Hi all.
I Just purchased a Truck last friday and have only put 80 miles on it. I have never owned a Diesel before and wanted to ask a couple of questions related to the engine. First off we are talking about a 2002 F250 7.3 Powerstroke Crew Cab 4X4 Long bed.
When I am driving easy acceleration I hear a noise that I can only describe as a ping sound. I hear it over the normal Diesel sound and can describe it like a Ping like a gas powered car running off of bad gas. Other than the noise the engine starts and runs great and seems to have full power. It is just this noise that worrys me. I see no modifications at all on this truck. It is fully stock. What is strange is it almost sounds like it is coming thru the firewall on the drivers side. Almost like someone left a hole in the firewal or a plug missing. Any ideas?
Next question is under normal driving without towing or hotrodding what kind of mileage can I expect out of this beast?! What is the stock horsepower rating? It has the automatic trans.
Thanks!
Steve

 

...Welcome to Ford Truck Enthusiasts!

…..See you on the boards.

 

There are a couple of acess points on the firewall on the drivers side that could cause some extra engine noise. Where the pcm goes through, the boot can get displaced if someone has removed the pcm for some reason. More likley there is a plastic plug on the firewall between the brake master cylender and the left fender that could be missing. Or inside the truck above the pcm (behind the E-brake) there is a piece of insulating material behind the plastic plug that can come out. When I had mine out to do some mods there was a lot more noticable engine noise. As far as the ping sound thats hard to tell without hearing.

 

i recommend going to the TDS web site and downloading their audio files for comparison.

 

great, I will look at the fire wall area. I don't think it is a big problem just something I heard while driving.

Umm.......what is the TDS web site?

 

First the noise. Anyone think it could be injector knock. Lack of fuel to that back cylinder? priv8pilot, just an FYI, Ford did a horrible job of designing the fuel systems of these trucks. The fuel flow just dead ends at the back cylinders, so they can often be starved for fuel. Here's a couple of threads to fill you in. Be ready for some long reads:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=260173
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=446151

TDS is another diesel forum, although not IMO not nearly as good as this one. The Diesel Stop, I believe.

 

I'm getting around 18-20 on the highway. Same model as you have, CCLB 4x4. I think it's somewhere around 14-15 in town. Of course, I have a heavy right foot, so you might see better. I think the stock 7.3's power ratings are 250 hp and either 505 or 525 lb-ft of torque. They changed the torque rating, but I can't remember if it was for the '02 model or the '03 model.

 

Oh My eyes are burning from all the reading on the Cackle issues tonight. Can anyone tell me where I can get or find a sound file that has the noise on it? Everything I have found has a bad link to the sound. Most post that I have read tonight are very old. My truck is a 2002. does this still apply to my truck? And the fuel tank mod and fuel line mods? Does that apply to my truck also? I love my new to me truck and just had a concern about the noise. I work as a mechanic but have never gelt with the diesel cars or trucks. If the noise is not a valve train or rod noise or knock I am fine with a noise that is not causing damage.

Thanks And I will continue reading tomorrow night!
Steve

 

Here's a couple of links.
Cackle with a stationary mic:
http://jtharvey.home.mchsi.com/PSD/stationarycackle.wav
Cackle with a moving mic:
http://jtharvey.home.mchsi.com/PSD/movingcackle.wav
No Cackle (but windy):
http://jtharvey.home.mchsi.com/PSD/nocackle.wav
You may have to cut and paste the links.
Yes. This applies to your truck. The cackle issue can be mostly cured with the fuel tank and fuel line mods by getting rid of the air in the lines. They're not that expensive or hard to do. The regulated fuel return system can wait. The posts may be older, but the information is still valid. I know what you mean about your eyes burning. There's a lot of information out there and it gets pretty weary reading it all.

 

Eyes burning, LOL. Welcome to the club! I recommend that you at least get rid of the quick connects between the fuel tank and the fuel pump inlet. That's where most of the air gets in. It's basic plumbing 101, exactly the same as working on a gasser, just dealing with a different fluid.
You'll come to love the ruggedness and power that your 'Stroke will serve you with. Hook up a load to it and it just digs in and pulls.

 

Thanks for the files and help. After listening to the Cackle noise I can say that is NOT the noise I am hearing.It is not a bad noise but as a new owner I was a bit concerned. I have a lot of payments to make and want it to last. I have not had the chance to look at the firewall to see if there is a plug missing. I am leaving tomorow on a 700 mile trip so I will see how it goes.

Thanks,
Steve

 

Well tonight I found my ping type noise. I put a bright light in the engine compartment and looked from inside the cab and low and behold I found tons of light coming thru the steering wheel shaft seal! I covered it up and the noise can no longer be heard inside the cab. While listening from the inside it sounds like a normal diesel sound just that the sound was coming in past the seal. Now the trick will be to figure out how to seal it up.

I took my long trip and got 17.5 MPG. I am VERY happy with that AND very happy with the truck! I am a mechanic at a Toyota dealership and tonight flushed the transmission fluid and the power steering fluid. Engine oil was flushed and replaced a week ago. Next will be the diff's and trans case. I always change all fluids when I get a used car just so I know where I stand with fluid changes.

I am getting a bit of heat from the wife because 6 months ago I bought her a new Toyota Prius. You know... The one that gets 60 MPG!? She thinks I lost my mind buying this 'gas guzzler'

By The Way guys..... How did you get your wifes to learn how to drive these rather large trucks? My wife is telling me she will never be able to drive this truck!
Steve

 

My GF doesn't drive it. One, she doesn't want to, but two, I won't let her. She drives a Honda Prelude. There's no way I'm going to let her drive 4 tons of steel that's 22 feet long. She's ok with that.

 

Take your wife to a very large parking lot and let her get the feel of the truck without the pressure of dealing with traffic. All it took was one time around the truck stop for my wife and she headed right out onto the freeway with confidence. Later on she told me that the truck felt huge but not overwhelming. She doesn't enjoy driving it, but we are both comfortable with the fact that she can in case I find myself unable to for whatever reason.