97 Looses Power, Smokes, Shuts off

BLittle500 · 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

Bruce Amacker · March 20, 2009

Have you checked fuel pressure under load? It sounds like a classic case of fuel starvation.

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BLittle500 · 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

Bruce Amacker · 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".

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Good Luck!

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BLittle500 · 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

Bruce Amacker · 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!

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Bruce Amacker · March 20, 2009

I'll be in your back yard teaching this Sunday, but car topics......

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OOOoooooohhhhhhhh! I'm an "extreme member" now! Lotsa brownie points!

BLittle500 · 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

eastendpowerstroke · March 21, 2009

Brandon please do your self a favor and read THIS THREAD about a truck with the same issue you have.

BLittle500 · 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

Bruce Amacker · 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).

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Keith Browning · 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.