I am thinking of putting a power chip in my 2002 F350 7.3L PSD. I pull a 10,000 lb 5th wheel and are wondering about any possible transmission problems later. I have hear that when some people put in a power chip they have experienced transmission failures a year or so later and had to do a transmission upgrade.

What is your experience with a power chip?

 

hello, Welcome to FTE. i would recommend looking at past posts about adding power. there is a set list of things you should do before you add power. the main three things to do is 4'' or larger exhaust, gauges, and an open-element air intake.

read this thread, i posted the long one, just yesterday or two days ago.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=429848

and as far as transmission goes- do you have an automatic? read in that thread also, and search the boards for "sonnax valve/ tricumulator springs". this mod firms up the transmission alot, and it enables the transmission to handle more power. USUALLY the first thing to go in an auto is the torque converter.

 

I am not an expert, so I'll only pass along what a Powerstroke expert told me.

Yes. Frequently when people upgrade to a chip (among other things) they lose the trans shortly after. He told me there are two reasons.

1) The 4R100 is a well-designed trans that suffers from a bad case of corporate penny-pinching. As a result, it is really built to hold up okay with stock power output. If you jump the torque from stock, 500lb/ft or less, to something much greater, say 700lb/ft, the trans doesn't hold up well.

2) Many of the people who boost the output of their engines use the power - meaning, the trans that was built with 500lb/ft in mind, now sees frequent shifts pouring 600 + lb/ft through it (racing). Ouch.

So, the solution is - go modest with the power boost, and don't race it. You should be fine.

Oh, by the way - a few trans mods are in order -

1) Shift kit - Sonnax valve and springs to keep clutches from slipping too much during shifts. Saves wear, runs cooler.
2) BIG trans cooler - bigger and better than the stock one. You can't run the trans too cool!!
3) Synthetic trans oil - better lube, better protection, cooler running.
4) Trans temp gauge - and pay attention to it. Every degree it runs hotter, shortens its life.

Optional
Deep oil pan for more fluid volume.
Bypass filter to keep the trans fluid clean as can be.

These things will help. I did the minor mods to my tranny as soon as I bought the truck (with 89k on it) a year ago. I modded intake, exhaust, and added an Edge Evolution on 'tow' tune about 6 months ago (will switch to a Jody Tipton flip chip eventually).

Trans feels as good now as it did when I modded it - now has 114k. Will I have problems? Maybe. But I don't blast it through the gears very often - only if I MUST get on a crowded freeway quickly.

You'll hear from people here that know a LOT more than I. But you came to the right place.