I know that there have been several similar questions asked, but I can't seem to find any answers for my truck.

I have a 2003 F250 6.0L with 148,000 miles, no mods and I run diesel kleen (gray bottle) with every fill up.

The truck had been running great up until a couple of weeks ago. I was a little over due for my oil change and I noticed it struggle a bit when going up a steep bridge I go over all the time. It just didn't have any power and when I punched it I could just here the turbo whine up and I would get less power out of it, so I would back off the gas and it would do a little better.

I changed the oil hopping that that would help, but no dice, it has just gotten a little worse. I only really have half the gas pedal to use when accelerating, and if I push it any more it just slows down, the turbo whines and some black smoke come out (but only when I push it).

After reading through here, I decided to check the hoses going to the turbo, so I took them off, cleaned them up and checked for any cracks in them. All was good so I put them back on with some sealant.

I drove it the next day and still no change, so on to the next item. I pulled the EGR valve and it looked pretty bad (similar to the one in the TECH folder) so I cleaned it up and put it back in, and still not much of a change. It felt like it might have been a little better at first, but when I tried to get going, there just wasn't anything. The turbo didn't seem like it spooled up as quick though, and there wasn't as much black smoke, but there was still some.

So then I tried to just unplug the EGR valve to see if that would make any difference. The truck didn't want to start at first, but on the second try it fired up. I drove it and still no change. So I just re-plugged it in and now I don't know what to it could be. The truck starts right up and idles perfect and revs up great, but when driving and I hit the gas, nada...

I don't know what it could be at this point, I am going to take it to check the codes and will get those posted.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
-Mike

 

Did you change the fuel filters?

 

Welcome to FTE Mike

Are you the original owner and do you know if the truck has had recent updates? A few things can cause this and I see you have a good start.

 

I got the truck a year ago, but I haven't had any updates done to it.

I changed the fuel filters a few months ago (less than 5000 miles)

 

Dear Mike i have the same problem and i do not have any answears of it maybe you should ask maxim4x4 he knows a lot of it becouse when i start my problem he know that was hpop the problem of it!!!!
And i ill be waiting the response becouse i have the same problem i think when you accelarate or push the pedal the car is to slow in the response!!!!

 

Was your EGR opening and closing, was it stuck open? I would go ahead and change fuel filters too. Its a little early but you could have plugged one up. Once filters are done, check airfilter minder too, then try pulling EGR and plugging in after shut off and see if it cycles when you start up. If this is fine, then I think you might need to think stuck turbo is a possibility. can you pull codes?

 

That's exactly what I was thinking too....

 

Also welcome to FTE!

When you bought the truck, did you get an OASIS report? If not, you should. Also - how did you clean the EGR valve .... chemicals used, procedure, etc.? Lastly, when you cleaned the EGR valve, did you clean the MAP sensor line and the EBP tube - make sure they weren't clogged?

 

The new flash did away with readings from EBP. Are you using regular fuel or BIO? Since you changed the filters you need to find out what fuel pressure you have also, not sure if you are able to do that or have a friendly tech you know. Quite a few miles on the original HFCM so you need to rule out possible causes.

 

The flash for the "Inferred EBP" applied only to MY 03.25 to 04.25 "06E17action" - PCM eliminates the EBP sensor input. All others still use the EBP (I am pretty sure). His truck may or may not fit into this category.

 

sounds like a plugged air cleaner. check your filter minder on the air cleaner housing. if it's in the red change your air cleaner. i hope it's something that easy for you.

 

Need to have an Oasis run and see if the 06E17 was done to the truck. Kinda why I asked him about being the original owner. Hard to diagnose on a forum but we sure can give him a idea or two.

 

You aren't kidding!

Here is a quick list I put together on the things that can affect power (in relative order of "cheap and easy to resolve" to "most expensive"):

- Boost leak (CAC tube): check for leaks
- Clogged air filter: check filter minder or just replace the filter
- Aerated oil (wrong/worn-out oil OR too much oil): change oil properly
- Plugged fuel filters: replace filters w/ OEM filters
- Wire chaffing: check problem areas
- Bad fuel
- Clogged fuel lines: Check system (run pressure check if you can)
- Air in fuel: check filter caps and lines for leaks
- Bad EGR valve or clogged EGR valve: clean EGR valve
- Clogged EBP, MAP sensor tubes: clean tube / hose
- Stuck turbo vanes: clean turbo
- Injector stiction: get latest flash or maybe use HotShots
- Having your truck flashed when you did not return your tuner to stock
- Improperly completed flash
- Bad MAF sensor: replace sensor
- Bad ICP sensor (usually will have rough or no-start w/ this)
- Bad IPR valve (or restricted IPR valve due to solids on the inlet screen)
- Bad VGT actuator: replace actuator
- Bad fuel pump (HFCM)
- Leaking EGR cooler
- Bad FICM

I may be way off on some of these, so ANY input is welcome. Some of these would have other side effects and most would throw a DTC.

 

I wonder if it could the VGT actuator since he said power improved when he backed off the throttle a bit. I had mine replaced a couple of years ago when the turbo was sluggish and took forever to spool up.

 

The EGR was not stuck open, and I was able to open it and it would spring back closed... I haven't had a chance to get back in there and pull it to see if it cycles when I start up...

I went ahead and ordered some new fuel filters and an air filter, so I'll be waiting for those to get here. The old air filter was a bit dirty and I was able to knock quite a bit of dirt and dust out of it. The airfilter minder broke when I barely bumped it, so it may have been malfunctioning, and after putting the air filter back in (after knocking the dirt out of it) it seemed to drive a little bit better, not good by any means, but better. So maybe it is just something simple (fingers crossed)

It didn't through any codes when I checked it..