Yes, keep the faith. Everthing wears out eventually.
I regularly pull a 13k 5'r all over the country with my e99, and for the most part I have zero worries (I just cursed myself...) Mostly because of what I have learned here, and like Jason said, It's experiance for next time.
The more I learn here about my 7.3 and the more hands on time I get modding / doing perventative maintenance the less stressfull a breakdown becomes. Not to mention less likely...
We're here for you , keep truckin.

EDIT: Listen to Barney ^^^^^ both him and I have encountered a low fuel pressure situation on the road. Get a guage on it to rule it out. Gauges are much cheaper than a tow.

 

Now that (the pressure under load) I don't know. It would be something to look at though. The first time it happened (on this trip) was on the last, steepest part of Sierra Blanca hill, but the second time was just as I was going downhill into the valley the highway goes into just west of Junction. Cleaning the connectors fixed that eppisode. Back when I had the problems leading to replacing the intank screen and then the fuel pump, it always acted up under load, although when the fuel pump went south, that happened on a rough stretch of (potholed) paved road, the jarring finished it off then. What's the normal pressure ? Can't be a whole lot as the fuel simply fills the bowl then runs over the top into the return line, unless there's a check valve inside the port on the bowl (Haven't looked at that to see)

 

I'm all into preventative maintenence, but somehow the things that break out on the road are the things you didn't prepare for. I'm gonna put a fuel pressure gauge on it to see what's happening. But the one thing about this truck so far is no matter how bad it's acted up, the last thing I needed was a tow truck. It's always managed to limp it's way home or to a safer place to do a fix at. it's just a big pain in the *** when this **** happens, doesn't make the wife any happier either.

 

fuel pressure at idle 55-65PSI. wide open under load, 55-65PSI, shouldn't see much drop.
I, like you, have fixed most everything on the side of the road or in a truck stop parking lot.
one thing you can't fix on the side of the road is a blown HPOP line, ain't no savin that one. If you haven't changed yours, do it now.
good luck with your diagnosis
Barney

 

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQTNx...e_gdata_player


Sent from my iPhone

 

After!
Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAHnI...e_gdata_player


Sent from my iPhone

 

Maybe yer ol girl lost faith in you, keep up on maintenace as well as preventive maintenance with known trouble spots ie, hpop, cps, hp earl sensor, hp earl regulator, hp earl hoses, turbo o rings, injector o rings, rocker torque, 50 cent mod,in tank fuel filters, gpr, and ur 7.3 will last 1 million miles

 

Well since I bought it, I've replaced the electric fuel pump, the intank screen, new waterpump, fresh reman turbo, fresh reman HPOP (and last night I found an O ring kit for the leaking HPOP online for $13, luckily I kept the leaker and paid the $150 core to fix the leak later) What's the "50 cent" mod ? And GPR ? And I wondered about "running the overhead" on the rockers and injectors, that's something that used to be done on the big diesels years ago. I do oil changes about every three thousand miles, luckily I get my oil free. But the cost of replacement parts for these engines leads me to wonder if it's worth it in the long run.

 

Shoot me a PM the next time you run through town, Id love to meet another FTE'er

 

I would, but the way things are looking here, it's going to be at least nearly anther year before we'll get to go back up 287. Wish it weren't so though. Love those sleepy little Texas towns. You can take the boy outta Texas, but never get the Texas outta him (born in Texas City, Texas 53 years ago today)

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

 

Not that this is the source of your woes, but that's pretty far from the bottom of the tank. Standard distance is about 1/8" IIRC.

I had a no-start/crappy power issue last winter. Turned out that the big pre-pump fuel filter I have on the frame rail was catching the precipitate (gel) that drops out of the fuel when it gets cold enough. Since you were running B5, you're more susceptible to gelling issues. Here's what I'd recommend:

1. Get some replacement filters and keep 2 in your truck.
2. Replace that pre-pump filter with a fresh one and cut it open and see how clogged it is.
3. Install a regulated return. It will also give you a port to put in a fuel pressure gauge.
4. Find someone with AE (Auto Enginuity) and get some logging done on your truck.

I have a small oil leak at the moment, but other than needing to carry some extra oil, I'd drive to the North Pole via the South Pole route and only worry about who was paying the fuel bill.

With the added electronics of the newer diesels, you won't have much choice but to sit by the side of the road.

 

I had an extra spin on filter handy for the first eppisode. Made no difference when I put it on. The fuel gellling crossed my mind then as well. When I dumped the fuel out of the one I took off, nothing but fuel came out. No water, no trash. Wasn't until I limped the 50 miles into Van Horn and changed the primary on the engine that it cleared up. But again, that I suspect only fixed it due to my wiggling the sensor connections, based on the fix I performed the second time it happened. And the cost of these filters comes into play here too. The two primary's I bought set me back $90, the spin on's are $20-$30. Needless to say, I'm going to hang onto the ones I replaced as they obviously are still good. What's this AE and logging ? I know it's not the kind of logging I did for ten years back in the 80's.

 

There are a few members in La with AE that may be able to give you a hand depending on your location.
I shared a couple meals and couple too many drinks with a few of em,... and they are down right good peoples
Here is AE : Riffraff Diesel: AutoEnginuity Total Ford Enhanced Bundle
I wouldn't travel without it.

 

I am suprised that no one has answered these questions of the GPR and the 50. mod?

Your Glow Plug Relay comes on for about a minute or so to engage your Glow Plugs to heat up the cylinder walls to make it easy to start your truck in 20-30 dregree temps. This needs to work or you will have trouble every time.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...pr-system.html

the 50. mod is used as a retaining piece to keep your underder the valve cover electrical harness from coming unplugged. If it comes loose one or more injectors will not fire. Read this thread.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...lve-cover.html