Thanking anybody in advance. New to this post but have been looking for some help with my 97 e350 psd. Its an intermittent issue, comes and goes, usually when cold. Can happen under load or not. Idles good, as you rev a bit above idle, loses power, makes a deep throated rumble noise with a bit of hiss, then as I depress the pedal and the revs increase, goes away. While its in this problem, I have a loss of power, no smoke. Thought it might be fuel delivery and changed filter, ran Seafoam and other additives...no improvement. When I listen to that rumble and hiss sound I thought Wastegate but read that this model lacks a wastegate so thinking the sound is an exhaust related sound is wrong. It will run for 1000k without a problem, then return on a cold morning ( sometimes when its freezing, sometimes cold but not freezing) When its running well, it runs great.

1997 E350 ext. w/ raised roof 190k

 

Joe, Welcome to FTE. We're glad to have you.

Now, your problem, is not a problem. LOL What you are hearing is your Exhaust Back Pressure Valve. EBPV for short. On our Power Strokes we do not have wastegates. Those started in 99. But we do have a butterfly in the exhaust housing. What it is for is to help the motor warm up. It chokes off the exhaust to keep it in the motor to help it warm up. So when you hear it "hissing" the butterfly is closed. It's just doing it's job. Most people just unplug it and forget it. But if you are in a cold climate, you may want to leave it alone. But if you want to test it, look under the compressor housing of the turbo (drivers side) and you'll see a 2 wire plug. disconnect it and try to start it when it's cold and see if it hisses at you. It shouldn't. This WILL NOT affect starting. Your glow plug system is what helps you start on cold days. The valve just helps the motor warm up faster once it's running. Alot of guys in the northern states have them unplugged and have no issues at all.

But in short, it's just the EBPV doing it's job when it's cold. But you don't want to pull out in traffic with it on that's for sure. If you think it's staying on too long and you don't want to unplug it, the EBPV sensor tube may be clogged, and that's an easy fix too. But we'll cover that if you think it's a problem. I hope that helps man, and I look forward to seeing you on the boards.

 

i have my ebpv disconnected and i live in north dakota where it gets relay f-ing cold and i don't miss it

 

man, what a resource. Thank you for such an knowledgable response and welcoming comment. Joe

 

Welcome aboard joe, there are alot of people on here with alot of knowledge that are willing to help, like Rubberduck, TJ, Neal and a whole bunch of others that would take me days to list. Stick around and you will learn alot about your rig. Here are a couple of sites with some good info:

Tips - Idea - Hints

and dieselmann's Page

Enjoy

 

Welcome to FTE. You will enjoy this place alot.

I believe Cody has got your problem pegged. I am not much a van man but still that should be right on with what he said.

 

Glad we could help Joe.

 

Reading through so many posts regarding EBPV makes me realize how many times the elders of this site have to answer the same questions from newbies that fail to spend enough time looking through the threads to find the answer. Again thank you all for your kindness. Many very smart people are there to help and I have learned so much about the truck I wash every day.

 

Joe, that's what makes this site unique. As a collective group of "elders" we've all realized that by answering the little questions for the new guys helps promote friendship and conversation. Which in the end, makes it easier for us to work as a whole to solve really hard ones. Alot of times, us old guys get jaded and look over the simple things that new guys just learned. And if we have already established positive communication, you are less hesitant to say "what about this?" Does that make sense?

 

So very true Cody. Very well put. Spot on dude. Way to put it. Aaaalright! Good job. Go team! Good game. On you're game today.

For these reasons, IMO, that is why we don't have stickies and that is also why this place is THE BEST.