Found my annoying problem
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,293
Likes: 10
From: Parker, CO
Found my annoying problem
Past few weeks I've noticed my truck was extremely laggy on the bottom end, smoking heavy when taking off from a light, and idling funny (RPM's surging from 500-850). My boost gauge was reading very low boost for several weeks, but EGT's were normal. So I've been struggling to find the problem.
Poking under the hood yesterday the only thing I found was my fuel bowl heater element was unplugged. The wire was just hanging there in the engine valley. No other problems were found, so I plugged it in and took it for a drive. To my surprise the engine idle was back to normal, and the smoke on the bottom end was gone. Never knew the fuel heater in the stock bowl was so important.
Boost was still reading low, so today I finally traced it to the back of the gauge, where the fitting was hanging on not even finger tight. Finally figured that one out when the gauge quit working yesterday, and I was hearing air rushing in from the pillar pod.
Anyway, thought it was interesting with the whole fuel heater thing. Figured I'd pass it along.
Poking under the hood yesterday the only thing I found was my fuel bowl heater element was unplugged. The wire was just hanging there in the engine valley. No other problems were found, so I plugged it in and took it for a drive. To my surprise the engine idle was back to normal, and the smoke on the bottom end was gone. Never knew the fuel heater in the stock bowl was so important.
Boost was still reading low, so today I finally traced it to the back of the gauge, where the fitting was hanging on not even finger tight. Finally figured that one out when the gauge quit working yesterday, and I was hearing air rushing in from the pillar pod.
Anyway, thought it was interesting with the whole fuel heater thing. Figured I'd pass it along.
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,293
Likes: 10
From: Parker, CO
I think he's referring to the fuel bowl.
The thing is that I fixed the fuel bowl heater yesterday, and noticed the improvement when I drove it last night. Fixing the boost gauge today didn't change anything, other than now the gauge is reading accurate.
Curtis, I'd bet on the boost leak being the problem more than the fuel bowl heater.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 10,764
Likes: 39
Trending Topics
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,221
Likes: 3
Glad you found the prob, Curtis. 
I didn't think the fuel bowl heater really had much importance, but perhaps it does.
I didn't think the fuel bowl heater really had much importance, but perhaps it does.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!
Michael S. Palmer
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)
Joe Kucinski
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 13,653
Likes: 6
From: Cabot, Arkansas
I don't understand how the heater made any difference at all. I've been running with the fuel heater unplugged for years. Makes no difference.
I wonder if the leak at your gauge was enough to steal pressure from the MAP sensor.
Now that the leak is fixed, if you go unplug the heater element does it go back to running poorly?
I wonder if the leak at your gauge was enough to steal pressure from the MAP sensor.
Now that the leak is fixed, if you go unplug the heater element does it go back to running poorly?
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,293
Likes: 10
From: Parker, CO
Didn't really try it Cookie since all the difference was made when I plugged the heater element in yesterday. I didn't touch the boost gauge until today and when I did it didn't make a bit of difference in performance. My EGT's were never high so I don't think the leak was really all that bad. Never could get the EGT's over 1200 at WOT. Might try unplugging the heater again tomorrow and see if it makes a difference.
Just driving the truck yesterday and today it's a noticeable difference. There's no smoke when I take off at a light, idle is smoother, and low end power is back. I actually barked the tires on a few right hand turns. Haven't done that for several weeks unless I really got on it. Big mystery to me too, I never thought the heater was that important or would have that much of an effect.
Just driving the truck yesterday and today it's a noticeable difference. There's no smoke when I take off at a light, idle is smoother, and low end power is back. I actually barked the tires on a few right hand turns. Haven't done that for several weeks unless I really got on it. Big mystery to me too, I never thought the heater was that important or would have that much of an effect.
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,584
Likes: 0
From: Millbrook Alabama
Originally Posted by Kwikkordead
This is surprising to me as well. The fuel gets heated up pretty quickly in the fuel rails.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 13,653
Likes: 6
From: Cabot, Arkansas
Originally Posted by bdrummonds
True, but does the bowl heater also sense and feed info back to the PCM. I mean think of all the problems folks have when it shorts out. Yeah, I know when it shorts it pops the fuse and thats what causes most of those probs.... but why?
The heater is a single wire....there's no feedback from it at all. That's what has me confused about this situation. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad the truck is running right....I just don't get how plugging the heater in fixed it. Like I posted earlier, mine is unplugged now and has been forever, and it is not an uncommon practice to simply clip the heater wire off when it does short out.