Power when Towing

[SMOKNZ]

I was wondering about the power the PSD has when towing. I have a 28 ft TT, and was towing it to the dealer to have some work done on it. This was it's first tow with the "new" truck. Going up a slight, very slight grade, I had to almost floor it to stay at 73-74. Now I usually don't tow this fast, but I wanted to see how well it would do it. I have always felt my truck was down on power a little since I bought it. Is this normal for the PS? I always hear everyone say how much power they have towing.

I looked at a few things already, like the fuel pump relay. Couldn't find anything on it to reset, so I'm assuming it's working fine. Also can hear the EBV cycle when on and off the throttle when cold, doesn't cycle when warm. I have a new fuel filter for it and will install this weekend. Any other issues I can look at. Truck has about 316,000 on it now, and runs fine, just seems to be a little low on power. My brothers IHI non-turbo 7.3 is peppier than mine!! Both are stock right now.

Bill

 

[95_stroker]

I would say for a completely stock PSD that is close to normal. I dont think a stock 7.3 IDI will hang with a stock PSD. Stock PSD in 99 was 235 hp and around 450 ft/lbs TQ I believe, and the IDI N/A was 185 HP and 365 ft/lbs TQ.

The IDI's are great pulling machines but you would walk away from him on a grade.

 

[jonwright]

From what I'm hearing here an exhaust and MILD reprogram will do wonders and won't break your back on $$, either.

When we pulled our race trailer (24' and 8k lbs) with my buddy's 95 PSD at 75-80 it was down shifting all the time, almost red-lining and not real friendly with fuel. Then I asked him to see how it would do at 65. On grades it wouldn't even downshift from overdrive and fuel mileage went up a lot.

So we kept it at 65-70 and it was amazing the difference.

 

[powerboatr]

my 92 IDI was very TQ'y
but above 65 pulling the fiver it struggled and drank fuel like a 747
installed a the $$ gal banks turbo
power went up some, and i could pull at 70 and get 10 mpg
we turned up the injector pump beyond the suggested amount,
she would spin the tires at a stop light, then fall off real fast
easy as pie to work on, dependable as ever, no cps problems

 

[LIPD]

if your looking for a little more power you can cut the muffler out put in either a stright pipe or a Walker BTM, Install a DYI intake and have your PCM reflashed or get a reflashed PCM from DP-tuner. this should wake your truck up a little with out breaking the bank or hurting the truck.

 

[bonestroker]

got to agre with all the above

 

[Hoss 350]

I I have a 28 ft TT,

I am terrible with this sort of thing. How much does a 28 ft Travel trailer weigh? This will help me a lot to tell you if you're normal or if you've got problems.

Going up a slight, very slight grade, I had to almost floor it to stay at 73-74.

By my definition of a "very slight grade" even a stock 7.3 should have accelerated to 85 or 90 before it stopped pulling. Do you have a manual, or an automatic tranny? What gear were you in?

Now I usually don't tow this fast,

Good plan

but I wanted to see how well it would do it.

Totally understandable

I have always felt my truck was down on power a little since I bought it.

That is pretty subjective, but from the moment I got in my 7.3, I was marveling at how much poer it had. I don't know what your experience is, though, so I cannot tell what your definition of power is. Some say they like to accelerate like crazy when they floor the throttle. I like to accelerate the same loaded as I do unloaded (more or less). The latter is the power your PS should provide.

Truck has about 316,000 on it now, and runs fine, just seems to be a little low on power.

Can you blame it? 316,000 miles is a lotta dimp! Is it smoking AT ALL? If so, what color is the smoke, and when does it happen? Hopefully, your engine/injectors/something else aren't warn out.

My brothers IHI non-turbo 7.3 is peppier than mine!!

That just ain't right. You gots troubles, son.

