Notices
6.0L Power Stroke Diesel 2003 - 2007 F250, F350 pickup and F350+ Cab Chassis, 2003 - 2005 Excursion and 2003 - 2009 van

Bad EGR?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 14, 2017 | 04:11 PM
  #1  
garmford's Avatar
garmford
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 172
Likes: 1
From: Wisconsin
Bad EGR?

2004 completely stock 6.0, 276000 miles, head gasket done at 170000. EGR replaced at time of head gaskets.

About once a week if I get stopped at a red light or stop sign and I get the green to go, I get a slight hesitation then the truck gets up and goes. Sometimes I get a slight puff of white smoke. Today I had to stop on a decent incline and wait for traffic before I could enter the roadway. I had just enough power to get on the road and I was billowing white smoke like crazy. I went like that for about 100' then the turbo spooled and off I went like nothing happened. Last I checked my coolant is good and no puking degas.
I'm guessing it's a sticky EGR?

Thought?
 
Reply
Old Feb 14, 2017 | 04:25 PM
  #2  
navistarnut's Avatar
navistarnut
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3,910
Likes: 18
From: NW IA
Check the MAP sensor hose and nipple, be sure it's clean.
EBP sensor might be suspect, be sure the tube is clean.
Any codes? How are you reading live data?

EGR is easy enough to pull and check for soot build up that might prevent proper oepration
 
Reply
Old Feb 14, 2017 | 04:32 PM
  #3  
WatsonR's Avatar
WatsonR
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 6,545
Likes: 13
From: Virginia Beach VA
And check under the EGR for moisture.
Any codes?
 
Reply
Old Feb 14, 2017 | 04:43 PM
  #4  
garmford's Avatar
garmford
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 172
Likes: 1
From: Wisconsin
I will need to check those things! Thanks

I do have a scan gauge hooked up. No codes or check engine light. Be honest I've never seen the check engine light ever. I've had the truck since new and own all the miles.

Is there something in particular I should look for on the scan gauge?
 
Reply
Old Feb 14, 2017 | 05:06 PM
  #5  
bismic's Avatar
bismic
Fleet Owner
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 27,881
Likes: 3,595
Club FTE Gold Member
Was the turbo cleaned during the previous maintenance?

Is your 04 an early or late 04 (where is the ICP sensor)?

If you can get a smell when it is smoking bad, see if you can detect raw fuel.
 
Reply
Old Feb 14, 2017 | 05:37 PM
  #6  
garmford's Avatar
garmford
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 172
Likes: 1
From: Wisconsin
Yes turbo was cleaned when the head gaskets were repaired.

I will do the sniff test next time.

It acted just like this just before the head gaskets went last time. The dealer initially thought it was the egr until they could diagnose the head gasket.
 
Reply
Old Feb 14, 2017 | 06:03 PM
  #7  
WatsonR's Avatar
WatsonR
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 6,545
Likes: 13
From: Virginia Beach VA
Program the DTC count into the Scan Gauge and see how many codes are stored. It doesn't do well with reading the codes but does good counting them. Then use something like Torque Pro or ForScan to read them
 
Reply
Old Feb 15, 2017 | 05:45 PM
  #8  
garmford's Avatar
garmford
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 172
Likes: 1
From: Wisconsin
The EGR was really dirty. So I cleaned it and out it back. It still functioned properly. When I push the plunger out it always sprung back.
It was slightly moist under the EGR. More like a soot paste laying down in the bottom. Is this normal?
I checked the MAP sensor and it and the tube looked in good shape.
I didn't check the EBP yet. Looks like that will require a little more time.
It is a late build '04.

I hope it's just a dirty EGR! I would like to turn 300000 before I sell it.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-2

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-6

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-9

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski
Old Feb 15, 2017 | 05:56 PM
  #9  
WatsonR's Avatar
WatsonR
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 6,545
Likes: 13
From: Virginia Beach VA
Unfortunately, moisture shows a ruptured cooler. What are your oil and coolant temperature at once fully warmed up?

Clean the MAP nipple on the intake where the hose plugs in.
 
Reply
Old Feb 15, 2017 | 06:03 PM
  #10  
bismic's Avatar
bismic
Fleet Owner
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 27,881
Likes: 3,595
Club FTE Gold Member
Oil can mix w/ the exhaust and form a sticky (moist looking) paste in the intake (so can unburned fuel if you have a functional EGR system). Don't confuse this with water/coolant.
 
Reply
Old Feb 15, 2017 | 06:34 PM
  #11  
garmford's Avatar
garmford
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 172
Likes: 1
From: Wisconsin
My temps run high 170's to high 180's. Average delta of about 10*.
When you say cooler do you mean EGR cooler?
 
Reply
Old Feb 15, 2017 | 06:45 PM
  #12  
WatsonR's Avatar
WatsonR
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 6,545
Likes: 13
From: Virginia Beach VA
Yes.
As Mark said, could be oil or fuel.
170-180 is kind of low, should be above 185 for sure or its pouring the fuel to it to get above 185. Might consider a thermostat change.
 
Reply
Old Feb 15, 2017 | 07:06 PM
  #13  
garmford's Avatar
garmford
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 172
Likes: 1
From: Wisconsin
I'll take a closer watch at the temps tomorrow. I usually just glance and check the deltas once in a while.
So if the EGR cooler is shot, is it cheaper to just do the delete?

I did try to sniff down into the EGR pocket when I had it out and there was a faint coolant odor.
 
Reply
Old Feb 15, 2017 | 07:13 PM
  #14  
WatsonR's Avatar
WatsonR
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 6,545
Likes: 13
From: Virginia Beach VA
Better to try the tailpipe sniff.... loosing any coolant?
Depends, state inspections? After you drive it, park nose down, any coolant may puddle in the front, under the EGR valve.

Normally, EBP sensor control how fast a peddle response is, MAP sensor responds with how much boost. Clean both and the tubes that feed them. Use string trimmer line. Check the MAP hose, make sure you clean the nipple as well.
 
Reply
Old Feb 15, 2017 | 07:27 PM
  #15  
bismic's Avatar
bismic
Fleet Owner
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 27,881
Likes: 3,595
Club FTE Gold Member
Is your 04 an early model or late model?

nm - I saw in an earlier post (late model)

They had the weak EGR cooler.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:30 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-1
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-2
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-3
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE