Mystery Problem
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2007
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Mystery Problem
I have a 2001 F-250 powerstroke. It will crank up and idle indefinately but when I start to drive it-it will go maybe a mile down the road and the RPM's will start to decrease untill it completely stops. I can let it sit for about 15 min. and it will start back up again. It will sit and idle but it won't go far down the road untill it dies again. The "Service Engine Soon" light does not come on. One mechanic suggested it might be the "High Pressure Oil Pump".
Another said it might be the fuel pump in the tank. Another said it might be building up to much back pressure in the exhaust system. Any suggestions?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Another said it might be the fuel pump in the tank. Another said it might be building up to much back pressure in the exhaust system. Any suggestions?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
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From: Texas
I'd start with the fuel system first. If the HPOP (high pressure oil pump) was the problem, you'd end up with air in the oil rails and the truck would be very hard to start, smoke like the dickens, and run rough for about 30 miles until the air was purged out. Too much back pressure would make the engine sound different.
When was the last time you changed your fuel filter? How dirty was it? The fuel pump is mounted on the frame rail down under the drivers seat. There are screens inside the pick up tube in the fuel tank that can get clogged and cause all sorts of problems. Next time it dies, pull over and open the drain valve on the fuel filter bowl, then turn the key on. See if you have a high pressure stream of fuel dumping out the drain hose. You could also hook up a fuel pressure gauge to a port in the fuel bowl so you can keep an eye on things.
Any other symptoms you can share with us? Any dash lights not acting normal? Does the check engine light come on?
When was the last time you changed your fuel filter? How dirty was it? The fuel pump is mounted on the frame rail down under the drivers seat. There are screens inside the pick up tube in the fuel tank that can get clogged and cause all sorts of problems. Next time it dies, pull over and open the drain valve on the fuel filter bowl, then turn the key on. See if you have a high pressure stream of fuel dumping out the drain hose. You could also hook up a fuel pressure gauge to a port in the fuel bowl so you can keep an eye on things.
Any other symptoms you can share with us? Any dash lights not acting normal? Does the check engine light come on?
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Thank you very much for the reply. I changed the fuel filter about 400 miles back. It wasn't too bad. It's won't start immediatly after it dies but it starts good after it sits awhile and then it doesn't smoke.
Elder User
Joined: May 2003
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From: Mobile, AL
I don't claim to know much about diesels, but my buddies mother killed her diesel with a clogged catalytic converter. When she started having problems, her situation was simular to yours. No smoke does not sound like a fuel problem to me.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Texas
If there's no smoke and there is no check engine light and no codes stored, then I'd say it's time to check your fuel pressure. If you have any codes stored, we need to know what they are since this could easily be an IPR issue as well.
Just to make sure, what oil are you running and is the oil level full?
Just to make sure, what oil are you running and is the oil level full?
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There are codes stored. I'll have to go to the shop tomorrow and find out what they are.
I know I am showing my ignorance, but what is IPR? What kind of issues are you talking about. The ford place where I bought my truck changes my oil erery 5000 miles as part of the deal for me buying it there. They changed it 400 miles ago. On the invoice they put that they put 16 quarts of "C-15W40" for diesel. That is also something I will check tomorrow when I go to the shop. Thanks for your help!
I know I am showing my ignorance, but what is IPR? What kind of issues are you talking about. The ford place where I bought my truck changes my oil erery 5000 miles as part of the deal for me buying it there. They changed it 400 miles ago. On the invoice they put that they put 16 quarts of "C-15W40" for diesel. That is also something I will check tomorrow when I go to the shop. Thanks for your help!
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Texas
If you go back to the main forum page listing, instead of stopping at Super Duty, keep scrolling down and you'll find a diesel section that has a spot for the 99-03 7.3 diesel. You'll get lot's of information down there. You might even just start a new thread down there once you find out what the codes are.
To give you the quick version, your motor runs off the HEUI system, which means the fuel injectors are fired off of engine oil. The oil pump sends oil up to the HPOP which increases the oil pressure and sends it into rails in the head. This oil is what fires the injectors. The IPR (injection pressure regulator) is kind of like a pressure bleed off valve for this high pressure oil. To keep too much high pressure oil from going into the heads, the IPR opens up (reduces duty cycle %) to bleed off the excess oil back toward the pan. If the IPR is having problems, it can open up and prevent high pressure oil from reaching the injectors, which means the injectors won't work.
Make sense?
To give you the quick version, your motor runs off the HEUI system, which means the fuel injectors are fired off of engine oil. The oil pump sends oil up to the HPOP which increases the oil pressure and sends it into rails in the head. This oil is what fires the injectors. The IPR (injection pressure regulator) is kind of like a pressure bleed off valve for this high pressure oil. To keep too much high pressure oil from going into the heads, the IPR opens up (reduces duty cycle %) to bleed off the excess oil back toward the pan. If the IPR is having problems, it can open up and prevent high pressure oil from reaching the injectors, which means the injectors won't work.
Make sense?
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Concord NC
Does this happen every time you drive it? Cold engine and warm? The CPS usually kills one all of a sudden. The gradually slowing sure sounds fuel related. The IPR or HPOP issue should trip the CEL, or did on mine when it went south.
Oh yeah, welcome to the site and it appears to me that you're showing your intelligence, not you ignorance by asking questions before throwing money away.
Oh yeah, welcome to the site and it appears to me that you're showing your intelligence, not you ignorance by asking questions before throwing money away.
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Yes it does happen cold or hot. My CPS went out once before and it just died and would not start. I know what IPR and HPOP is but what is the CEL? I am beginning to think it is a fuel problem.
Thanks for your help!
Thanks for your help!
