Sorry, but I just couldn't resist the Halloween temptation! I'm new to the website but have owned my 2002 F-350 for a little over 2 years now and wish I had this site back then. Anyways, last night I was headed into town when about 8 miles or so into the drive it began to idle surge. It started when I came to a stop at a light. When I was driving I did not notice it. After it started surging, there was almost no power but I was able to get it to a gas station a couple blocks up.

I had just changed the fuel filter (again, driving 50k a year it seems like I'm always under the hood) and thought maybe I didn't seat the gasket or something. No problems there. I took a look around for the obvious, loose connection, vacuum line, etc., and found nothing. Started the thing back up to try and get home, and the idle was twice as bad (jumping from 500 to 1000 and nearly dying at 500). Putting it in gear was enough to actually kill it.

So I called a tow truck to come and get my broken down butt. 1 1/2 hours later he arrived and I described the problem, started it up and it continued to surge. By this time I was able to back it out and limp it up onto the flat bed of the tow truck. With the truck at nearly 30 degrees or more of angle on the flat bed, the surge stopped and began to idle fine! I thought, what the H-E-double hockey sticks! Towed back to my house and waited till morning to take a look.

This moring it started up fine and drove fine, until it warmed up then the surge returned. From searching the previous posts it sounds as though it could be an ICP sensor. Was the incline that enabled it to idle again just a coincidence? Is it possible I got a crappy fuel filter? Seems unlikely because the distance involved but I dunno. Sorry for the novel, but thought the more info the better. Any help would be appreciated. GREAT SITE!

Thanks- Chris

 

It could be your IPR not regulating, too. See:
http://cw-diesel.com/LuxSite/IPRInfo.htm

Pop

 

When was your oil changed last? Check the level and make sure its got the right amount in it. What type of oil do you run?

When the oil starts foaming badly the truck will run like crap. Use Rotella T or Motorcraft 15-40 or Castrol. Stay away from the Mystic stuff, lots of foaming issues with it. I know tons of farmers here that swear by it and will only run it. My buddy is a Diesel mech at a ford dealer in Chickasha, 9 times outta 10 he'll change the oil to motorcraft and problem solved.

 

If an oil change doesn't fix it you might have a broken gasket at the oil pump pickup, aerating the oil. It would be characterized by having your oil pressure start to rise with engine rpm then begin to drop as you rev it higher. Must be checked with a mechanical guage.

 

Checked the oil this morning and it is at the correct level. I had it changed about 2500 miles ago and I use Chevron Delo 15-40w. The truck has almost 150k on it and I have used Chevron Delo oil since it had under 40k when I bought it. When the surging occours the oil pressure doesn't seem to move a wink. I'm taking over to a friends shop to see if he has a scanner to see what codes pop up. Hopefully I can let you know what I found out.

 

Sorry Kwik. Didn't see the mechanical guage part of your reply. Will check that too.