Towing issues ....
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 3
From: Broad Run, Va
Towing issues ....
Seems like i am pulling a mountain down the highway....
I was towing an 8500lb travel trailer and my fuel mileage went to 9 and 10 mpg. Plus... when i really got on the throtle... it felt like no change at all and going up even slight inclines not to mention gradual hills on the interstate... the truck would slow down to under 50 mph with full throtle.
Not sure whats up... The truck seems to run fine when not towing and I usually get about 17mpg average.
I dont have any guages like boost and such.. so no data there.... sorry.
I was towing an 8500lb travel trailer and my fuel mileage went to 9 and 10 mpg. Plus... when i really got on the throtle... it felt like no change at all and going up even slight inclines not to mention gradual hills on the interstate... the truck would slow down to under 50 mph with full throtle.
Not sure whats up... The truck seems to run fine when not towing and I usually get about 17mpg average.
I dont have any guages like boost and such.. so no data there.... sorry.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,191
Likes: 4
From: Blairsville,Ga
Your milage is a little low,wth any enclosed trailer my truck will drop from 17.5 mpg to 10 or 11mpg but you do have a power problem
Could be a boost leak,clogged filters or leaky up pipes among other thing I'm sure
Could be a boost leak,clogged filters or leaky up pipes among other thing I'm sure
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 3
From: Broad Run, Va
What about the waste gate?
It also seems like the power gets less as the engine comes up to operating temps... when the engine is colder and not warmed up yet, there is lots of boost and power... but when warmed up, it seems sluggish and less power...
Could something in the turbo be getting hot and not working properly?
It also seems like the power gets less as the engine comes up to operating temps... when the engine is colder and not warmed up yet, there is lots of boost and power... but when warmed up, it seems sluggish and less power...
Could something in the turbo be getting hot and not working properly?
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 399
Likes: 0
From: Draper, Utah
Smell your tranny fluid. It sounds like to me that your tranny is starting to slip. mine did this a few years ago. when it was cold it would perform pretty good but when it got up to operating temps it would get really sluggish and not want to move out of its own way. I'm not saying this is the problem but your motor might be fine and putting out the same power the whole time but then the trans isn't putting it to the ground.
i mean it makes sense to me the mileage goes down because the motor has to go more revolutions to go the same distance.
when you take the trailer off it wouldn't slip as bad hence the feeling of more power.
check it out that what i would do. if it smells like something has burnt up in your trans then i think you have found the problem.
i mean it makes sense to me the mileage goes down because the motor has to go more revolutions to go the same distance.
when you take the trailer off it wouldn't slip as bad hence the feeling of more power.
check it out that what i would do. if it smells like something has burnt up in your trans then i think you have found the problem.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 147
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From: Albany, Oregon
My guess is tranny issues, or boost, up-pipe leak. Have you tested for boost leaks? Have you checked out up-pipes for soot or leaks?
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Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2006
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I'm going throw my 0.02 in here, I'm experiencing the same thing with my truck. Seems to run fine with out a load, but you haul something and it don't have the power it should. I know I have some pretty leaky up-pipes, I'm pretty sure that's my problem. I've switched to a van turbo so no wastegate for me and I got a manual tranny so that eliminates tranny issues. I'm going to build a leak detector this week and see if something comes up. I'm going to be ordering some up-pipes very soon, I should just order them and be done with it.......
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 147
Likes: 1
From: Albany, Oregon
I'm going throw my 0.02 in here, I'm experiencing the same thing with my truck. Seems to run fine with out a load, but you haul something and it don't have the power it should. I know I have some pretty leaky up-pipes, I'm pretty sure that's my problem. I've switched to a van turbo so no wastegate for me and I got a manual tranny so that eliminates tranny issues. I'm going to build a leak detector this week and see if something comes up. I'm going to be ordering some up-pipes very soon, I should just order them and be done with it.......
If the up-pipes are leaking your power is pretty much done. All of your drive pressure goes out the window and your turbo is slow to spool, has a lack of ability to stay spooled. If anyone has a up-pipe leak it really needs addressed quickly. The cost of up-pipes will be covered in better fuel MPG's quickly, with all the wasted fuel from the leak.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 3
From: Broad Run, Va
I dont think its the tranny because I just changed out the tranny fluid and filter about 5k miles ago.
The up pipes did not appear to have any soot on them (but I can check again to be certain). **** How do you check the up pipe for leaks?
I have cleaned the EBPV about 20K miles ago.
****How do you build a boost leak detector?
****How do I verify if the waste gate actuator is working right?
The up pipes did not appear to have any soot on them (but I can check again to be certain). **** How do you check the up pipe for leaks?
I have cleaned the EBPV about 20K miles ago.
****How do you build a boost leak detector?
****How do I verify if the waste gate actuator is working right?
Postmaster
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Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 3
From: Broad Run, Va
yea.. I see on the top of the up pipe. I looked from the bottom of the truck. I will have to look from the top and double check. I read that a new donut gasket will usually seal up the connection at the up pipe and cure the leak.
Is that true?
And that this leak gets worse as the engine warms up.
Is that true?
And that this leak gets worse as the engine warms up.