While towing 10k from Florida to Vermont, the hpfp started to fail out on a hill in Pennsylvania. Loss of power. Was able to drive very short distance to dealer. Blew one large cloud of white smoke. Very very small amount of metal in three week old fuel filter. Don't know what old filter looked like three weeks ago, it was done in a shop. Once I got it to dealer it had cooled off and gave no codes and seemed to run fine. I left truck in PA to fixed and came home without work trailer.
Even if I have hpfp fixed am I asking for more trouble with this truck if metal is in the fuel system?
It has 150,000 miles. Thinking of trading in truck. Thanks

 

Why do you think its the HPFP? I see no mention of codes, and there are a lot of other issues that can cause the truck to go into limp mode. A few tiny flecks of metal in the bottom of the fuel filter housing at 150k is irrelevant in my opinion.

 

I would want to know the problem first before selling it.

 

One thing I didn't mention. When I went to start the truck that morning it didn't want to start, first time ever.
I had planned on driving it right to my mechanic.
If it were in limp mode wouldn't it show a code?
Obviously I'm relying on the dealerships opinion about it being the hpfp.
Thanks for your help.

 

It should certainly show a code if it won't start or a condition puts it into limp mode. If the HPFP is failing there should be codes for fuel rail pressure, pressure control valve, volume control valve, etc. Absent such codes I certainly would never consider replacing the HPFP and related components.

 

So given the power loss
White smoke
Not wanting to start
Metal in the fuel filter
Truck is 350 miles from home
Dicey to get it home
Your thoughts?

 

I'd want diagnostics. If its having those issues there must be DTC codes.

On metal in the fuel filter I'd have to see it to know if its an amount I'd consider a valid issue. Two or three tiny flakes at the bottom of the housing is not an issue in my opinion.

Were you having any performance issues prior to this? Did you ever run it out of fuel? Do you consistently use fuel conditioner?

 

Only you can answer that question. I would ask, do you want a new truck? Can you afford one? If it were me asking myself, I'd say "yes, I want a new truck, "No, I can't afford one." In my opinion, you should first find out what's wrong with the truck, and how much it will take to fix it. That way you'll know what a new truck costs, and what it will cost to fix yours. And, in the meantime, you can find out what kind of deal you can get for trading it in.

 

No codes came up. Service guy told me in his opinion that the five minutes of power loss might not trigger a code. They tried to get it to repeat the power loss and couldn't.
I have never run out of fuel, had not had performance issue but have not been consistent with fuel conditioner.

 

In order to offer advise to fix or sell we need know what exactly is going on with your truck.

Any metal in the fuel system that can be seen should not be taken lightly. In the early stages of high pressure pump failure, particles of metal from the high pressure pump will contaminate the pressure regulator and make their way into the injectors. These tiny metal particles will cause rapid wear of the injectors leading to an over-fueling conditions, injector failure or even worse leading to a stuck injector which could cause a piston to melt and engine failure.

Personally if i see metal in the upper filter bowl housing i pull the filter and remove the filter media for closer inspection. Its not hard and can give you a better idea whats going on.

If something is found ford has a specific procedure to check the high pressure system. The procedure is a Fuel System Debris Check.

Just because there is no codes present there still are things that tech can check for the drivability concerns you have and the hard/no start. There are diagnostic flow charts that assist with these concerns with no codes present. It takes a little time and the right equipment for these procedures which a standard code reader will not do.

Does your mechanic have the VCM and current IDS software to preform the right test?

If not you may decide to buy a new truck and go deep into debt without the right proper diagnostic check of your truck.