BLittle500 Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Got a 97 7.3 in, starts up fine, drives fine for a little bit, then it starts to smoke like crazy (white/light blue smoke)and just gradually loose power untill it finally grinds to a hault. Shut it off for a few seconds, it fires right back up and drives fine for a mile or so, then the same thing. I cant get this thing to do it in the shop, but I can get it to do it on the road pretty much whenever. About 2 months ago there was an IDM put in it, they said it ran fine up untill the other day. Could it be a shorted out injecter taking out the IDM? Thanks for your advice in advance guys, Brandon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Amacker Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Have you checked fuel pressure under load? It sounds like a classic case of fuel starvation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLittle500 Posted March 20, 2009 Author Share Posted March 20, 2009 Typed that up while going through the preliminary checks. Got to sypmtom chart 10, checked fuel pressure, bouncing back and forth at idle between 50-60psi. Then at WOT it just keeps dropping, sometimes the whole way to 0PSI (when she's smoking and shakin). Getting ready to tear off the regulator now. Thanks Bruce, Brandon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Amacker Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 You will likely find a bad pump, but you will also likely find trash or junk in the regulator. If you find rubber chunkies, it needs injector o-rings. If you find metal shavings, it needs a pump. If the small screen has something like fibers in it, they've been using cheap aftermarket filters. If there's black residue like below, the injector o-rings are also bad. 50/50% on whether you need the o-ring kit shown below. Getting the PN for that kit was a REAL MF because Ford lists the IPR as the fuel pressure regulator for this engine and the regulator shown below is just called "regulator". Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLittle500 Posted March 20, 2009 Author Share Posted March 20, 2009 Bruce, The O-Ring for the brass cap at the bottom of the regulator is torn, does that kit include that O-Ring? I really didnt find much in the regulator. The last time it was in, it had a new little screen put in it due to being clogged and being blown apart. I actually still ahve the old piece and looking back at it, it looks to be fibers. The truck is a construction truck for a large company, and they do their own maintnece and it does have an after market fuel filter in it. Thanks again Bruce, I'll let you know what I come up with, Brandon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Amacker Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Yes, the kit includes the o-ring you mention, the brillo pad screen, big snap ring, and a small o-ring. Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Amacker Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 I'll be in your back yard teaching this Sunday, but car topics...... OOOoooooohhhhhhhh! I'm an "extreme member" now! Lotsa brownie points! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLittle500 Posted March 21, 2009 Author Share Posted March 21, 2009 Bruce, Cool, where are you training at? I have a pump and the o-ring kit coming for this thing, hopefully I can get to it before pulling a cab on Monday. Thanks again, Brandon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastendpowerstroke Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 Brandon please do your self a favor and read THIS THREAD about a truck with the same issue you have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLittle500 Posted March 21, 2009 Author Share Posted March 21, 2009 Thanks east end, may have to cover my butt on this one..... I'll talk to the S/A on monday about this. Thanks for the reference, Brandon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Amacker Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 Eastend: Those tank strainer screens are on Gen2 only, not his '97. His truck uses a regular pickup with only a screen near the floor of the tank, (with a suction relief valve that opens if it clogs). __________________________________________________________ TechTrain 2009 March 20-22, 2009 Holiday Inn Harrisburg-Hershey, Grantville, PA http://aasp-pa.org/generator/downloads/2009_TechTrain_brochure.pdf And they're having me teach CAR TOPICS! Automotive ABS and Electronic Service Information! A diesel guy teaching CAR TOPICS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 Eastend: Those tank strainer screens are on Gen2 only, not his '97. His truck uses a regular pickup with only a screen near the floor of the tank, (with a suction relief valve that opens if it clogs). That is one of those little bits of good to know information that is hard to remember... but I ONCE saw that pick up screen at the bottom of the tank clog from in tank debris... a landscaper using a rag as a fuel filler cap. If I recall there were leaves and grass clippings in the tank. Of course, running the fuel pump inlet restriction test will remove any doubt whether you need to go there or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastendpowerstroke Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 Well OK good to know, Ya know that the symptoms he described trigger a knee jerk reaction to dive right into the tank to look at the pickup screen. I'd say it has been a while since I worked on a truck that old but I just put a hp oil passage head plug in a 97 last week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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