7.3L engine surge?
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7.3L engine surge?
Hi all,
My family's 2001 4x4 F350 dually has been doing something wierd lately. When you start the truck the engine rev's jump up and down for a few seconds like the engine isn't getting a constant supply of fuel, then it idles normal. This only happens once each day the first time the truck is started up. Once the truck has been run it won't do it again until the first start up the next day. Anyone else experienced this or have an idea of what might be causing it? Thanks.
My family's 2001 4x4 F350 dually has been doing something wierd lately. When you start the truck the engine rev's jump up and down for a few seconds like the engine isn't getting a constant supply of fuel, then it idles normal. This only happens once each day the first time the truck is started up. Once the truck has been run it won't do it again until the first start up the next day. Anyone else experienced this or have an idea of what might be causing it? Thanks.
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From: Indianapolis
7.3L engine surge?
Ford knows about it but don't hold your breath until they DO something about it. The concensus around here is, it is a sticky or lazy IPR valve. In most instances it only does it when it is cold (thick oil) and the problem goes away when it (the engine) warms up (thinner oil).
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From: Somewhere out there.
7.3L engine surge?
Evan1, there is a special service message about your concern. It is being recemended that you run 10w30 diesel grade oil in ambient temps of 30 degree's and below. My truck had this concern and since I have changed, it has not occured anymore. It seems to primarily effect the 01's. This topic has been brought up before, I hope it don't get outta hand.
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7.3L engine surge?
Thanks guys, I really appreciate it. I'll call one or more of the local dealers and mention it to them. I just wanted to see if anyone happened to know what it was because the local dealers are fairly incompetent. I rarely ever drive this truck so I don't even know what grade oil it has in it but I live in South Florida so cold isn't a concern. It was 80 something degrees 2 hours ago when I took it over to pull the neighbors Yukon out of a mud hole so temps don't seem to make a difference. I'm not too concerned about it as it doesn't seem to be causing any ill effects, I mean the truck runs great and will pull all day long without breaking a sweat!
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From: UTAH
7.3L engine surge?
Evan,
Are you sure it never did this before? Are you aware of the trucks programming to idle up in an effort to prevent "wet stacking"
If you tap the go pedal or the brake pedal does it go away?
Are you sure it never did this before? Are you aware of the trucks programming to idle up in an effort to prevent "wet stacking"
If you tap the go pedal or the brake pedal does it go away?
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7.3L engine surge?
pcwirepro,
It just started doing this about 4 weeks ago. I don't know what wet stacking is, you'll have to explain it to me. I'm not sure about pushing the break pedal but it goes away immediately if you tap to accelerator which is what I'd expect. Tomorrow I'll try tapping the break pedal just out of curiosity.
It just started doing this about 4 weeks ago. I don't know what wet stacking is, you'll have to explain it to me. I'm not sure about pushing the break pedal but it goes away immediately if you tap to accelerator which is what I'd expect. Tomorrow I'll try tapping the break pedal just out of curiosity.
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From: UTAH
7.3L engine surge?
Evan,
Forgive me if I cover something you are already aware of. Ford has programmed the truck to "high idle" for several reasons. One of which is to allow the truch to idle at a temperature high enough to prevent a situation where fuel is not being burned efficiently enough. Another reason to raise the idle is to keep the alternator producing enough voltage to maintain your glow plugs functionality. Your glow plugs can stay on for two minutes at a time, even if the light is off. If it just started one of your batteries may be failing and the computer is attempting to compensate for the lack of voltage.
These are just a few things for you to consider. If it goes away when you tap the brake then it is definately the computer and I would consider it normal.
Good Luck To You.
Forgive me if I cover something you are already aware of. Ford has programmed the truck to "high idle" for several reasons. One of which is to allow the truch to idle at a temperature high enough to prevent a situation where fuel is not being burned efficiently enough. Another reason to raise the idle is to keep the alternator producing enough voltage to maintain your glow plugs functionality. Your glow plugs can stay on for two minutes at a time, even if the light is off. If it just started one of your batteries may be failing and the computer is attempting to compensate for the lack of voltage.
These are just a few things for you to consider. If it goes away when you tap the brake then it is definately the computer and I would consider it normal.
Good Luck To You.
Last edited by pcwirepro; Apr 6, 2003 at 05:32 PM.
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From: Somewhere out there.
7.3L engine surge?
