Howdy Gents,
My first diesel is a 2003 7.3 with 90k on the clock. I would appreciate some feed back on the following questions:

1. Turbo cool. Is it neccessary to let the engine run after driving with no load on the truck? long distance or to work and back.

2. I am hearing the K&N intake systems are not filtering good and causing the turbos to need servicing. Is there any fact to this? Is there another recommended filter that would fit the same housing?

3. Is it neccessary to allow the glow plugs time to warm when the engine is still hot. for example: after a short stop?

4. Fuel additives. Needed? or not. I live in CA.

5. The manual i bought, doesnt show the position of the water collector purge valve....any hints?

I am a motorcyclist and there for a maintenance junky. any other advice or knowledge would be greatly appreciated.

What say you?

jo

 

Take a look at what people say about aFe's Pro-GUARD 7 Stage 2 intake systems for the 7.3L.

 

okay, ill take a shot at this

1. You should let your turbo cool, if you just worked it hard, or just got done with a high speed sprint. After about 3 minutes you should be fine, all tho, normally i drive about 3 miles down back roads to get to my house, and i take it easy so by the time i get back my egts are at about 250-300*. If you have gauges, it makes it much easier to know when to cool down the truck. Basically you would want to wait to about 250-300* to shut it off.

2. K&N filters do not do a good job filtering because of the type of media used, and in the factory stock air box, it makes it that much worse. It allows larger particles to get through the filter, and it will destroy the turbo. Forced Induction vechicals need clean air going in, or you will "dust" the turbo and possibly the motor. You want a good filter on there. Alot of people go with the tymar setup. Very inexpensive and by blackstone oil reports, has very close to the same filtering capablity as an AIS one of the best filters for the truck, cost for the tymar is at most 50$, search for kwik filter, tymar, 6637 and youll see what im talking about.

3. I usally when starting my truck just look at the wait to start light, when its hot i cant imagine it being at all useful to use, but it wouldnt hurt to wait a few seconds.

4. Its not "needed", but if you just bought the truck, i would run some diesel kleen through the tank for a few fill ups to get the possible gunk out of the tank. After that, change your fuel filter, and if you still want to use it you can, some people report better milage with using additives. I use it off and on, and I sometimes see better milage and sometimes dont. All depends on how i drive.

Maintenance is a good thing on these motors. If you take care of them well, they well take care of you very well also. Change the oil every 5K, fuel filter every 10K-15K, trans fluid every 15K. Thats how I do it, other have different ways but I think that is the generally accepted rules on the filters and basic fluids.

 

1. Turbo cool. Is it neccessary to let the engine run after driving with no load on the truck? long distance or to work and back.

2. I am hearing the K&N intake systems are not filtering good and causing the turbos to need servicing. Is there any fact to this? Is there another recommended filter that would fit the same housing?

3. Is it neccessary to allow the glow plugs time to warm when the engine is still hot. for example: after a short stop?

4. Fuel additives. Needed? or not. I live in CA.


I'm no mechanic, but I've read and learned a bit, so here's my advice. Others may know more about it.
1. When you're shutting down give it a couple minutes if you've gone further than your driveway. I bought a remote start/delayed shutdown for a couple hundred bucks and no longer have to sit in the cab while things settle down.
2. I have a K&N from day 1 and all is okay at 48k in my 2002 7.3, but Ford has a better system available, tho not cheap. I'd probably stay stock if I had it to do again.
3. If you want to see your diesel mechanic more often, maybe she's a good looker, ignore that glow plug light.
4. EPA has done it again. Low sulfers equal trouble. I've begun using Power Service products. They have one for summer, which would probably be year 'round for you. The other has anti gelling for winter. I'd like to know if there are better products or equal but cheaper out there.

Hope this helps. Safe motoring!

 

1. I always let my turbo cool down to around 300 to 350* before shutting down, especially after working her. I have heard people say that it isn't necessary but I do not like taking chances.

2. By K&N system you do mean an open intake, full blown K&N system, correct? I cannot comment on those as I have no experience with them. I do know that a K&N drop in filter will leak mainly due to the poor design of the factory air box. I run the AFE Stage II that was mentioned a couple of posts back. It's pricey but man does it do the job.

3. I always wait but then that's just me. I have no opionion if it is bad to not wait for it to go out.

4. I always use Diesel Kleen at every fill up. The truck has gotten used to it now and if I skip a treatment I notice it in the form of lower performance. ULSD fuel lacks the lubricating qualities of the fuel that our trucks were originally designed for. Do your engine a favor and use the DK or Stanadyne.

Maintenance is super important on these motors. They are a big investment and they cost more to up keep but they do more work than other motors. There are other things you can do along with maintenance to keep your motor happy and healthy like the CCV mod and the in tank mods. Do a search for these and do them and you won't be sorry.

 

And welcome to FTE. Stick around. This is the best place to learn about your PSD.

 

Guess I give it a shot.
1. It is wish to allow you turbo time to cool a bit these things get hot and if you shut it off when it hot enough to cook the oil in there, then it will. I usually wait until it gets at or below 400*. It takes forever to get much lower than that when the air temp is 100*+.
2. I don't use K&N anymore. If it is a drop in type, the stock air box is you biggest foe. They just don't seal that well. Folks around here seem to frown on the filter media that requires oil to complete there job. A quick and inexpensive fix is the 6637.
3. It's a good idea. If I am in a big hurry, I don't always wait.
4. Since the Gov. introduced ULSD and make us burn it, I would recommend and I do use it on every tank. I use Diesel Kleen and it does seem to make my truck run smoother. Plus it puts the slick back in diesel fuel. Just plain good for our engines.
5. I guess you are talking about the fuel bowl drain valve. It is on the back of the fuel bowl. It has a yellow handle on it. Remove the plastic PowerStroke cover on top of the engine and the fuel bowl is under there.

Welcome to the boards and if you want to take some time and read the first post at the top of this board it will answer a bunch of your questions.

 

Dang it Scott,
I have got to learn to tpye faster, and put down the ice cream bowl while typing. LOL

 

Yeah but you got me on the fuel bowl drain valve.

Good eye!

 

I think he edited the post, cuz i can't belive i didnt see that question.

 

Naw, it was there. I just forgot about it and then the dog started to attack the cat...

 

First off welcome to the site. Second is the truck stock or is it (will it be) modded or chipped?

Normal unloaded driving WITHOUT heavy acceleration would probably let you just turn the truck off without letting it idle, but I'd give it 30 seconds to a minute or better yet just take it easy on the truck with some low rpm driving on your last leg of the trip.

K&N filters I think depend on the mods on the truck, maintenance procedures, driving habits, and environmental conditions. I would tell you that I've got 230,000 miles on my drop in K&N on my 02 stock truck, but if I told you that the turbo would go out tomorrow with my luck.

It's a diesel. Start the truck after the wait to start light goes out. That's why they put it there.

Sunny California has been using ULSD longer than most of us. I would recommend a additive for lubricity at least every other tank unless you can find any percentage of biodiesel which will do the same thing.

If you haven't found the yellow drain lever yet let us know and someone will post a picture.

 

Welcome to the board. Pay attention and you will learn everything you need to know about your truck. There is a lot of knowledge floating around here in cyberspace and a bunch of really good guys/gals very willing to help.

 

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Dude, I have to read you sig. everytime. I love it!

 

I wish i had actually come up with itmyself. I paraphrased it from a guy on a Ravens chat board. I love it too.