I recently test drove a 2000 F450 with 7.3L diesel, 6-speed transmission and 4X4. My impression during the test drive was that it had no apparent power when I stepped on the throttle. The engine appears to run smoothly, no out of the ordinary noises and there was no exhuast smoke from the tail pipe.

I did notice though, what I thought was a lack of turbo noise while accelerating, there was barely any turbo 'whine'. I know about the insulation on the turbo pipe that supposedly quites the amount of turbo noise, but the lack of power during acceleration and the lack of turbo noise has me worried that the turbo is not spinning up and providing any boost.

How can I tell if the turbo is spinning up properly and providing boost without installing a boost gauge? To install the boost gauge, do you have to remove the AIH? If so, I doubt the car lot owner will allow me do that.

I've read several times on this site to check for 'boost leaks'. Would that be leaks around the flexible turbo tube seals going to and from the intercooler? How do you know if it is leaking? Would you hear it? Look for traces of oil?

Could faulty injectors be the cause of the problem?

Is there any diagnostic software that I could purchase and run on my laptop that would monitor tubo boost pressure without having to install an actual boost gauge?

When I told the saleman and lot owner that I thought the truck lacked power and that the turbo wasn't spooling up, they said 'Oh, it's a heavier truck than a F350, so it won't acclerate as fast as one'.

Thanks everyone!

 

Check the IC Boots to make sure they are tight and no rips, Also if you look down the intake pipe make sure the fins on the compressor wheel are straight and corners are sharp.

www.autoenginuity.com id a great software package for the PC - 379 for the enhanced ford package will do about anything you need on these trucks

 

Ditto on the Autoenginuity software. The total Ford bundle does alot to help you determine the condition of your motor. ITP carries it for $342+ ship: LINK
A weak HPOP could cause a power loss or a fuel delivery problem(fuel pump, clogged inlet screen...etc).
Nut

 

With no smoke coming out of the tailpipe, I wouldn't worry about anything mechanically wrong with the truck, and it's a stick shift.
Most likely the power loss is something minor like a clogged fuel filter or a bad HPOP pressure sensor.
Talk him down some and use the savings to fix it and have a great truck.
I love my F-550, you'll have to pry the steering wheel from my cold dead fingers.

 

PSNut you beat me to it.

 

Sorry Kwik....but always glad to have agreement from you on a TS'er.
Nut

 

hmmmmm.... been having the same trouble with our oldest truck. not much good in acceleration, but seems to kick in when the revs get above 1300 or so.. think this could also be the HPOP sensor? I already changed the FF.

 

I would think so, or maybe the IPR o-rings have a ragged edge on one of them?

 

I'll look into it.... unfortunately I only recently came into being involved in our company trucks' maintenance, and THAT because we were getting too slow response time from local shops. As a result I'm having to rely on people's memories on exactly WHEN and HOW things started to go wrong, lol... this particular truck involved the driver just popping in one day and saying how it lost power a FEW DAYS before... and here we were down to this our last truck available... three were on the road with crews so we had to limp this one along til one came back.

 

Also mrfixit, don't overlook the obvious intake boots coming loose.

 

ya ever have one of those trucks that when ya service it ONE time and others DRIVE it, ya look at it the NEXT time (being today, lol) and it looks like a completely different motor? Not only were the boots BAD, but one of them was in almost two pieces! Also discovered my friends at OH RYE LEE don't stock them, but I/H does
Truck is back running like a champ!
BTW, my name is TOM, glad to meet you, dan!

 

Excellent Tom, glad you got it fixed. If you are ever in Seattle, stop by and shake my hand.

 

I WILL be in seattle on Monday, at the NRPA Convention! Actually I will have our "Demo" there sunday night and I will be more or less hanging out til the next saturday!