Evan, yes the computer will raise the idle to approx. 1100 rpm's if the truck is idled for more than about 90-120 seconds, in park/nuetral. When you tap the brake pedal it will take the idle back to normal again. It sounded like your concern was when first started cold. I'm sorry to hear that you can't find a competent diesel tech in South Fl. If your ever up in Chicago area I'll take care of ya. Otherwise you can ask someone at www.flatratetech.com which is a site comprised of mainly dealership technicians. Hope that helps.
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7.3L engine surge?
I really appreciate all the help guys. I don't get online as often as I'd like. The truck goes into the dealer tomorrow morning to get checked out. As soon as I get some answers from them I'll post it on here. I know the truck is suppose to high idle but what it's doing is nearly stalling then catching then nearly stalling before finally catching and runing normal. It actually stalled the one time I tried tapping the accelerator. Hopefully the diesel tech at the dealer will figure it out.
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7.3L engine surge?
Here ia a ford service bulletin. Oasis#0170 Seems to apply.
0170 1994-2003 SUPER DUTY F-SERIES, EXCURSION EQUIPPED WITH 7.3L - COLD START ROLLING IDLE
SOME 1994-2003 F-SERIES SUPERDUTY AND EXCURSIONS EQUIPPED WITH A 7.3L DI DIESEL ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT AN IDLE ROLL/LOPE WITHIN THE FIRST 10 SECONDS UPON COLD STARTUP, WITH NO ASSOCIATED DTC'S. TO SERVICE, FOLLOW THE PCED DIAGNOSTIC SYMPTOM CHART FOR RUNS ROUGH: IDLE. IF THE CONDITION IS STILL PRESENT CHANGE TO A 10W30 ENGINE OIL RATED CG4/SH OR BETTER (MOTORCRAFT NUMBER XO-10W30-QSD) FOR VEHICLES OPERATED IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES LESS THAN 90 DEGREES F ONLY. SOME VEHICLES MAY STILL EXHIBIT THIS CONCERN AFTER USING 10W30 ENGINE OIL. ENGINEERING IS CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING THIS CONCERN.
0170 1994-2003 SUPER DUTY F-SERIES, EXCURSION EQUIPPED WITH 7.3L - COLD START ROLLING IDLE
SOME 1994-2003 F-SERIES SUPERDUTY AND EXCURSIONS EQUIPPED WITH A 7.3L DI DIESEL ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT AN IDLE ROLL/LOPE WITHIN THE FIRST 10 SECONDS UPON COLD STARTUP, WITH NO ASSOCIATED DTC'S. TO SERVICE, FOLLOW THE PCED DIAGNOSTIC SYMPTOM CHART FOR RUNS ROUGH: IDLE. IF THE CONDITION IS STILL PRESENT CHANGE TO A 10W30 ENGINE OIL RATED CG4/SH OR BETTER (MOTORCRAFT NUMBER XO-10W30-QSD) FOR VEHICLES OPERATED IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES LESS THAN 90 DEGREES F ONLY. SOME VEHICLES MAY STILL EXHIBIT THIS CONCERN AFTER USING 10W30 ENGINE OIL. ENGINEERING IS CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING THIS CONCERN.
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7.3L engine surge?
Thanks pcwirepro. That sounds like what it might be. The dealer kept the truck overnight and found nothing which to me means that their diesel tech isn't the one who started up the truck the next morning but rather their car porter or else they would have at least noticed the problem. I'll be calling them again this week and I will mention that service bulletin. Also I tried tapping the brake pedal immediately upon startup as mentioned in one of the posts and that has no effect on it.
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From: Indianapolis
7.3L engine surge?
If a lighter weight oil solves or improves this problem then, I'd say that it proves the theory mentioned in post #2 on this thread that the IPR is sticking or lazy. Has anybody tried a new IPR to see if it helps?
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7.3L engine surge?
Well my sister took the truck to the dealer on Monday and gave the main service guy an earfull and basically told him to keep the truck and don't bother calling until they find the problem. I didn't know she was gonna take it in so I didn't get a chance to print out the service bulletin but I did mention it to her. The service guy gave her a loooooooooong speech about how he deals with thousands of these truck and has never heard of this type of problem and that our truck is prefectly fine. Well yesterday late afternoon he calls up and says, "Hey you're right! The truck does have a problem" and "Ford is aware of it, BUT they have not yet been able to come up with a fix for it." Dealers never cease to amaze me. Anyway, I haven't had a chance to talk to my sister yet to see what Ford says is the "official" problem but I'll post it when I do.