Alright I recently purchased a 87 f250 6.9 with a banks non-wastegated turbo kit on it. The truck runs GREAT. It didn't have any after market gauges in it when I bought it so I have added a boost gauge and pyrometer.

The pyrometer seems to work fine. I never seem to get above 500 degrees no matter how I drive it. Is this normal?

The boost gauge on the other hand I seem to be only getting vacuum. The gauge only reads boost, but I disconnect the line and it just sucks air. I just have it connected to a vacuum line next to the air box. I'm guessing I have it connected in the wrong place, where should it be connected?

Since I bought the truck the battery light has been on but has not shown any signs of a failing battery or alternator. Any ideas? Just goofy electrical junk I don't need to worry about?

The other thing I wanted to mention is when the engine is cold and has sat more then 6 hours, I let the glow plugs warm up and try and start it and it wont start unless I hold the gas pedal to the floor and crank it for about 5 to 10 seconds. Then it runs rough for about 10 seconds and is fine. Old glow plugs? Not enough fuel for cold start? I don't know if this is related but when it does start i can hear a click about every second like a turn signal for about 10 seconds after the truck starts and in that time the lights in the truck dim with the tick... I am puzzled on that one.

Anyway just throwing my issues that I got out there. Thanks guys. You guys have bailed me out before... Hopefully I wont be a newb with diesels to much longer!!!

 

chances are the hard start is from leaking return lines. 30 bucks and an easy afternoons work and that should take care of that. You have the old style GP system I think, so ill let someone else advise on that since I dont know much about it.

 

the'87 should have new style gp's and what your hearing is the controller cycling and it draws alot of power so lights dim. sounds like your getting air for it to start like that, but i would check all the gp's and the controller also. don't know on your pyro temps 500 sounds to low, where is it mounted exactly.

 

Test all your glow plugs ...

*** Glow Plug Test. ***
Test light test of the glow plugs:

1. Unplug the Glow Plugs.
2. Attach one end of a test light to 12v+ battery.
3. Touch the other end to the terminal on the end of the Glow Plug (where you unplugged the harness)
   Does it light up?
   • Yes, Chances are it's good.
   • No, Replace with Motorcraft/Beru ZD1A for 83-86, ZD9 for 87-94.5.
   This test is susceptible to miss diagnoses and should only be used for a quick reference.
   To do a positive test use a volt/ohm meter and test the ohms between the terminal and base. Should be .5 to 1 ohm resistance.

After setting for the 6 hours or longer, pull the fuel filter, is it completely fuel??
If not install an Injector Installation Kit

The Boost gauge line gets installed between the Turbo and the Intake Manifold. (ie: Pressure side of Turbo)

-Enjoy
fh : )_~

 

That would make a lot of sense. I'll check the gp's today. As for the pyro after searching some other forums last night I think I did mount it in the wrong spot... I mounted it right after the turbo on the dump pipe. Opps. Idk if I can still tune with that or not...

 

Thanks man!!! That helps a lot. I'm gonna try all that stuff today! I'll let ya know tonight how it goes!

 

You want the pyrometer probe in the exhaust manifold. You can put it in the crossover pipe if thats easier for you, but get it as close to the manifold as possible. I have my probe in the crossover pipe 3-4" past where it connects to my exhaust manifold.