Just installed my stacks today! They look and sound great!

However my truck just doesn't seem to have much power!? i got the truck in december so i haven't towed anything until today. i had my dump trailer with 4 yrds of mulch and to be honest i thought about switching trucks (to my 5.4L) because i was so pissed off!

why doesn't it have power?

 

Boost leak?!

All your boots on and secured?

 

what do you mean about the boots? i know some things but not a lot. i am still learning. yes i do have a leak where the exhaust is attached to the turbo.

 

They can seem pretty gut less sometimes but also check to see if your fuel filter is dirty, air filter, oil change, and boost leak. Also adding a DP tuner will fix you up real quick.

 

If your up pipes are leaking you will be down on power!

 

yea i know a dp tuner will work but it seems like it shouldn't be this gut less! fuel filter i will check. air filter and oil are good.

 

Also get rid of the stock air box (6637)!!

 

ok but there is only one pipe leaking. its the one from the turbo to the exhaust pipe. that little leak will make that big of a difference??

 

sorry i forgot to mention i do have the 6637 also 6" stacks

 

You're talking about the pipe (4" I assume) that comes off the passenger side of the turbo, turns down and connects to your stacks? We call this the down pipe. No that will just be noisy and annoying. Have you looked anywhere else for leaks? The 7.3 should outperform the 5.4 hands down.

The up pipes are 2 small pipes that come off the exhaust manifolds and go up and attach to a Y shaped connector behind the turbo. We call the Y connector the baby's but. If you see any soot marks on the pipes where they attach to the Y, then yes, that can have a big affect on power.

You can also look for the big aluminum tubes under the hood (one on each side of the motor). At the end of these aluminum tubes are silicone connectors, what we call boots. Once side has blue ones, the other side has black ones. They're held on by hose clamps. Make sure the clamps are tight, but don't overdo it. There are plastic and aluminum parts involved. Also, if you look where the top 2 boots connect to the X shaped thing, you'll find 2 more orange boots that connect to the intake plenums. The one on the passenger side seems to work it's way loose.

Odds are, if you don't have the CCV mod, or are not religious about cleaning your engine, then all 6 of your boots look black, but take a rag and some degreaser, and you'll see the colors I'm talking about.

 

thank you for the detailed help. i do know that the boots are all on. not sure if they are tight though. i also notice the boots are wet (oil) what does that mean?

 

what is the best way to check the uppipes? can't really see much back there!

 

If you look at the air intake tube going from your filter to the turbo, you'll notice the plastic connector about half way back right over the drivers side valve cover. On top of the valve cover is a raised bos (we call the doghouse). There is a little 90 deg rubber hose coming off this box that vents into the plastic piece in the intake tube. This is the CCV (crank case vent). It vents oil vapors into the intake, which is where your oily boots come from. Completely normal. If you pull the aluminum tubes off, you'll find oil in there, also completely normal. The CCV mod, eliminates this by re-routing the vent. It's not necessary, but it stops the oil at the boots and in the tubes.

You can see the drivers side up-pipe with a flashlight laying under the truck and looking up. If you have a 4" or larger down pipe, the passenger side is next to impossible to see. If you have to disconnect the down pipe to fix your leak, that would be an ideal time to inspect it, otherwise, an inspection mirror and flashlight while cussing, or a small digital camera you can shove back there and start taking pictures (hoping for the right angle to catch the right view) will be your best bet.

 

ok thank you. so you think this is my problem then? is there anything else i should try?

 

Check the engine oil level and make sure it's not due for a change, check the air and fuel filter, but besides that, as others have pointed out, checking for a boost leak is the place to start.