High Alltitude trailer pull
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Joined: Aug 2007
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High Alltitude trailer pull
Just got back from a Labor day camping trip in North Lake Tahoe, California. While driving between Truckee and North Lake Tahoe on Highway 267, I encountered a 9% grade at over 5 miles long. I was driving a 2006 250 FX4 with 21,000 miles and completely stock. I recently added a set of Firestone airbags to accomodate my fifth wheel. The trailer is 37ft and weighs in at (loaded) 14,200lbs.
At about midway through the climb I begin to notice a considerable loss of power. My guess is the alltitude change (5,100 to 7,200) and the thinner air at 7,000ft.
Does anyone have some thoughts regarding intake or exhaust mods that won't void my warrrenty.
I don't pull these kinds of grades very often. I would hate to get stuck, however, if I could make some changes.
At about midway through the climb I begin to notice a considerable loss of power. My guess is the alltitude change (5,100 to 7,200) and the thinner air at 7,000ft.
Does anyone have some thoughts regarding intake or exhaust mods that won't void my warrrenty.
I don't pull these kinds of grades very often. I would hate to get stuck, however, if I could make some changes.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,741
Likes: 3
Before investigating exhaust mods, you might check to see if you have any codes stored that would indicate overheating. The relatively transient condition might not have been in place long enough to throw the check-engine light. Did your idiot light.. er.... gauge show anything? Altitude won't usually effect a turbocharged motor.
I've not done any pulling with my PSD, but if they're set up like the Class-8 engines, those de-rate when they get too hot; specifically, the EGR cooler overheats and they de-rate the motors to keep them within specifications for emissions.
I've not seen any indication around here that the PSD's do that, but it's a possibility. Also, there was a recent thread about PSD motors having problems with sucking the lower radiator hose shut in high-power-demand situations, so you may be having a problem there. Ford has not (as yet) released a "fix" for that, which is usually placing a spring (with great difficulty) into the lower radiator hose.
Just a random thought... the non-EGR portion of the exhaust doesn't usually contribute to power problems in situations like that.
-blaine
I've not done any pulling with my PSD, but if they're set up like the Class-8 engines, those de-rate when they get too hot; specifically, the EGR cooler overheats and they de-rate the motors to keep them within specifications for emissions.
I've not seen any indication around here that the PSD's do that, but it's a possibility. Also, there was a recent thread about PSD motors having problems with sucking the lower radiator hose shut in high-power-demand situations, so you may be having a problem there. Ford has not (as yet) released a "fix" for that, which is usually placing a spring (with great difficulty) into the lower radiator hose.
Just a random thought... the non-EGR portion of the exhaust doesn't usually contribute to power problems in situations like that.
-blaine
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,741
Likes: 3
Check this thread, too:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...le-towing.html
Same problems. Might be more things to check.
-blaine
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...le-towing.html
Same problems. Might be more things to check.
-blaine
