ok guys, I've done my searches on this board and still have some questions. I just got back from a fishing trip to SD pulling a small (15') boat. My truck is a 00' PSD crew cab with 105k miles and an old superchip. I've only owned the truck about 6 months, so haven't done a lot of towing, but when loaded down, usually going up a hill, before I get to the top I can hear the turbo start skipping or stuttering. I don't notice a loss of power, but is there something I should be concerned about? Am I damaging the turbo by doing this?, is my turbo starting to show some signs of aging?, do I not worry about it since it only happens for the last 1/4 mile of an uphill pull? The truck looks like a million bucks, but I've always known it had some hard use/abuse from the previous owner, (multiple 5th wheel hitch holes in the bed, heavy smoker, dirt and dust blowing out from the vents. Anyway, my biggest concern is, should I be starting to save my pennies for a turbo replacement, or is nothing wrong?
Thanks, Dave

 

heres some info for you:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=342788
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=224935
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=23087

 

OK, the first one I had already read, the other two were new. My question is still am I damaging anything when this happens, or has damage already been done?

 

its not good and overtime can damage the turbo.
heres a better explaination of it:
Owners of many "modified" 99.5+ 7.3L Powerstroke Diesel Trucks and Excursions have experienced a condition called Compressor Surge. Surge occurs when the pressure on the discharge side of the compressor exceeds the capability of the turbocharger to continue to move air. A temporary "stall" of the compressor occurs, momentarily allowing air to flow backwards through the compressor. Once the pressure in the discharge side drops, airflow continues in the "forward" direction again. If the cause of the surge (load, throttle position, etc.) still exists, the surge will occur again and again. This is called "Pumping", and will emit a "whoosh whoosh whoosh" sound from the intake tube between the turbo and air filter. Pumping may also show up on your boost gauge as a fluctuating needle.

Compressor Surge, Pumping in particular, can be very damaging to a turbocharger due to the tremendous thrust load changes on the compressor wheel and shaft.

One of the ways to combat Compressor Surge on the Powerstroke Diesel is to install a different Compressor Wheel. The stock wheel features 9 vanes of equal height, and was installed to quiet the "whistle" that the Early 99 Powerstroke turbo exhibited. We offer a "Complex" compressor wheel that features 10 vanes of alternating height. This wheel virtually eliminates the Compressor Surge problem in the 99.5+ Powerstroke Diesel engine.

 

It makes sense, sounds similar to starving and cavitating a hydraulic pump. It only takes seconds doing that to turn a high dollar pump into a boat anchor.
wlihntr, who's the 'we' that offers the different compressor wheel. I looked around and found the info on the 'Wicked Wheel', same thing? Seems like a pretty cheap way to prevent a whole lot of damage and expensive parts.
Thanks guys, this message board has come through again for me! I tried being the answer guy a few years ago for the 73-79's, now its my turn to ask the questions.

 

Yes it's the wicked wheel. I too had the same sysmptom and the solution was to replace my stock wheel with the early powerstroke wheel. It's known by a couple of different names but it's basically the same. Wicked wheel, Swisher wheel are the two that I can remember.