Ok, so please bear with me because I really am lost with the diesel motors. Really lost. But I have a few questions about my truck. It is a 1993 F350 Dually with the 7.3 and a Banks turbo. It has 120k miles on it and the owner before me bought it new and used it twice a year.

The turbo is turned all the way up, nothing seems to be the matter and it runs well. It shifts hard though even after a tranny flush. I had the oil leak and fuel pump leak fixed thanks to the wonderful advice here. It runs like a great and now I am getting the fuel tanks fixed thanks to some more advice here as one of my tanks fuel gage is broken and the other cuts out at 1/4 a tank which makes me fill up often for fear of running out in the middle of nowhere even when I keep track of milage.

The truck was purchased to tow my 4h Gooseneck horse trailer after my last truck kicked the bucket. It is great on flat land and is a workhorse that cruises at 70 (the speed limit on most highways in FL) and reaches that speed no problem even with the trailer fully loaded.

The issue is that when I go up a hill I go from 70 to 50 with my foot jammed down on the gas. I guess that I have been spoiled with trucks or don't understand life before Powerstroke, but why do I have so little power? My previous trucks (01 F350 7.3 and 99 F350 7.3) never had this issue and hills for them were a breeze even when pulling my old 6 horse trailer.

Is there just no comparison in power levels between those with Powerstroke and those without? Is there anything I can do to give my little truck some more power? I feel like kicking myself for selling my old trucks. Any advice?

Thanks.

 

Thats the difference between old and new. These IDI's will get you there, just not as quickly as a powerstroke...unless a sensor goes out on the stroker and then you can pass. There's another difference between old and new, these old trucks have a lot less to go wrong.

 

I was thinking that was going to be the answer. It's hard giving up the power, but the truck is a packer and has done no wrong by me yet. I also got it for a deal so no sour grapes about it.

 

Well to start with hows your boost/egt looking? Any smoke? As far as adding power check here for all the power you would ever need

 

Though the boost is all the way up, I only get five pounds on the gage (which I have no idea if it works or not). I have smoke. Lots and lots of black/grey smoke when the boost kicks in. I can feel it kick in especially on hills and when I get on the highway.

BTW that is a smoking truck you have there. Thank you for some good ideas

 

I think the banks upgraded 7.3's run about 10 PSI if you mat it hard.

 

The powerstorkes have about a hundred more horses than the idi.
It sounds like you might need an injection pump and injectors.
Try tighting the hose clamps between the trubo and the intake.
look for any griming spots on the intake it could be a sing of a boost leak.

 

Have you had it timed? Boost on a 2nd Gen Sidewinder should get to 9lbs in seconds with load, is yours a WG or non WG turbo? Post some pics if you are not sure. Another thing, this is not a Powerstroke, power lives in RPM's on these motors, bury your foot in her pre-hill, and downshift early. Run her against the governor(2800 to 3200 RPM's), and you'll get a lot farther up the hill before you start to slow down.

 

If your only making 5psi your definatly down on power, if the injection pump and injectors havnt been replaced go ahead and do that. Post replacment make sure to get it timed appropriatly and double check for any boost/hotside exhaust leaks. A well running turbo'd 7.3 should be fairly close to your strokes power wise (on par with first gen strokes but you had seconds which got a slight power boost).

Oh and for the record that isnt my truck (wish it was ) mine currently looks like something thats spent all its years on the farm and is making roughly the same power yours should be (ATS turbo'd 7.3 pushing 11psi, so far can hold 60-65 on the hills hauling 8k lbs of race car trailer...at 1mile above sea level)

 

That's on par with mine, but mine is non-turbo, so I'd think yours should do better; of course, you're towing a much bigger load than I typically do -- I usually only have about 2500 lbs in the bed and 2500 lbs of trailer, plus truck and passengers.

Be careful about putting it ***** to the wall on hills, especially if you don't have an EGT gauge. That much smoke probably means you're getting things dangerously hot. Downshift to your next lowest gear and don't push it quite so hard until you've got an EGT gauge, otherwise you can melt things.

 

That's pretty standard for an old IDI. A Powerstroke diesel has a good bit more power. The IDIs can be about as reliable as you can get though, so it's still a good truck.

 

I have a 7.3 with a Banks Sidewinder Wastegated turbo.
C-6 with 3.55 rear gear and a Gear Vendors overdrive.

I had to add an Intercooler due to issues with siezing pistons.

After the intercooler was mounted the IDI woke up from deep
sleep.

Used to make 10/12lbs boost instantly. Now it is a bit lazy to
make boost but the boost gauge reads only 15psi and it swings
past that often.

I wouldn't want to ever own a non intercooled diesel again.

I tow a 24ft enclosed trailer and never have power issues
Even towing in the mountains it has plenty power with plenty
EGT heat to keep an eye on.

Maybe my extra power is from the WMO that I pour in the tank



Javier

 

I dissagree with most of these guys, a properly setup turbo IDI should run right with a 7.3 psd. The Gen II (your 99 and 01) powerstrokes were intecooled so that gives them a slight advantage. You can also intercool your pickup as well for the same advantage. The power is there, it just costs some money.

Long story short, id say you need to get some guages and turn up the fuel and you will find the power youre looking for... some of it anyway.

 

is the air cleaner clean? sounds like you have more fuel than she's burning.
i don't think there is a "hill" in Florida that would slow my truck down besides maybe a curb or two lmao.
seriously though,what kind of gross weight are we talking? (not that any weight means black smoke is ok.)

^ that screams a lack of air,not fuel to me.

 

I missed that post. I admit i kinda skimmed through was in a hurry. In which case definately do like F250 says and check the air filter, make sure the CAI is hooked up and maybe have the turbo rebuilt if those dont help clear it up. You should be seeing at least 10lbs and anywhere up to 20.