I've got a 2001 F350 7.3l and has been running great unloaded for a while now. I have the bellowed uppipes and other mods listed below and just got a muffler delete on the stock exhaust. I'm towing a toyhauler that with the 100 gallons of fresh water and other toys/stuff should have been around 8,500-9,000 loaded. Unloaded im getting about 15-17psi boost when I step on it. Towing this weekend I was keeping it around 55 - 65mph and it kinda seemed to be struggling, when I got to a little grade I made it downshift the rpms went up to 2500 and the bust shot up to 25psi. CEL came on but after that and a little before I notice the turbo making a weird and kinda of a fluttering sound.

The sound now starts around 15-20psi and I thought I blew the intake hose off or something but I pulled over took a look at everything and all was fine. Now when im getting this 15-20psi of boost it just doesnt seem like I am and it feels like the more boost I get the more it struggles. Now coming home on a straight away I was struggling to keep 60mph, hit a grade steeper then the one coming and was pulling it at 50-55mph and it was just losing power, it started overheating I kept trying to go slower but no avail had to pull over and let it cool up. Now maybe theres something im missing, but everything looks good under the hood and im kinda leaning toward the 10k mod. I took that out after dumping and drove it home but had no real test for it to see. Cant really discribe the sound the turbo makes but it sounds like maybe its rubbing on the housing a little bit.

I've cleaned the EBPS tube long while ago, bellowed up pipes still look clean as if I just installed them, turbo pedistal looks clean, valley is nice and dry. Any help appreciated.

 

sounds like Turbo surge... wicked wheel or ATS housing will fix it

 

I was thinking along the lines of turbo surge as well. But running basically stock programming will there be enough boost to cause surge? As far as the over heating, did you hear the fan lock up and start pulling air?

 

x2, on the surge,what was your trans temp,and EGT's?

 

Trans was under 180 at the time we just took off couple miles down the road. EGT's were 1000 - 1100.

 

Same thing I was thinking, before I put my Wicked Wheel on I couldn't get my truck to surge on stock but surge all the time with tunes. Check your turbo wheel for play, I think a very little bit side to side is ok but zero in and out? If I'm wrong somebody will correct me.

 

When I was doing my up pipes I checked the turbo for play it had very little.

 

With the 10k installed and the available load, the boost you were making would put you in the range for compressor surge with a stock housing. I noticed this before with a lite tow tune. I later installed the ATS compr housing and bye bye surge.
Do you have stock exhaust? Didn't see any upgrade in your sig.

My bad! I see you have the muffler delete only. A larger exhaust would help with those EGTs. But, they are normal for what you currently have.

 

cheap fix wicked wheel, expencive fix ats housing

 

WW took care of my problem! ( surge ) Sounds like you got the same problem!!

 

Thanks guys. So what about the overheating? Was caused by the surge too? Just making it work harder.

 

I don't think that overheating is caused by the surging. The cooling systems on these trucks are very efficiant. Can you tell when your fan engages and disengages, maybe its on its way out.

 

Never really notice it coming on. I went out and tried spinning it but it would only move when I was forcing it, I couldn't just flick it it would just stop. Seemed tight.

 

I agree with surge, what the guys said above will help you. As for the fan engaging, when your pulling and it gets up to temps you can hear it under the hood, theres no mistaking it. I can't remember if mine turns by hand, its on a clutch though, have't to check that out tomorrow.

 

Stock programming with a 6637 and a straight pipe can do it with if you're hauling 1000lbs or more. Its just a lot harder to get it to do it.



As for the overheating, there's not much weight on his truck, so it's overheating pretty easily. These trucks shouldn't break a sweat hauling about 2000 extra lbs. What do you guys think about a stuck thermostat?