Are you ready? Lets do this...
1.) What type of oil are you using? If it is not high quality diesel rated oil, she ain't gonna run worth a dingle durn.
2.) Have you ever changed the fuel filter? I would do so immediately if the answer is NO. I would also drain the water separator.
3.) Have you checked your fuel pressure? It should be around 50. Less than 50=no good.
4.) Check the air filter. Clogged air filters can really bog a truck down. however, she'd be a smokin under load if it really is the air filter.
5.) How heavy is your trailer?
6.) Auto or manual tranny?
7.) Check for trouble codes (go to Ford and have them plug you in)

Realize that a truck that can pull a 28' travel trailer at 74 miles per hour is not bad by anybodies standards, but i just pulled at 22K gross up some STEEP hills in my late '99 and if I wanted to be a fargin crazy bastidge I coulda' buried the right foot and grabbed overdrive as soon as I ran out of RPMs in direct and probably could have pulled better than 75 or 80 out of it (and this is 6-8% and better grades!) So, I also need to get an idea of your definition of a slight grade. Do you have a percentage guesstimate?

Hope I can help you out, but I need a little more info to really try and pin the issue down.

 

[SMOKNZ]

I am terrible with this sort of thing. How much does a 28 ft Travel trailer weigh? This will help me a lot to tell you if you're normal or if you've got problems.


By my definition of a "very slight grade" even a stock 7.3 should have accelerated to 85 or 90 before it stopped pulling. Do you have a manual, or an automatic tranny? What gear were you in?


Good plan

Totally understandable

That is pretty subjective, but from the moment I got in my 7.3, I was marveling at how much poer it had. I don't know what your experience is, though, so I cannot tell what your definition of power is. Some say they like to accelerate like crazy when they floor the throttle. I like to accelerate the same loaded as I do unloaded (more or less). The latter is the power your PS should provide.

Can you blame it? 316,000 miles is a lotta dimp! Is it smoking AT ALL? If so, what color is the smoke, and when does it happen? Hopefully, your engine/injectors/something else aren't warn out.

That just ain't right. You gots troubles, son.

Are you ready? Lets do this...
1.) What type of oil are you using? If it is not high quality diesel rated oil, she ain't gonna run worth a dingle durn.
2.) Have you ever changed the fuel filter? I would do so immediately if the answer is NO. I would also drain the water separator.
3.) Have you checked your fuel pressure? It should be around 50. Less than 50=no good.
4.) Check the air filter. Clogged air filters can really bog a truck down. however, she'd be a smokin under load if it really is the air filter.
5.) How heavy is your trailer?
6.) Auto or manual tranny?
7.) Check for trouble codes (go to Ford and have them plug you in)

Realize that a truck that can pull a 28' travel trailer at 74 miles per hour is not bad by anybodies standards, but i just pulled at 22K gross up some STEEP hills in my late '99 and if I wanted to be a fargin crazy bastidge I coulda' buried the right foot and grabbed overdrive as soon as I ran out of RPMs in direct and probably could have pulled better than 75 or 80 out of it (and this is 6-8% and better grades!) So, I also need to get an idea of your definition of a slight grade. Do you have a percentage guesstimate?

Hope I can help you out, but I need a little more info to really try and pin the issue down.

Oh jeez... here we go, I'll try to get all the answers

Towing in OD, auto 4R100 Tranny, travel trailer weight about 8000 lbs. I used to pull this with a Chevy 3/4 ton van with a 350 throttle body injection... not real fun (always towed in drive not OD with this). The slight grade I was speaking about was less than 1% (just enough to look down the highway and see that your going up a slight incline), tranny had to downshift to 3rd and with the throttle mashed to the floor could only barely speed up.

Motor is not smoking at all, injectors were replaced about 30K miles ago per the previous owner, because someone ran some gasoline in the tank.

1. Oil is Rotella-T 15W40
2. Never changed fuel filter, new one will be done this weekend
3. Have no way to check fuel press. Have been told about a port on the filter housing that can be used, will probably install gauge along with a 3 gauge pillar down the road.
4. Air filter was replaced 4K miles ago when I bought the truck, it was plugged
5. Trailer ~8K lbs
6. Auto tranny 4R100, stock, replaced at 246K miles
7. Haven't checked codes either, no service engine soon light either.

Any more, fire away!!

Bill

 

[Hoss 350]

Let us know how that fuel filter job works out.

You definitely have a problem if you're towing 8,000 pounds and cannot get past 74 on a more or less flat road. My truck would hit the speed limiter with 8K behind it on a grade like that before it stopped pulling.

Is it smoking?

 

[s d mills]

I've had similar experiences but discovered my truck will effortlessly pull hills in OD on cruise control that I have to flog it over manually. Have you tried it in CC?