My truck (2000 f-350. 135k miles) has been having issues for quite some time. I took it to a mechanic in December 2008 because it was smoking. He kept it for 2 months, charged me $600, and did not improve it at all. It has been getting worse steadily and then finally got to where it would die and not start until it had cooled off. I took it to the stealership who told me that it needed a new fuel pressure regulator before they could do any other diagnostics on it ($750). They replaced that and got it running, but could tell by the sound(?) that it had no compression on the #1 cylinder and low compression on at least one other cylinder and the only way to fix it properly was to pull the engine out and replace it with a new crate engine ($11,400). I promptly told them that the truck was not worth $11,000 and brought it home. The truck does run better than it did, but still smokes (and burns oil), so I'm thinking that it is time to roll up my sleeves and start pulling parts off the truck. I have considered trying to find a 7.3 out of a wrecked vehicle with low mileage, but I'm thinking that I'd rather just fix this one and add some modifications as I go. I have thought about running a compression check on the cylinders, but the truck is burning oil, so I'm thinking that it probably needs at least rings even if the cylinders are not scored (bored out with new cylinders). Another problem that I can see is that my garage is not tall enough for me to get my truck into, so I'll have to pull the engine and roll it into the garage (up over a 1" lip). Kind of a pain, but doable.

So, my question for the forum is: If you were in my situation, what would you do? What mods would you do while you had the engine torn down? (The engine is stock. I have a Bullydog tuner that is not currently installed, and gauges.) I was thinking about possibly getting new injectors, a new turbo wheel, intake and exhaust, and a DP tuner. I have not priced it all out, so I'm not sure what all I could afford, plus it kind of depends on how much the overhaul will cost. (I still don't think that I want to spend $11k on it).

Thanks in advance.
Wilson

 

it could just be an injector leaking the oil and could be fixed fairly simply. if you have codes that would help
welcome to FTE

 

Welcome, before you pull your motor have the compression test done and find someone I your area with AE to run some tests.

I'm sure some of the site gurus will chime in soon with more to offer than I.

 

That is part of the problem. I have not been able to find a mechanic that I can trust with my truck. I have thought about trying to buy a code reader so that I have a bit more information, but I know that not all readers will work. What would be a good one for me to get?

 

Thanks for the welcome. I have been lurking for quite some time, but since I have no knowledge to impart, I just read.

What is AE? I am in the North Texas area, so if anyone is close, I'd greatly appreciate any help.

 

you can pull the injector fairly easily, i have a superchip 1705 it reads codes, i found mine at a pawn shop for $35 out the door a lot cheaper than a new one. most would say to get AE but i cant afford that.

 

this is it.
ScanTool PC-based
also see
http://guzzle.rbmicro.com/7pt3/Mods.html

 

Deffinately get the codes read. 135k is very few miles for one of these trucks. Unless it was trashed buy someone. Could end up being something simple, leaking injector, that a modest mech could not find. You need people with knowledge working on these. Or people with knowledge to guide you if you are mechanically inclined. It's hard to imagine that the engine is that bad with only 135k on the clock. Mine is concidered low miliage, 151k, and I burn no more oil than when I bought it. Keep on here and someone will surely help you out.

 

heres a bump for you bud...You may want to start a new thread like "Need help in the north Texas area". there are a lot of good Texas boys here on this site who would prolly be willing to give you a hand! Good luck Wilson and welcome aboard keep posting!

 

AE is auto enginuity a software program you use with a lap top, plug onto your truck and run a bunch of tests.

 

Wilson....Exactly where are you located?There are several of us in your area it sounds like.You might pm Joe(Izzy)he is in the Dallas area....Let us know.

 

I am in Van Alstyne. It is about 50 miles due north of Dallas, about half way between McKinney and Sherman. I'd enjoy getting to meet some of the people that I have been absorbing some of their knowledge. (And some help would be appreciated as well).

I'll send Izzy a pm to see if he might be able to help.

Thanks,
Wilson

 

Hang in there Wilson and welcome to FTE. I wished more people would jump on here before taking their vehicle to the stealerships but you live and learn. Luckily all my visits were warranty related at the time, good luck..

 

Izzy is in Lewisville, so he's farther North than many of us. Once you get this figured out and get serious about mods, Tony Wildman lives just outside of Justin. He'll make your truck go like you never thought possible. If you meet Izzy, you'll see what I'm talking about.

Next, don't be so shy about asking questions on here. I really hope they replaced more than your FPR for $750. Here's what one costs Replacement O-rings for Ford Diesel Engines

Maybe they replaced the IPR or ICP instead. That's still probably double or more than what you could have done it yourself for.

In the mean time, start your truck, unscrew the oil cap and flip it upside down. Place it over the oil fill tube and watch to see if it shoots off the tube or just vibrates around for a second and slides off.

If it just vibrates and slides off, shut the truck off and remove the fuel filter. Is there any sign of oil in the bottom of the fuel filter bowl? Also inspect your air filter. Are you still running the stock filter? Pull the lid off the filter and look inside the tube going back to the turbo. Is there any dust or dirt inside that tube?

 

I had been trying to find a good diesel mechanic since Feb 09. I was just not having any luck. Then when I started having problems that I could not put off, I decided that although they might stick it to me, they would at least do something. Well, they did fix at least part of the problem, but I can't help but wonder if the problem they fixed could not have been fixed by doing some cleaning on the screen. I guess that I will never know, but at least I can get from home to McKinney (17 miles) without worrying that I'm going to have to call a friend to tow me back home.

My reason for looking for a mechanic rather than fixing it myself has been lack of time rather than lack of ability. I have been working between 60 and 70 hours a week for the last year and a half, but hopefully after the first of April, I'll be able to slow down to about 50 hours per week for a month or so. If it works out as planned, I'll be able to fix the truck myself (with help from FTE, of course).

Thanks for all the replies and encouragement,
Wilson