Hey Gang,
I own a 2001 F-350 Crew cab, Short bed, DRW, 2WD with the 7.3 . On a recent trip on the highway after about 2.5 hours towing a light car hauler trailer (weight- 1150 lbs and empty), While cruising at 75 MPH, The fan /Turbo or what ever it is that kicks in when I put a load the engine started to surge for about 10 seconds. I let off on it and it stopped but it would surge as long as I put fuel to it. after about a minute, it stopped. it did not do it again until my return trip with a load of wood, about 500 lbs. on the same trailer and it did it again...same story.In both events, I just backed it down a bit and after a minute it quit surging and has not done it again. I bought the truck new in 01 and have had no problems until now. Mileage is 126,700 and has been serviced every 5000 mileswith out fail. I haul a 30 ft Travel Trailer and it pulls like a dream, but I haven't pulled that trailer this year yet. In the past, When pulling it in the mountains or up steep grades, with a load , before it would make that hard blowing fan noise which I assume is the Turbo kicking in. Yea, I don't know a lot about the turbo but I sure like the power. Anybody have any ideas? I sure would appreceiate it. Thank you for your time.

v/r
D.K. Spencer
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Sounds like turbo surge. It's common if you have a chip or tuner installed.

Don't let it surge when pulling up a hill. Downshift if you have to in order to get the RPM's up and the turbo out of the surge range.

There are fixes for it. The cheapest is to install a Wicked Wheel. It's basically the stock compressor wheel from early 99 trucks and OBS Powerstrokes. This takes care of most surge issues. The other fix is an ATS compressor housing. It's more expensive ($400 compared to a $75 wicked wheel), but it cures all surge for good.

 

X2 with Pocket.

 

You sure it's not just the fan clutch locking up?? Is it more like a roaring noise or is this like a "PSST-PSST-PSST-PSST" kind of thing?

 

It is more like a roar.

 

That sounds like the fan clutch engaging. It will engage when underhood temp reaches about 210 to 220 degrees.
Not uncommon for it to cycle pretty quickly.

 

+1 for fan... sounds like a roar or loud whooshing when things get hot.

Best analogy for the surge I've came up with is a turkey warble. Good advice above if thats what it turns out to be.

 

Definitely sounds like tha fan clutch to me, too.

 

Forgive my ignorance on the fan clutch but are we talking about the engine fan or is there another fan that I am unaware of. And don't worry about hurting my feelings, because I know I don't know alot about this issue. I need all the help I can get! So that sound I hear when it gets hot , on a steep grade is just the cooling fan and not the turbo???

Something else that came to mind that I failed to mention before. A buddy hooked up a hyper chip to show me how it affected the performance and I drove it for a couple weeks. Then I took selected it back to Factory settings as I have done nothing to the exhaust/intake as far as upgrades go. The chip trial was over a year ago and this just started... Could I possibly have a ghost in the Machine left over /bleed over from the chip?
Thank you all for your inputs...I am learning!!!

 

It's the cooling fan clutch we are talking about. Its the round housing behind the fan.

That chip did not leave behind any ghosts. Your engine is not haunted. It just likes to make scary noises when it gets hot under the hood.

 

Thanks..I'm looking on line for a schmatic/ diagram to put eyes on it. So it doesn't sound like the Turbo? Again..thank you

 

Go HERE and use marshall as User ID and public as password.

On page that pops up after clicking Login go to ARRC and follow the menu.

 

Thanks a ton...great site for repairs. now a favorite. I really appreciate the time and Info. If anyone needs any help with T-56-14a issues,(P-3C Version) let me know!

 

Thats a jet engine originally made by Allison and then Rolls Royce when they bought out Allison jet engine business. Ain't I smart. Not really. I had to Google it because I didn't know what the hell you were talking about.

So you must be a jet engine mechanic, eh?

P-3C? I used to watch P3 sub hunters fly out of Moffet Field Naval Air Station in Mt View, CA. They used to fly out over the Pacific and drop sonar-bouys. How far off the mark am I about P3s?

 

Man you were right on the mark! They use the same engine in the C-130 but it is upside down on that bird!! ( If you tell that to a Herc guy he will inform you that it is the other way around!!nothing like a little A/C rivilary Ha)I put in about 7800 hours on that bird as a Flight Engineer and spun wrenches on them for about 20 years. Also did some time on F-4's, A-4's, A-6's and SH-3's....and you would think I would have a little more knowledge in the world of Turbo's... Hell, Garret makes the APU's (Auxillary Power units) and EDC's (engine driven compressor) for the P-3 and several other aircraft , and they look very similar to the turbo on the truck. If i learned one strange thing during my 26 years in the Navy was that Aircraft are easier to work on than Automobiles. You would think it would be the other way around. Welcome to planet Earth! And Again, thanks for all the help. I'm gonna play with it when I get home.