[Tennessee Tim]

I have a 2001 Ford F-350 dually 7.3L, AT, 240,000 miles. Aftermarket turbo and single shot injectors.
Recently I’ve noticed, in first and second gear, when I accelerate fairly quickly I hear a knocking sound. Not real loud but loud enough to know it’s there. Doesn’t sound like bottom end. I’ve also developed a small oil leak that I have not been able to locate, even with dye. I believe it only leaks under acceleration. (Valley is dry) I recently purchased a wi-fi reader and using FORScan but so far I’ve not been able to figure it out. Haven’t noticed any lack of power.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Tim

 

[Maryland dieselnick]

Is it more pronounced after it has been sitting overnight?
Flip the oil filler cap over and tell me if it has a milky white film on it?

 

[RT]

Accelerating quickly would exacerbate a fuel pressure issue. If your fuel pressure drops, it will knock. There is a port on the back of the filter housing you can use to monitor pressure. I personally believe a fuel pressure gauge is one of the most important gauges you can have.

Telling on myself a bit here - about a year ago, I noticed mine knocking as well. It really upset me thinking this big wonderful engine I brag about all the time was fixing to take a dump. Well, a few days later, I noticed fuel dripping out of the valley. Before I could get it home, the passenger-side fuel line rubbed through. A new line and the fuel leak stopped - as did the knocking...

 

[John in OkieLand]

Guess me ordering a dedicated Fuel Pressure gauge last week, was not a loss of money?

 

[Maryland dieselnick]

Nice John

 

[Tennessee Tim]

Is it more pronounced after it has been sitting overnight?
Flip the oil filler cap over and tell me if it has a milky white film on it?

It’s not worse after sitting over night. I can’t really tell that anything makes a difference. A friend of mine has one of those $6000 “Snap-On” tablets and he said it looked like injector #8 was a little weaker than the others. Could be that it not getting as much oil pressure as the others since it’s the furthest away from the HPOP?

 

[Greg687]

#8 will usually throw that code, depending on CPS and injector type, for the reason you mention.

 

[Maryland dieselnick]

That balance fault on #8 is due to the updated CPS. It’s nothing to worry about. They started putting an AE long lead injector on #8 to compensate for the #8 firing directly after #6. This was called a “ cackle fix”.
Is this sound you are experiencing new?
I noted that you installed single shot injectors. Did you get software go accommodate them?
Is this sound new to installing them?
Are you loosing oil or antifreeze?

 

[Tennessee Tim]

#8 will usually throw that code, depending on CPS and injector type, for the reason you mention.

Oh. No codes. I almost wish there was a code. May be easier to diagnose.

 

[Tennessee Tim]

That balance fault on #8 is due to the updated CPS. It’s nothing to worry about. They started putting an AE long lead injector on #8 to compensate for the #8 firing directly after #6. This was called a “ cackle fix”.
Is this sound you are experiencing new?
I noted that you installed single shot injectors. Did you get software go accommodate them?
Is this sound new to installing them?
Are you loosing oil or antifreeze?

Had them installed by a local good diesel shop. (TSI Diesel). They installed a Hydra chip to compensate for the changing from double to single shots. That was about 3 years ago. The sound actually started shortly after having a new oil cooler installed about 6 months ago. Not sure if that had anything to do with it but…? I do have a very small oil leak that I haven’t been able to find. It’s somewhere around the left front of the engine bay.

 

[Tennessee Tim]

Had them installed by a local good diesel shop. (TSI Diesel). They installed a Hydra chip to compensate for the changing from double to single shots. That was about 3 years ago. The sound actually started shortly after having a new oil cooler installed about 6 months ago. Not sure if that had anything to do with it but…? I do have a very small oil leak that I haven’t been able to find. It’s somewhere around the left front of the engine bay. Also, is #8 injector different than the others as in the double shots?

