hello guys just looking for some advice I have a 03 F-250 6.0 6-speed transmission and for the last month the turbo doesn't seem to be working right. The only mods on the engin is the K&N FIPK kit. I have already had them to put a new turbo on it back last year when it was over boosting and finally it kicked the check engine light on. But this time it has the a bad turbo bark and it seems to be getting worst but it is not at the same rpm as the last time when the put the new one on. It is like the vains in the turbo are not changeing when they should. Around home we have a lot of mountains to go up and down and it is to the point it barks every time you go up on. But on the other hand I took the truck on a couple of trips last month and when you was going on the same grade on the interstate everything was fine but a couple times when i would start up a hill I would be running about 75mph at the bottom and the truck had no power. The speed would just start droping and you could not hear the turbo whistle at all so I pulled it back into 5th at around 60 and the turbo would start whistleing at around 2800 to 3000 rpms. once I made it to the top you could get off the fuel and wait a minute and then the turbo would work fine. That happen about 5 to 7 times on me. Could it be that sencor or selinode be going out that works the turbo? I have a call into my service right now. just waiting to here back from him. Thanks for any thoughts on this.

 

I also have the ZF6spd. I can induce a turbo fart just about any time I want. But I've modified my shifts not to do this. Quicker shifts help a lot. And ZooDad mod all but eliminated it when I don't shift quite right. I've thought about installing the BD Power Short shifter kit.

Also, with my 04', I only hear the turbo from about 1100 through 2000rpm. Anything more than that and there's engine noise and wind turbulance drowning that wonderful sound out. But, we have different turbos too.

I think you're on the right track, thinking about sensors, if you don't think the turbo is spinning up quick enough. I'm pretty sure there's a computer flash that made some significant turbo lag changes. Also, with the K&N, I've read that the silicon used to coat the filter then coats the sensors in the intake prior to the manifold. I don't know the particular symptoms of that, but it can't be good.

Your selection of oil might improve Turbo operation too.

 

Thanks for the info steve. I' will take all the information i can get.

 

Its been a while since I have been here. I have been so busy trying to fix all the 6.0's that we get. Lately turbo's and injectors are dying non stop.. I have taken apart a couple of the turbo's that I was finally able to verify the customers concern of intermittent no go when pedal pushed and then go like normal the next time. What I found is : (this is being made simple) The VGT moves a piston which then moves a lever which then moves this round ring the has all the variable vanes attached in slots. What goes bad is this ring gets carboned up and won't move. The factory clearance is tight and you add heat and carbon and it sticks any where from open too closed. All the ones that I have seen now usually boost 29 psi and gurgle real loud on moderate decel after boost, then the next time it will go away because that poor VGT and piston have kept on hammering away on that ring and it might lurch one way or the other. I was so excited when I finally veried this type of concern. EGR and EBP's won't fix it. Our line guys hate to do these turbo's because ford only pays them 1.7 hours to replace. As usual I hope you guys be patient with us techs. We don't design these things. We have to fix them though and it is very challenging. We might like to do a b and c to fix these but Ford monitors warranty costs and we are supposed to replace only whats bad. How often does your 6.0 run Bad at the dealer . I bet I work on 20-25 6.0's a week and maybe 4 might do what the customer says.( when I drive them)

 

oldfordtech
Thanks alot that is just what my truck is doing I stoped by the ford and had to up date my flash but it didn't help me any. And the last time i had my truck over there they ran a bunch of test and it showed up nothing but on the way home i done it for me. But just wondering If a man replaced the VGT it still won't fix it. It is going to take a new Turbo to fix the problem right.
Thanks ALOT for your help.

 

Ford has a test that can verify the stuck vanes. I don't think many do it. You pull the plug at the backside of the VGT by removing the big internal snap ring and then use a strong magnet and see if the vgt piston moves back and forth about an inch. What you are doing is trying to move the vanes. The bad ones just allow the piston to rock back and forth less than 1/4 inch.

 

My turbo vanes do the typical sluggish thing when they are real hot. I climbed an 8 thousand ft mountain with a load of people on board and it was turbo farting a lot at the top from hot and sluggish vanes, but it stopped all of the fartin under normal driving conditions after I got off the mountain. If ford goes to twin turbos in future engines, I think that they will save money overall due to less turbo replacements. My PSD has been running good so I have no complaints. No puking, farting, belching smoke, or drinking heavily. I could almost take it to meet my mother...

 

OldFordtech
Just wanted to ask to make sure but is ok for me to pass this vauleable info on to my service manger. Don't want to see any one get in trouble for trying to help us guys out.