Starting with FUEL PRESSURE

[jeffnzoya]

Hello. My first post. To make a long story short. I have an 00 F250 crew 4x4, auto with 180k. 4 inch exhaust with 80 hp superchip installed.

My story: Purchased the truck with 104k. Could not be more pleased with performance/power and overall smoothness of engine. @ 170k, while towing in the mountains of Virginia I noticed a miss and loss of power. There was a Hole in #8 piston (after reading one of your post's I see it may have been caused by lugging while in overdrive, which I thought was just good power and it would kick out of OD when it was good and ready, usually at 40 mile per hour). I read last night that when the EGT's start to go up you should manually over ride the OD.

Being on a limited budget, I purchased an 02 7.3 with 150k and had it installed.

From day one I was not happy with the engine. Not as much power, very noisy and lousy fuel mileage. My old engine got arond 16 average. This one get's 12.

I have Had the engine scanned several times. Was told #8 injector was bad so I replaced it with one of my injectors from the original engine. Did not fix problem. Was told #3 was bad. Replaced with some improvement but still noisy and bad fuel mileage.

In reading your post's I see shimming the FPR may need to be my next thing I need to do.

My question is, do I need to test fuel pressure prior to shimming the FPR (if so, how) or is this a common problem with the 7.3 and can be done without knowing the current fuel pressure.

Thank you.

Jeff.

P.S. This is an awsome site!!!

 

[dpantazis]

jeff-

welcome to SDD.

there is info on shimming the FPR in the wiki pages. look at the top right of this page.


increasing the FPR pressure may not solve your problem. the regulator is a spring closed valve type restriction. increasing the spring pressure increases the fuel delivery pressure which in effect kicks the fuel in the pants getting to the injectors.

do you have access to a scanner to pull codes off your truck?

condition of fuel filter?

it might be something simple like the under valve cover harness being bad or loose or it could be fuel deliver issues in any number of places.

dennis

 

[jeffnzoya]

Dennis, I do have access to a scanner. It is a "MODIS" system that, acording to my Cousin that own's the muffler shop, it's a good unit. I have used it a few times.

As far as the fuel filter, I change it every other oil change at around (usually over) 5k. It's due.

As far as the valve cover gaskit's being good, I don't know. I changed #8 and #3 injectors myself and was careful not to move them much.

Also, after a few day's sitting and/or a cold start my truck has a bad miss. It clears up after reaching NOT. I was told by a "Ford mec". that some of the 7.3's had a problem with missing during startup, so they were told to switch to synthetic oil to clear the problem. Been there done that, Still Misses.

What's your thoughts.

Dennis, on another issue, The "mechanic" that done the install of my engine said that my wastegate was adjusted all the way out or something and I should get a aftermarket wastegate. What's your thoughts on that. I don't know how a wastegate work's so I don't know where to start tweeking. I read a post that you can adjust your wastegate for more boost. At WOT I am boosting about 12 or so.

Thank's

Jeff.

 

[MBRPCrazyford]

Those boost numbers are a little low for a 7.3. Stock they should make about 17 max. Sounds like your wastegate opens too early.

 

[dpantazis]

right now, first i would focus on the miss, i would not worry about the wastegate just yet.

if you have any reason to question the chip, i would pull the chip too for now.

btw: how are your batteries?

the valve covers may be good, its the Under Valve Cover Harness that you need to look at. some 7.3's had faulty clips and you can get gremlins if the connectors don't seat right. misses are one of those gremlins.
read more here-
FDDTS - 7.3L UVC Harness Retainer Clips

low boost- boost check your IC piping and boots. you might have a leak somewhere. boots are known to suck. i made up a regulator arrangement like this with a piece of 4" pvc and a $20 cheapy regulator. all you want to do is pressurize the system. too much air and you will spin the turbo(not a good thing). you will loose air too on account of some of the cylinder valves being partially open. you want to listen to the boots for a hiss.

http://www.dieselsite.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=669&HS=1

not all scanners are scanners- some can run the self tests and diagnostics. its best if you can get your hands on one that can. i am not familiar with the one you mentioned.

keep up posted.

dennis

 

[jeffnzoya]

Dennis, I pulled the codes on my truck today.

P0541- INTAKE AIR HEATER AIR CIRCUIT LOW.

Cylinder Contribution Test: P0269- CYLINDER #3 BALANCE FAULT.

Injector buzz test: P1293- HIGH SIDE OPEN BANK #1 RIGHT.

Ignition test: P1536- PARKING BREAK SWITCH CIRCUIT FAULT.

As far as the chip, I sent it back to Superchip's a month ago to be reprogrammed. That is how I know it has the 80hp off road program.

I also played around with my wastegate today. I unpluged the red hose and left if unpluged and drove the truck at WOT it boosted 17psi (for about a half second) and then went to about 14). Also, the boost guage seemed to be quicker to respond but I did not notice much if any power diference. With the red hose plugged in, it seems to "hiss" more.

What's your thoughts.

Jeff.

 

[dpantazis]

jeff-


interpreting the codes takes a bit of knowledge and intution. i am hoping a smarter bear than I jumps in here.

i assume that your parking brake was not on during the test, so i would ignore that.

did you delete or disconnect the AIH ? or maybe PO did. Its the hex nut on the cold side of the y-pipe, to the right of the boot looking back at the engine. look at the wiki pages for AIH delete. check the wires for now, make sure its connected. if its not there, that is a different issue.

the other two, first bank and #3 injector i >think< are telling you there is a problem on that cylinder bank.

Did you check the UVC connection? the clips or harness could be bad or have a short. Eliminating the clip issue might save you a bunch of grief.

dennis

 

[jeffnzoya]

Yes I did the AIH delete but did not notice any difference in power.

What's your thoughts on that mod?

Jeff

 

[dpantazis]

jeff-

i am conservative with respect to mods- so i left mine in.

so we are down to the gremlin with the #3 cylinder and the #1 bank.

i think you are going to have to pull the cover and check at least the connector and the injector, maybe re-run the scans and test and see what it reveals.

did you use new o-rings on the injector when you put it in?

dennis

 

[BIG JOE]

Hey Jeff.. Yer make'n some of us ....

We started out with Fuel Pressure , then.... Well We're not sure where it went.

If you'd tell us about yer 7.3, the replacement one, I think we could help you out here. I, fer one, would be more than happy to help, if I can. But I need to know exactly what yer after.

Any and all of yer Mods ? like: intake, exhaust, gauges You have any ??

Joe