So my truck is intermittently running rough at idle for the most part and sometimes slightly loses a little power while driving down the roads. When it runs rough it sounds like a cylinder is missing. The truck is throwing code P0269 for Cylinder 3 Contribution/Balance. Whenever I unplug #3 injector you can hear it cut out so possibly just sticking fuel injector? I also ran seafoam and it didn't do anything. Smoking isn't horrible coming out of exhaust but it's there and it comes out at a constant rate. Had thoughts about switching injectors to see if that helps or maybe a push rod is bent. The injector has been replaced by the previous owner recently. It has an egr delete, new turbo, ficm, ficm harness, HPOP, and stand pipes. Was wondering if there were any other possibilities? I'm not losing any fluids at all either. Thanks!

 

What year model truck? Does the smoke have a fuel smell to it? Is the #3 injector the only one that the previous owner had replaced? Did he do the work or have it done? Swapping injectors around isn't a bad idea, but inspect #3 closely when you pull it.

Have you watched FICM voltages (MPower and LPower)? Oil level and appearance good? Have any way to measure fuel pressure? Might see if disconnecting the ICP makes any difference.

 

It's an early 04, dated for 01/04. Smoke definitely smells like fuel. Previous owner replaced injectors 3 and 5. He made it sound like he did the work but when I asked him what injectors he put in it and he had to ask his buddy. Not sure if the guy knew so much what he was doing to the truck. I'm using the Torque app on my phone to monitor FICM voltages and it's reading 5.4 volts, whether that's supposed to be 54 volts I'm not sure... Haven't thought about checking fuel pressure idk if the app gives a reference or not.

So update on what I did this morning. I found the retainer clip for injector #3 connector was missing. Found the clip underneath one of the batteries on one of the tray's (go figure) I put everything back together before I even attempt pulling the valve cover off to see what codes I get. P0269 is still there, started great then was intermittenly running rough. Code P2284 ICP Sensor Circuit Range/Performance came up. I will try unplugging the ICP and see what happens.

 

ICP voltage with key on engine off should read .24v. The plug should be dry and free of any oil. There should also be a grey plastic separator on the end of the plug for the 3 terminals.
If there is any trace of oil the ICP needs to be replaced and possibly the harness plug pigtail.
The cyl. 3 contribution code may be old if it was never cleared after injector replacement.

 

With that date, it is actually a late 04. Your ICP should be on the passenger valve cover.

 

With my scanner for some reason wont display the ICP voltage or percent. I checked the ICP plug and there was dirt contamination but no oil. I cleaned it out plugged back in and there was no difference. I should have also mentioned that it has an egr delete and is displaying egr codes and one code P1000 for OBD2 Monitor Testing Not Complete. These codes along with P0269 cyl 3 contribution will not go away after I clear them and run the engine. I know I'll need to know both voltage and percent of ICP to get a better picture of what is going on... Is there anything else I could probably check?

 

So you haven't tried driving it w/ the ICP unplugged?

The P2284 code indicates a possible defective sensor - UNLESS it was caused by starting it with it unplugged (which will throw this code).

If it is a defective sensor, the code indicates that it is an electrical problem and cleaning it won't help.

Other possible problems could be a Vreference issue or an IPR issue.

 

Yes I unplugged the ICP and all symptoms remained the same and the codes are still there after I cleared them. I did forget to mention that P2284 did go away.

 

I have also seen that if the engine makes a stutter instead of hearing it consistently compressing it could be a valve train issue or a dead cylinder. Seems that the people that have this issue has a contribution code. My truck has been doing just that which also lead me to believe it could be something like such.

 

If you crank it by using the starter trigger wire (bullet connector near passenger side firewall) and it is skipping a beat it's time to do a compression test by pulling out the glow plug and cranking it at least 5 revs.
I'd start with cyl. ​​​​3.

 

Sorry for the late reply. I ended up having a lot going on in my personal life and have slowly been able to work on the truck.

When I put the wire to the battery you can hear the engine skip. I did a compression test on cylinder 3, put oil in the cylinder and did the test again to find that I still didn't have compression. Assuming that this was an issue in the head I had my doubts that it was a bent valve and it could have been a bent pushrod. Sure enough I found the intake pushrod for cylinder 3 was bent slightly so I replaced the pushrod. I started the truck again and seemed fine at first but just like before it started to run worse as it warmed up. I was able to drive it to the gas station real quick to fill it up on fuel and drove back home which is a short drive, but the truck was running worse and worse and it eventually died on me. I attempted to start and had to jump start from my other truck and the 6.0 would not start. I think the starter is shot at this point but I'm taking a break from it for now. Ended up pushing the truck home. The only thing I can figure is that I don't have oil pressure in the oil rail which is why it died but I don't understand why the truck still ran rough and pulled up with the same P0269 code....