I did finish my work and was getting back on I-10 to head home and the truck died right before I got on the interstate. I checked the fuel bowl and it's dry. I can hear the fuel pump come on but nothing is coming into the fuel bowl. I don't know if I have a bad pump or something is blocking the line. I would think it something was blocking the line I would get something into the bowl.

 

[Maryland dieselnick]

Get a five gallon gas can, a few if you can. Get 3/8 fuel line, a big bolt and mechanics wire to weight down end of fuel line into five gal gas can filled with diesel. Get a fuel line disconnect tool set the blue plastic size will work if you see a multicolor strip of them get it. It's a 3/8 line tool I'd the size. Disconnect where it going into pump. Buy hose clamp to attach end to pump. Thiswill give you an alternate source to drink from. Chances are this will work but is a diagnostic step in checking the fuel pump anyway.


See what happens when you are deep in Rebel country, son?

 

[tomshep]

You did the hutch mod. Did you add a filter between the tank and pump? I haven't seen you comment on that CRUCIAL filter.

If yes, I would change that filter.

If not, you clogged the inlet side of your pump. I don't believe it is possible to backflush the pump.

Tom

 

[79jasper]

I-10? Whereabouts are you?

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[southernstroke]

I'm West of San Antonio in Kerrville. I broke down about 15 miles out. Had no choice, I ended up getting towed. Since all my tools were stolen and the parts house was closed by the time I was able to get towed in I opted to have them drop the truck at a shop that works on 7.3's and take me to a hotel. At this point I'm hoping the shop will be able to get me going tomorrow. If they can't on the upside there are 3 different parts houses along the 6 mile walk to my truck and maybe I'll feel like dealing with it tomorrow. The past two weeks have pretty well whipped me. One thing I will say is I'm thankful that this happened when and where it did instead of on the border yesterday or in the middle of no where today while I was with phone service for over 8 hours. I appreciate all the input from everyone and I'll let you know what happens with it tomorrow.

 

[Maryland dieselnick]

We are happy to help
Let us know what the shop says and how you are.

 

[NOSPARKPLUGZ]

Did you see any signs of delaminates in the fuel filters?


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