Test drove a 2004 6.0 Powerstroke yesterday. Unbelievable is about all I can say to anyone at this point. My question is: there was a dead area of about 1 inch before the accelerator pedal started to move RPM's upward. Seemed weird. Is this normal for this engine configuration ? (it had the TQShift) I have read every post on this website for the last month or so and I know that the dead pedal was an issue, along with other things, before the Dec. reflash. My test drive truck was an 02/04 build date. Did not check the engine build date...

By the way. I ordered my first diesel after the test drive. Lariat with everyting I could imagine ever needing. Moving up from a 2000 XLT SC 5.4.
The wait is on.

 

Yes it is normal.........if you can call it noraml. It is not really 1 inch it is a bit less, feels like it...............however. Moveing 8k worth of iron with a high RPM motor.......hum...

There are a couple of things that cause this; none are normal to most of us.
The first reason is it is a four-valve motor and this coupled with the weight of the vehicle
it is a bit slow to respond. Four valve motors are usually higher RPM motors as this one is the 7.3 is a low RPM motor, some of what you feel is not a dead pedal it, the motor is not operating at a usable RPM range……..resulting in the dead pedal feel. This motor does not do anything until it gets up in RPM. Next time you drive one watch the RPM and see when the truck starts to move…….it corresponds exactly where Ford says starts to build HP/TQ.
I AM NOT SAYING THIS is OK, it is the motor.

i.e. operating range, most companies in the heavy truck world design the motor to be a stump puller REAL low RPM. This one is different, and at 70 MPH going down the road, it is a REAL stump puller at the speed and RPM. That is what we like

One way to correct this is with a programmer, shame Ford cannot learn from the after market guys and get this correct.
From MotorHaven

 

Yeah, what Tim said, plus........my 7.3 would idle and pull a 10K trailer ahead. The new 6.0 just sits there until I give it the pedal. Some of it may be the tranny also. The 7.3 definitely had the low end....

 

Purple you are SO correct, it would pull at idle, the 6.0 must be at 1800 rpm before it wakes up...........but man when it is awake.......it is a rocket.

 

I don't know exactly what your feeling, but the fly by wire petals on these trucks have alot of play before they send the engine a signal. I have the adjustable petals and this play changes with the petal position. BTW, if you run the petals all the way in you will not have full throttle. I have to back mine out a little to correct this.


BE

 

Thanks much guys. Pretty much answers my question/concerns..

I guess the first thing to do is get a Predator !!

Thanks again.

 

Or gauges and then a Predator!

 

Nice....
Don't start getting me 'mod excited' two days after ordering the truck...
I'll spend all my allowance before the thing arrives.

 

OK...............................
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.....spend away

 

I just recently (actually, today) read another thread giving the tip of unplugging the EGR. I did so a few hours ago, and above and beyond giving it noticably more power at low rpm, seemed to get rid of the majority of the dead pedal feel. The same thread also said that you can remove the throttle plate from the intake for a similar effect. I took the intake hose from the intercooler off and unbolted the elbow to expose the plate, but im not confident that if i remove it i can get it back in if i need to, so i havent done so yet. I could be stupid, but i also believe that doing so might reduce the engine braking of the motor. Regardless, the pulling the plug off the EGR is simple and effective; it is mounted on a small black cylinder right in front of the oil filter on top of the motor. Just unplug it. I don't remember what thread this was in; if anyone remembers please post it for the others, its a great trick.