I know this has been discussed a bazillion times. But as a favor, please reply if you've experienced a CPS failure.

A friend with a '01 PSD was driving over the weekend (10F outside but had been a hundred miles without incident) and out of the blue the truck started sputtering, shaking, etc. He stopped and it idled but very rough. Any accelerator pedal would cause it to die. Couldn't put any load on it or it would die. Had to get a tow.

Based on my readings on this and other forums, this is classic cam position sensor. But he didn't get a code (dtc, mil, ses, etc), and I don't know if the '01s are notorious for this as are the earlier ones. I do know that the local Ford dealer will likely punt without a code.

Any comments would be appreciated.

 

It could have been a case of fuel gelling in that temperature. Does your friend use a fuel additive?

 

Excellent question. I didn't think it was probably a gelling issue because the engine was warm. I know the fuel is still cold but isn't the filter close enough that it wouldn't gel after a hour or so of running?

As for additive, I do not think he uses additive, nor do I. I have a lot to learn in this arena though. Living in central Michigan, I have to believe the fuel stations stock winter mix diesel. But they never post what it is. How does one know for sure?

Should a person use the additive in cold weather even if the stations have winter diesel?

Thanks for the reply.

 

I'm not familiar with the system but I would have assumed that they ran the return line back to the tank and not just teed it into the filter.

 

Sorry it took me so long to get back to this but I've been on the road. I just got back from Aransas Pass Tx.
It's possible that it was a gelling problem even with the winter blend. An engine can have gelling problems even if it's warm. Is your friend still having a problem with it? If the problem went away after it warmed up some then I'd just about bet a dollar against a do-nut that it was fuel gelling or water related.
As far as the fuel additives go. I use them and I live down in the South. If I lived up where the temps go into the teens a lot then I'd surely use a fuel additive even with the winter blend. You don't have to use additives but I'd recommend it.

 

My friend had the truck towed to the dealer under warranty. After warming up it fired up fine. So you guys are spot on. He learned about additives and issues with winter blend.

We live in an area where many stations have very low turn-over of diesel fuel. Thus there may be stations with lingering summer blend in their tanks. We've done some research and found a station that has a lot of commercial business. I think we'll go there for starters.

I apprecate the comments about additives though. Which additives to you recommend? What features of the additives should I look for?

Thanks for all the replies.

 

There a couple fuel additives that are favorites of a lot of the folks on this board. Power Service is one of the common ones. You can find it at Walley World, parts houses and truck stops. I prefer Stanadyne Preformance Formula but I have to order it. I guess the main two things you would want to look for in a fuel additive is for a increase in Centane and to lower the pour point.
Here is an insert from Stanadyne.

THE PREMIUM ALL-SEASON, ALL PURPOSE DIESEL ADDITIVE. NO OTHER FUEL
CONDITIONER PROVIDES ALL THESE BENEFITS.

Year-round application - improves performance in summer and in winter. Reduces No. 2 fuel pour
point by up to 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Improved horsepower - with up to a 5 point cetane rating gain, resulting in noticeably better
acceleration; fewer downshifts, etc.

Increases fuel economy - more efficient combustion and increased power can result in up to 8%
improvement in MPG, thus easily paying for itself.

Easier and faster start-up - especially from cold.

Reduced smoke and particulate emmisions - cleaner burn.

Longer service intervals - detergents protect and clean injectors and help remove deposits and and
prevent plugging. Lubricants reduce wear of costly injection system components.

Upgrades and stabilizes fuel - No need to buy expensive blended fuel. Reduces sludge and fuel tank
contaminants.

Alcohol free - Avoids corrosion and accelerated wear.

 

I always use alcohol free because I would rather be able to dump the water from the bottom of the fuel filter than have it pass through the injectors.

 

Ditto on the alcohol free. Some additives may contain alcohol and need to be advoided unless you are treating a gas burner.