Keith Browning

Well, just how much smoke are we talking about? A little smoke is normal.

Sometimes I swear that everyone has their own triggers for illness and injury. No surprise many of us have or will have back problems. I have had my bouts going back to my early twenties. I have had chronic neck problems and lower back pain on three separate incidents. I discovered that I always messed up my back removing and installing wheels and tires. The 16" steel wheels on Econolines and F-Series being the main offenders. I have learned to respect them and have not had many issues with my back since dealing with wheels and tires properly. For me this means removing the lug nuts and lowering the truck. With the wheels an inch from the floor I pull them off and roll them away. I hope you feel better. I hated not being able to move. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif

Now THAT is one of the best things I have seen in a while. Most 7.3s develop leaks at the tubes and those compression seals. Exhaust leaks there are a definite lack of power. Nice looking engine too!

No broken bolts? Usually We see a few bolts rotted out or snapped off. The job almost always requires a new manifold and all bolts after extracting or drilling out the broken ones. I don't recall there being gaskets available for a 7.3L but I suppose anything is possible in the aftermarket. Personally I would prefer to see gaskets there.

That is good news.

I downloaded it here at home. (I am off for the week so I don't have access to my work IDS) I have IDS loaded and it works for playback of sessions... but I keep getting Tabman errors when I select the data logger. I'll reboot later and try again. Sorry Dustin, I am trying though!

I pulled this quote from another topic and started a new topic because I think it deserves discussing. I know there are opposing opinions and this is not necessarily limited to technicians and the Hot Line as it can also be applied to the general public and manufacturers in general. This is also not directed at any one person including the person I have quoted. Quote: "Call back and let us know what the fix was"....Let me think about this for a second, why would I call him back with the answer? Would or would that not be his job to help me/us in the field? Yes, it is his job to help you. It is his job to provide assistance to you utilizing his own knowledge, experience and resources that he has available to him. Everyone has limitations based on variables beyond their own control. While the manufacturer has product knowledge and has gathered additional information based on their testing and research, new concerns develop as vehicles are operated in conditions beyond those represented in product testing. New concerns arise from product quality variances due to suppliers and product changes during production. Often the Hot-Line has no idea that a concern exists until it is reported and until it is, they can't address it or advise you. With that said, it is up to everyone involved to work through the issue and come up with a solution. After all, that is the goal - right? DO call back or fill out the report survey and let them know what the fix was! People are our greatest resource. If we communicate and share information and ideas there is no limit to what we can accomplish together. Reporting or confirming a fix for a concern will help those who encounter the same concern you did. You can be assured that help you have received is partially based on feedback and information provided by your peers. Many of us do because we realize our participation is a vital part of the process and not because we receive recognition or compensation. This applies to call backs, surveys and Global Concern Reporting through the Ford web site. It is easy to point fingers. It's funny how those who don't have the answers mock those we seek the answers from. All too often it is the caller who is not prepared. Do you know what you are working on? Have you recorded all of your test data? Have you consulted the service manual and performed the diagnostics carefully and in the proper order? Put yourself in their shoes - I don't blame a Hot-Line Engineer for rolling his eyes when he reviews the call screen before picking up the phone for a fix that is provided on OASIS. You have to run OASIS with applicable symptom codes before you can contact them but did you read the report? Did you check for Special Service messages and Technical Service Bulletins that apply to your concern? A little humility goes a long way. We all need to be reminded of this from time to time. It is natural to take great pride in ourselves, our accomplishments and our careers. We will never know all there is to know, experience all there is to do. There are times when we need to take a step back, regroup and simply try again. It is easy to treat others with humility if we can just get over ourselves. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/2cents.gif P.S. - This is a lesson I have had to learn over and over again in my life so please do not take this post as having condescending or demeaning intent. I just thought I had something meaningful to say for once and offered my opinion about something we can all relate to in some way.

I think they are in Pine Brook now. Well, we use two suppliers and I am not sure who the other is. Its nice because if I need something in a hurry we can always send someone to go get it instead of waiting a day. We have another issue though and that is shipping. If it comes with the order in their truck its safe and sound - BUT - if they decide to stick it on the UPS truck there is a good chance it will get beat up. The turbo I just installed was in a box that had the side bashed out and the turbo was no longer in the cardboard holders. I actually got a VGT that came out of the box during shipping and UPS just wound tape around the box. Yes, WTF!

