2005 F250, 40,000 miles, completely stock.

I posted a problem a few weeks ago to the General Diesel Discussion. To summarize, I had a serious lack of power issue. Basically, it started shortly after filling up, and stopped happening not long after filling up the following time....so I chalked it up to a bad tank of fuel.

However.......Yesterday, after pulling a horse trailer for about 60 miles, the exact same symptons popped back up. They continued for the next 60 miles with the trailer attached, at times only allowing max speeds of 50mph on the flats. After disconnecting the trailer, same thing for the next 50 miles, only it got so bad at one point that the truck wouldn't pull up a small hill on it's own. After shutting it off for a few minutes, it started right back up and we limped in to a dealer.

They called today and said the #1 & #6 injectors are bad, and they should have it done tomorrow. I'm just curious on your guys thoughts on if they truly went bad on their own, or if something else caused them to go bad. And if they're bad, how close are the other 6 to going bad (I personally suspect a bad/weak fuel pump...but I don't have anything to back it up). This problem concerns me a bit, because several of us are heading west with a full trailer on a hunting trip in 2 weeks, and if this thing fails me, I can't say I'm going to be a happy camper.

The truck has been problem free mechanically until now, and I just don't want the snowball to start rolling down hill with this. Has anyone just had the injectors go bad, and that's it.....end of problems once they're replaced? Or is that usually just the start of other injectors and the like? Also does anyone know if when they hook up to their computers, does it show them the fuel pressure, or can one only get that information by hooking up a gauge to the line?

He didn't say specifically, and I didn't think to ask, but I would assume/hope this is covered in the 5/100,000 psd warranty.

 

Alot of guys around here have lost injectors, some only one or two, and then there fine, for some its a reacurring problem. Alot of it has to do with the brand of filters they use, alot of them dont change them on time, oil doesnt get changed on time. I run an additive in every tank, do my filters at least every 10k with motorcraft (racor) filters, and I now do oil changes about every 5-6k. The injectors will be under the warranty.

 

Got the Truck back last Friday, and I still thought it was lacking power. Had a friend drive it, and he thought it was fine, so I started second guessing myself. I hooked an empty flatbed to it, and was then convinced it was still bad.

Took it back to the dealer this morning. They confirmed that fuel pressure was too low, so they replaced the pump. The pressure was better afterward, but still not quite up to par. They called and asked if they could replace the filters (which were just replaced 2000 miles ago at a Ford dealer 4 hours away).....I said go for it. They called back and said that took care of it.

My Ford dealer is telling me that only one of the filters that they pulled out appears to have been changed last month, and that IT wasn't a Ford filter. Now I'm not one to argue much over the quailty of one brand filter over the other, but when I pay $100 for a pair of Ford filters installed, that's what I expect get. I called the other Ford dealer, explained the problem. He talked to his mechanics, and they say there is no way they would have used anything but a Ford filter....but is going to still reimburse me the $100. I'm guessing some young punk decided he wanted a new set for his truck, and decided to throw his Auto Zone brand into my truck thinking that no one would ever know the difference or catch it. Had I been more diligent in my filter changes, that probably would have been true.

I'm pretty sure the unchanged filter caused the pump and/or injectors to fail.

I'm picking my baby up in an hour, so hopefully, it'll have the nads that it used to have.

Lessons learned....change filters as prescribed, run cetane booster additive on a regular basis, and drive it like I stole it occasionally (I think I already did the last one, but I'll just have to be more diligent about it from now on.)

 

Do yourself and your truck an extreme favor and purchase a fuel pressure gauge. They're a little expensive, but IMHO it's as important in these new engines as an EGT gauge. The injectors, unfortunately, are just as finiky about fuel pressure as they are about clean oil and our fuel supply seems to always be suspect at best. I wish I'd installed mine a LONG time ago. They're fairly easy to install and will go as far in saving your injectors as good clean oil--IMHO.

 

JD,
I would add 1 more thing to your prescription. Run Hot Shot's Secret every 4th oil change or anytime you feel your power draining away.
Chris

 

I'll second that one

 

i've got my hot shots secret on the way, i was having what i thought to be injector stiction before but it seems to have gone away with a new fuel additive i'm running now, i'll still run the hot shots secret when it gets here though