Last night after pulling my fiver about 30 miles I was coming up to a stop light and the truck just about quit for one quick second. I quickly looked down to see the "Check Engine Soon" flash on/off and then truck seemed fine. After about 3/4 of a mile we smelled a burning smell that came and went quickly so I not even sure it was from my truck. Truck ran fine for the next 3 miles to my home and idled for about ten minutes while unhooking fiver. This morning I checked my oil and didn't have any show on the dipstick so I grabbed the two quarts I had in the back of the truck and put them in. I'll change it today as it is needed. Long story, but can you guys tell me if they may have anything to do with each other?

Thanks

 

1. truck can quit running from low oil, needs oil to operate injectors, but probably would not have restarted if it was oil related.

2. CPS problem could have caused the truck to shut off

need to get codes pulled and see what set off your check engine light - probably CPS related.

 

Absolutely. The injectors are driven off of your high pressure oil pump (HPOP) discharge pressure, and if your oil level is too low, it can create the symptoms you described.

For example, a buddy of mine has a '99 F250 with the 7.3L. He was having cold start/run problems, but it would run fine after getting up to temp, when he could manage to keep it running long enough for it to get there. He changed out his GPR... no difference. Ford shop told him he needed three new injectors at $300 each. BTW... he has ~190,000 miles on the engine. He got ready to get a third party shop (highly recommended with outstanding reputation) replace all eight injectors (they would do it for $230 each and provide 13 month P&L warranty). When he called the old man who runs the shop to schedule the appointment, this is what the old man told him...."Lokk, in my experience, half the 'injector problems' that come in here on these PSD's are not really injector problems. Check your oil level before you come over. Low oil will give you the same problem." When my buddy checked the oil, it didn't show up on the dipstick, like yours. He topped it off with oil and he says that the truck runs like new again!!

Hope this helps. Got some questions to go with it, though.

What oil are you using? (should be diesel rated and either 15w40 or 5w40)
Who changes your oil? (if you have someone else do it, you should always check the level when you pick it up, before leaving their shop, to verify that they put enough in)
How many miles do you have on this oil? (most folks run 3-5K between cahnges, some, like me, who use a bypass filtration system adn synthetic oil can run longer, as many as 12-18K miles between changes)
When was the last time, or, how often do you check your oil level? (if there are no leaks, should probably check at least monthly, lots of guys check it at every tank fillup while they're waiting for the pump to shut off)
Do you have any evidence of leaks?

 

So how often do you check and/or add oil. I run 3000 miles and then might add 1 pt of oil. Change at 5000 Rotella. 130,000 miles and still going. Jim

 

Thanks for your comments.

I use Rotella T oil.
I change it myself so I know its full when changed.
I am over on this oil change (probably at 8k since last change, busy time of year for me).
I haven't checked it lately.
Yes, I do have two small drops on the ground after a nights rest.
I know its sounds like I don't give good attention to it but I typically do, just really busy right now. It will have fresh oil tonight, scared me last night to have it almost quit.

It didn't fully shut down at the stop light just about though. Could there be any permanent damage quickly evident? Could it affect fuel milage also to be low on oil?

 

Affect on mileage might be minimal with having only experienced one of these events. Like Steve, said, it could also be coincidental and could be a CPS acting up. I wouldn't expect any damage from such a short duration, either. This buddy of mine had run for over a month on low oil before he discovered it, and he's running great now.

By the way, Ford has a new CPS that they just released that is only $25. Has a wider signal pickup range, so it should be better than the older ones. Not all dealers are fully up to snuff on this new part, as it only became available on May 1. If you look in the thread linked below, you'll find all the details and lots of discussion. I ordered mine on April 30 and received it on May 3 from Ford Parts. It would be a good purchase to have as a spare, even if it isn't the source of your problem right now.

Sounds like you're doing the right things with your oil. Understand completely about the "busy season" issues, too. We all get there. In fact, things are crazy enough around my house right now that I haven't had (taken) the time to change out my old CPS with the new one to make sure it's really a hot spare. Hopefully this weekend.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...s-may-1st.html

 

That's the nice thing about the Powerstroke. It will shut down on low oil due to injectors not firing before any low oil damage will occur.

 

So as long as I get it changed and filled up I probably don't have internal things to worry about?

 

no worries

edit: When you change your oil send in a sample to Blackstone Labs to get an analysis. Good info.

 

Thanks for your help guys! I feel much better now.

 

Just to put you even further at ease, i made a 600 km trip and the oil was perfect before i left and when i got there i was down.....i was down 7 liters (About 7.4 Quarts)!!! and i cuased me engine damage so you would have to drop a significant ammount of oil before anything bad happens. my tuck didnt even shut off from loss of oil pressure to the injectors. The only thing it did was the turbo made a high pitched noise the last 2 or 3 km....but was fine again after getting some more oil in the system. Stupid o-ring in the high pressure oil pump!

Cold Man