Yeah my stuff hasn't been bad either but I have seen the excessive paint on FQR engines. Pisses you off when you have to spend extra time scraping and running a tap through bolt holes. But I just did a high pressure turbo on a 6.4L that someone forgot to remove the crossover seal ring from the housing until after it was rebuilt. Left a ring of material that I had to clean up before assembly. No big deal but its little details like that that can screw up a job if you are not paying attention.

Jim the United States Government is traditionally too busy screwing with every other aspect of our lives to notice that we have not been required to be licensed and I have not personally heard of any individuals being fined. I am sure it happens though. Despite this there are indeed laws against this sort of activity and each state has motor vehicle regulations and regular inspections. In NJ this also includes roadside checks that they love to spring on drivers. The problem here is diesel emissions testing has not yet been implemented fully that I know of. Beyond a visual inspection for a CAT and excessive smoke I don't see how the legal eyes are enforcing diesel emissions laws. But you guys are right, if WE don't give a shit then who will? I think most people do but it only takes a few rotten apples to choke the rest and there has to be someone besides the truck owners installing and removing stuff on their trucks...

I want to know why Larry is Googling Grampy Jim. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/icon_crazy.gif /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rofl.gif

Exhaust pressure spec is 35-PSI MAX @ 3800 RPM WOT

Nice thought, I am about to begin a week off which starts me using up the remaining 18 days of paid vacation time between now and the new year.

By the way Dustin, did I mention that every time I see a picture of your shop I get really jealous! I keep my floor clean in my shoe box of a shop and it still looks like dirt. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif Those polished concrete floors in that wide open space look like a techs palace.

I agree with Alex, it's a pretty common failure and it can make a mess from the oil leaking as mentioned. It is definitely a good idea to replace the harness pig-tail and be aware that the new sensor may not look the same as it may be the newer style that replaces the old sensors with the sensor from 2004 and newer trucks. Here is what the sensor typically looks like in this situation...

/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/thumbup.gif Ooooooooooooh yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! That used to be a favorite of mine that I now must revisit. I got into drinking coffee with liquor skiing in Vermont years ago. By the way, welcome to the DTS!!!

EBP isn't excessive? I have had a few over the years with clogged and broken CATS that just dogged the engines. If you are thinking weird ideas... intake manifold leaks, degraded injectors, poor fuel quality... thinkin out loud here... Maybe you could make a data recording and save the file, post the file so we can see? Files are easy to upload, look at the post options while creating a reply, you can upload a file... like an IDS session with recordings. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

What are your MGP and EBP readings?

These are some useful charts that are from Motorcraft. From time to time I need to look up information like this and never think to look on the Motorcraft web site so here they are for us to reference. Ethylene Glycol-based Engine Coolant Protection Chart. Service Coolant Usage Chart. R-134a Refrigerant Charge Capacities in Oz. . Refrigerant Compressor Oil Capacities in Fluid Oz. / Cc. Oil Applications And Crankcase Capacities Charts. Lubricant Applications And Capacities Chart. Automatic Transmission Fluid Chart

See related products: DieselSite CPR+ FASS (Fuel Air Separation System) AirDog

Here's a few more I found. Interesting stuff but is this the right way to go? Links http://www.angelfire.com/mi3/servo/tips/IDM.html http://forgotton.net/diesel/idmmod/index.htm

Personally, I prefer to make an attempt to affirm my suspicions especially if normal diagnostics have led nowhere. I don't suggest spending an hour messing with the harness but poking and prodding harnesses has historically worked for me. If I am going to throw a harness at a truck I at least want to try. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/2cents.gif

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I started searching these mods on TDS beginning with the Zoo-dad mod, one of the moderators is a well versed and actually does some testing - to what degree I don't know, but at least he seems to take a logical approach to things. He tested the Zoo-dad by recording acceleration times and documenting the trucks with and without the mod, the result was that the mod had absolutely no impact on performance whatsoever. I am also a little skeptical on the "ram effect" as well. The 7.3L being a turbocharged and aftercooled engine I cant see this making much difference if any at all... or at least a noticeable difference. I do see a negative potential as creating a direct path for air to directly enter the air filter also creates a direct path to the filter for water, snow and debris.

You read in public forums about modifications owners make to their trucks to make them faster. Some of them just don't sound like they could make a difference. Since most of us dont venture into the wild outside our comfy dealerships I thought it would be interesting to discuss some of these.Ever hear of the Zoodad mod?How about the Air Intake Heater Delete?