 

[Maryland dieselnick]

That balance fault code does not post until you run the Cylinder Contribution test. It’s nothing to diagnose. It’s just the way it is. The original black CPS could make the truck just shut off like a light switch. Extremely dangerous as the engine must be running for brakes and steering work properly. All trucks were recalled and a new Grey CPS was installed. It makes the truck fail the cylinder contribution test for #8 balance fault. Some find the old black CPS (not new just never put on the warranty return to Ford shelf and mechanics would take them out the back door to sell. Installing one is STUPID. Your putting your and others’ lives at risk. That is
NOT your noise. If however bothers you that you have a balance fault, you can look up the thread that I authored about 10 years ago. You will pass the cylinder contribution test and your engine will run smoother. If you choose to do it, you must follow my instructions EXACTLY. It’s titled “ CPS SEARCH AND EFFORT PAY OFF”.
Back to your sound.
When does it happen?
Smoke? If so when?
How long and miles since start of it?
Have you flipped the oil fill cap over and looked for a milky white oil film on it?
Performance effected?
Coolant or oil consumption?
How bad is oil leak and where is it coming from?
What is your oil level?
I’m working but I will check back.

 

[Tennessee Tim]

That balance fault code does not post until you run the Cylinder Contribution test. It’s nothing to diagnose. It’s just the way it is. The original black CPS could make the truck just shut off like a light switch. Extremely dangerous as the engine must be running for brakes and steering work properly. All trucks were recalled and a new Grey CPS was installed. It makes the truck fail the cylinder contribution test for #8 balance fault. Some find the old black CPS (not new just never put on the warranty return to Ford shelf and mechanics would take them out the back door to sell. Installing one is STUPID. Your putting your and others’ lives at risk. That is
NOT your noise. If however bothers you that you have a balance fault, you can look up the thread that I authored about 10 years ago. You will pass the cylinder contribution test and your engine will run smoother. If you choose to do it, you must follow my instructions EXACTLY. It’s titled “ CPS SEARCH AND EFFORT PAY OFF”.
Back to your sound.
When does it happen?
Smoke? If so when?
How long and miles since start of it?
Have you flipped the oil fill cap over and looked for a milky white oil film on it?
Performance effected?
Coolant or oil consumption?
How bad is oil leak and where is it coming from?
What is your oil level?
I’m working but I will check back.

It happens all the time but more pronounced when accelerating.
No smoke at all.
Started about 6 months ago. About 4,000 miles ago.
I have flipped the oil cap. It does have a slight milky look but that only started after I put dye in the oil in order to try to find the leak.
Performance not effected.
I don’t believe it is consuming oil but does have a slight leak somewhere in the left front of the engine area.
Oil level is just slight of full.
Thanks!

 

[Maryland dieselnick]

Dye should not have created a milky look.
Get me a good picture of it.
I see trucks where the injectors were not properly seated before they were torqued down. The injector and cup lift under compression and heat. The coolant slips under the bottom of the cup and goes into the cylinder. I even have a video on YouTube where a truck got short blocked. It’s called Maryland dieselnick Blackwater.
Get me a photo.
Do you have a cooling system pressurizer hand pump with a 7.3 degas bottle adapter? If not get them. Stant is the brand that you want.

 

[RT]

The dye may have made the milky look if it wasn't an oil-based dye. They make dye for cooling systems that are water-based. Which one did you use?

 

[Tennessee Tim]

Dye should not have created a milky look.
Get me a good picture of it.
I see trucks where the injectors were not properly seated before they were torqued down. The injector and cup lift under compression and heat. The coolant slips under the bottom of the cup and goes into the cylinder. I even have a video on YouTube where a truck got short blocked. It’s called Maryland dieselnick Blackwater.
Get me a photo.
Do you have a cooling system pressurizer hand pump with a 7.3 degas bottle adapter? If not get them. Stant is the brand that you want.

The dye may have made the milky look if it wasn't an oil-based dye. They make dye for cooling systems that are water-based. Which one did you use?

I used the one for motor oil.

 

[Maryland dieselnick]

That is yellow, not milky white. That is the dye that you used.

 

[Maryland dieselnick]

It’s actually more akin to chartreuse 🙂

 

[Tennessee Tim]

That is yellow, not milky white. That is the dye that you used.

That’s what I thought. So it seems that maybe it’s low fuel pressure that’s causing the injector/s to knock?

 

[Maryland dieselnick]

What RT had due to basic fuel starvation on his passenger side was injector hammering.
It’s midnight here. I’m turning. Il get with you tomorrow.