No power while towing.
Thread Starter
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 37
Likes: 7
No power while towing.
Hey all, new 7.3 owner here.
I've got a 1996 with 220k miles. Zf5
Runs great normally, but today I tried towing my toy hauler. Trailer is 10k lbs, and I couldn't even get to 55 mph on a slight incline.
Since I've gotten the truck I've replaced all the fluids in the entire truck, fuel filter and air filter.
I installed the 6637 filter and 3" downpipe, ts-6 stock exhaust cat back.
Normal operations I can get 20lb boost getting into the freeway, EGTs are usually around 600-700 cruising. Last tanks I averaged 18.9 mpg. The truck seems healthy from all I've seen and read up on..
I was in 4th gear pinned barely making 10lbs of boost and felt like my brakes were stuck on the trailer, it wasn't going anywhere lol.. barely got to 55mph after a few miles with EGTs touching 1200.
I'm guessing up pipes are leaking, plugged cat, or poor fuel pressure.
I'll be installing a fuel pressure gauge soon.
I'm wondering how I can check for boost leaks throughout the whole system, and will hold off on doing anything with the cat for now.
Any other things I should check?
I've got a 1996 with 220k miles. Zf5
Runs great normally, but today I tried towing my toy hauler. Trailer is 10k lbs, and I couldn't even get to 55 mph on a slight incline.
Since I've gotten the truck I've replaced all the fluids in the entire truck, fuel filter and air filter.
I installed the 6637 filter and 3" downpipe, ts-6 stock exhaust cat back.
Normal operations I can get 20lb boost getting into the freeway, EGTs are usually around 600-700 cruising. Last tanks I averaged 18.9 mpg. The truck seems healthy from all I've seen and read up on..
I was in 4th gear pinned barely making 10lbs of boost and felt like my brakes were stuck on the trailer, it wasn't going anywhere lol.. barely got to 55mph after a few miles with EGTs touching 1200.
I'm guessing up pipes are leaking, plugged cat, or poor fuel pressure.
I'll be installing a fuel pressure gauge soon.
I'm wondering how I can check for boost leaks throughout the whole system, and will hold off on doing anything with the cat for now.
Any other things I should check?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,577
Likes: 837
From: knoxville, tn
You are starting in the right place: boost leaks and fuel pressure. They will give you a good place to start then to from there. If those are good, I would check high pressure oil pressure and duty cycle.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 797
Likes: 357
From: Arkansas
First thing I tell new 7,3 owners is... Get a good diagnostic tool. These trucks are getting up there in age and stuff is going to need replacing. I have the same truck as you and to be honest I have replaced everything. And I mean everything. There is so much good info on this site that you can read for hours. Read about high pressure oil and how our HEUI system works. Someone will chime in on what the kids are using nowadays to read data. I use autoengunity but I'm pretty sure it fell out of favor with the youngsters. When you get your data teader you can take it out and make sure your HPOP is keeping up on acceleration. Orange boots are bad, Riffraff diesel is good. Good luck, take picture and keep us posted.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 11,267
Likes: 1,651
From: Las Cruces New Mexico
What's gears and tire size? At 1200° EGT's at full tilt I doubt you have boost or pre turbo leaks but check just in case. You can buy or do a DIY boost leak detector for the intake side, and if you own a leaf blower shove it up the trucks *** and blow away and with a water/soap solution spray the up pipes joint connections.
Thread Starter
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 37
Likes: 7
What's gears and tire size? At 1200° EGT's at full tilt I doubt you have boost or pre turbo leaks but check just in case. You can buy or do a DIY boost leak detector for the intake side, and if you own a leaf blower shove it up the trucks *** and blow away and with a water/soap solution spray the up pipes joint connections.
Something felt wrong.... I was letting off to keep it at 1200..
9lb of boost 50mph 1200egt?
If this is all the 7.3 has im disappointed. I'll stay with the 460.
Thread Starter
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 37
Likes: 7
First thing I tell new 7,3 owners is... Get a good diagnostic tool. These trucks are getting up there in age and stuff is going to need replacing. I have the same truck as you and to be honest I have replaced everything. And I mean everything. There is so much good info on this site that you can read for hours. Read about high pressure oil and how our HEUI system works. Someone will chime in on what the kids are using nowadays to read data. I use autoengunity but I'm pretty sure it fell out of favor with the youngsters. When you get your data teader you can take it out and make sure your HPOP is keeping up on acceleration. Orange boots are bad, Riffraff diesel is good. Good luck, take picture and keep us posted.
I'll do a boost leak test. I have orange boots.
Thread Starter
|
5th Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 37
Likes: 7
First thing I tell new 7,3 owners is... Get a good diagnostic tool. These trucks are getting up there in age and stuff is going to need replacing. I have the same truck as you and to be honest I have replaced everything. And I mean everything. There is so much good info on this site that you can read for hours. Read about high pressure oil and how our HEUI system works. Someone will chime in on what the kids are using nowadays to read data. I use autoengunity but I'm pretty sure it fell out of favor with the youngsters. When you get your data teader you can take it out and make sure your HPOP is keeping up on acceleration. Orange boots are bad, Riffraff diesel is good. Good luck, take picture and keep us posted.
I'll do a boost leak test. I have orange boots.
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Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 14,375
Likes: 604
From: evansville in
I hate to say it but a 10k toy hauler vs your stock 7.3 is a daunting task for a stock powerstroke.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2016
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From: Bahstun
get a 4 in PVC plug reduced with air line fitting and 20 lb regulator to attach to where air filter is and hunt for leaks with soapy water
get a fuel pressure gauge with a long grease whip and tape to wiper for 3rd gear WOT test, if it drops below 45 then you got issues
pull filter housing and clean the port inside near drivers side, usually full of filter fibers ( this allows air to go back to tank)
clean all 4 sets of UVCH contacts on VC, when they get oily, injectors misfire
get a fuel pressure gauge with a long grease whip and tape to wiper for 3rd gear WOT test, if it drops below 45 then you got issues
pull filter housing and clean the port inside near drivers side, usually full of filter fibers ( this allows air to go back to tank)
clean all 4 sets of UVCH contacts on VC, when they get oily, injectors misfire
Thread Starter
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 37
Likes: 7
I'm sure there's some learning curve with towing and the manual, but my F250 with 460 can go 80mph up this tiny incline.
This was screaming to the point I was worried and barely touched 50 mph lol....
Thread Starter
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 37
Likes: 7
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,182
Likes: 1,336
From: Bahstun
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 797
Likes: 357
From: Arkansas