I'm new to the diesel scene, so be gentle. Anyway, here goes.My '08
F-450 6.4 has 13000 miles. I'll be going down the hi-way at cruise speeds (60-70) and suddenly it feels like someone has thrown a lasso around her. The turbo will drop to 10 or less for a few miles, then creep back to normal. There is no visible decrease in mph or rpms. There is, however a louder engine noise, somewhat like valves knocking. This will happen approximately 1-2 times every 200 miles. NO message has ever appeared on the message center, besides the normal operating displays. Thanks in advance....

P.S. My mpg is 9.8 on the display. Is that about right for this vehicle?

 

sounds like a regen to me. Also sounds like you don't have the flash from Dec 08 time frame on it either. The flash from Dec 08 will tell in the message center when it is cleaning the exhuast filter.

The flash from Dec 08 also help with shifting of the trans so may be worth it to get this one done.

Word of caution though, I hear there is a an even newer flash like this month that is out there but this one is not good. So just be careful.

Read this thread and it will bring you up to date on this and a couple of other issues :https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...and-08b07.html

 

Listen to SENIX he knows well.

Every two hundred miles is about right for the dreaded regen. However, I do not know why you would have such a drop in turbo pressure though?? When my truck goes into regen I really do not notice other than the message(from latest PCM flash) even if I am towing 16K. Sounds like there might be something wrong.

I would get the latest flash and then see if you still have problems.

 

With the Job 1 flashes the turbo pressure would drop during regen. That's the way mine was before I removed the exhaust, 10-14 psi normal driving and 1-3 psi during regen.

 

STD I have never had that type of drop in turbo pressure. Wierd how these trucks are so different.

 

Doesn't sound like any regen we have ever had before or after the latest flashes. We can see the EGT's go up and the msg on the msg center but can notice no difference in performance or engine sounds. Boost may go up a bit but never down.

 

Totally agree with Richfaa.

 

Huh, mine idles rough, considerable notice in power loss and makes lots of noises when it goes into regen mode. I am taking my truck in next week. Just gonna play dumb and see what that gets me. If the new flash does indeed not help and makes worse I will follow up with you all. More reasons for me to say the hell with it and get a Spartan and other stuff...

 

I just put a couple thousand miles on my truck. Carrying about 3,000#. I have the Dec. flash. It now shows on dash monitor when going into regen and when completed.

I did learn something that I never knew. I was on 19 heading south, near Sutton, WVA and my truck went into regen. I was climbing the mountains in that area. I have a certain fuel stop that I prefer on 19. It was 25 miles out, and my odo said I had 55 miles of fuel.

OOPS! Climbing those mountains, my fuel went quick. I feel I was lucky and found a fuel stop with 8 miles to go till empty, about 15 miles after I saw 55 miles to go. Sure changed my mind about consumption during regen.

Interesting, and lucky I did not run out of fuel.

I hope this might help someone else.

 

I find that the 50 gallons to empty is more like 20 gallons to empty. The calculation seems to assume a linear relationship between gauge reading and amount in the tank, but I find it takes much longer to go from full to half than from half to empty.

 

When my message center says "50 miles to empty" I begin looking for a stop. I usually am hauling a trailer and getting 8-12MPG. The message center thing will continue to yell at me until I get to "0 miles to empty" and if I push it that far I stop ASAP.

On four occasions I let it go to the point that the engine starts the "stop now" routine which is when the engine starts shutting itself off on purpose to scare me into stopping. It's a part of the programming, the PCM will turn the fuel system off and on in a very predictable and even rhythm to make you think you are running out of fuel and scare you into stopping. The explanation is in the PSD booklet. I have found that you have to really try hard to run out of fuel in these '08 and up trucks.

I don't take it to "0 miles to empty" unless I know where my fuel stop is and I know that I can make it. I figure it's a good way to get stuff in the fuel filters and also the water separator.

If you want to try it, don't worry about going all the way to zero on the message center thing. Take it until is sputters and make sure you are within a couple miles of your fuel. It's kinda cool.

And yes, the "50 miles to E" is generally a real world 20 to 30 miles, depending on your load and speed. At least in my 91,000 mile experience so far.

 

To the OP: I concur with others that you need to get the flash update equivalent to a Job 3 '08. I had the original engine program like you are describing and the regen cycle was much more violent and also would go into a high idle for the cleanout if you were not driving. All the that stuff goes away with the newer flash.

When I am towing, my boost will avoid going above 20psi during a cleanout cycle. It will go higher if I really push the issue.

Your mileage sounds right but you should hand calculate it too. The message center can be off by up to 2.5MPG either way. I usually average the two together, not really that important on one of these heavy trucks. The days of 20MPG in a diesel pickup are long gone.

 

The day's aren't long gone, they're just long illegal.

My buddy got his truck, early Job 2, not long after mine. He had similar regen characteristics the the OP and I had.